LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2016, Page 139

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Resolved, That the Synod in convention thank God for the mission and ministry of its three international schools, and that the
individuals and congregations of the Synod be encouraged to lift
up these schools, their communities, and the countries they serve
in prayer on a regular basis; and be it further
Resolved, That the three international schools be encouraged to
find ways to sustain and broaden their impact in their respective
countries and regions, faithfully bearing the Synod’s confession
(Constitution, Art. II) and supporting its objectives (Constitution,
Art. III); and be it further
Resolved, That LCMS educators be encouraged to apply to work
in the three international schools; and be it finally
Resolved, That the Synod’s Board for International Mission, in
consultation with the Heads of School of our international schools,
establish policies guiding the Chief Mission Officer and the Office
of International Mission to
1.	
foster intentional, collaborative partnerships between
the three international schools, the Concordia University
System, Lutheran elementary schools, and Lutheran high
schools;
2.	 provide means of centralized advocacy and coordination
for the international schools in the recruitment of educators, increased visibility and awareness, and promotion of
opportunities for service; and
3.	consider and support appropriate opportunities to plant
new international schools, leveraging the deep experience
of LCMS international schools and educators in other
global contexts, countries, and regions.
Action: Adopted (5)
(After discussion and suggestion of friendly amendments to the
final resolve paragraph by adding the words “in consultation with
the Heads of School of our international schools” after the words
“International Mission,” and by replacing the word “day” with
“elementary” in subparagraph (1), the chair asked the assembly
whether it was ready to vote. With no objection from the assembly, the vote was taken and Res. 2-03 was adopted as changed [Yes:
1,031; No: 12].)

To Reaffirm LCMS Military Chaplains’ Right
for Free Exercise of Religion in Face of LGBT
Inclusion in Armed Forces
RESOLUTION 2-04

all servicemen, servicewomen, spouses, and children during wartime and peace; and
Whereas, The LCMS has defined military chaplains as missionaries to this unique community who have a distinctive culture
and customs; and
Whereas, Christ prays to His heavenly Father, “I do not ask that
you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the
evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world”
(John 17:15–16); and
Whereas, The Department of Defense and the armed forces
recognize that all military chaplains, as service members, are
guaranteed the right to express their sincerely held religious
and moral beliefs in accordance with section 533 of the National
Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2013 (Public
Law 112-239) as amended by section 532 of the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 (Public Law 113-66); and
Whereas, LCMS military chaplains are never forced to preach,
teach, or act contrary to their conscience and confession of faith by
any member of the armed forces, or by any public official, elected
or appointed; and
Whereas, Recent Department of Defense and armed forces
policies and procedures promoting LGBT rights, recognition, and
celebration have the potential for placing LCMS chaplains into situations in which they could be asked to compromise their own
preaching and teaching or even to act contrary to their confession
of faith; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod in convention give thanks to God for
the calling of LCMS clergy into the armed forces; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod in convention reaffirm her willingness
to continue to call able-bodied clergy within the Chaplain Corps
to act as faithful missionaries to the men, women, and children of
the armed forces; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod in convention support section 533
of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal
Year 2013 (Public Law 112-239) as amended by section 532 of the
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 (Public
Law 113-66) that no member of the armed forces may
1.	 require a chaplain to perform any rite, ritual, or ceremony
that is contrary to the conscience, moral principles, or religious beliefs of the chaplain; or
2.	 discriminate or take any adverse personnel action against a
chaplain, including denial of promotion, schooling, training, or assignment, on the basis of the refusal by the chaplain to comply with a prohibited requirement;

President’s Report, Part 2 (TB, pp. 21–31)

and be it finally

Whereas, The LCMS has a longstanding history of providing
pastoral care and counsel through the calling of pastors into the
armed forces, beginning with Rev. Chaplain Friedrich W. Richmann who was called on April 3, 1862, to serve as chaplain in the
Ohio Regiment during the Civil War; and

Resolved, That this 2016 LCMS convention re-affirm the Synod’s stance against the espousing or promoting of LGBT matters so
that chaplains might be free either to “perform or provide” pastoral care to all servicemen, servicewomen, and family members in
accordance with their own religious and moral beliefs and in accordance with the publicly stated doctrinal positions of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod.

Whereas, For the past 154 years, the LCMS has continued to
provide the armed forces with qualified, called clergymen to serve
“2. International Witness”

U P O N T H I S R O C K • Resolutions

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