LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2016, Page 255

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Adult Corps, young adult servant events, and Young Adult Volunteers for the LCMS Youth Gathering; and be it further

opportunities for our collective witness to the truth of God’s Word
in the academic square and the marketplace of ideas; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod fund Lutheran Young Adult Corps and
young adult service opportunities to ensure ongoing opportunities for acts of mercy, faith growth, and training for young adults
in our church body; and be it further

Resolved, That we give thanks to God for the renewed emphasis
on campus ministry in the Synod through LCMS U and continue
to encourage congregations, circuits, and districts to intentionally
support local campus ministry and outreach wherever possible;
and be it further

Resolved, That congregations pray for their young adults, the
congregations and ministries that serve them, and the leadership
of Lutheran Young Adult Corps and other young adult servant
events; and be it finally
Resolved, That the congregations encourage their young adults
to participate in Lutheran Young Adult Corps and other young
adult service opportunities.
Action: Adopted (6)
(After discussion, a motion to end debate was carried [Yes: 910;
No: 19], and by a show of hands Res. 16-04 was adopted as presented.)

To Increase Our Efforts
to Retain College-Age Youth
RESOLUTION 16-05
Report R1.2 (CW, pp. 22–24); President’s Report, Part 2 (TB,
pp. 21–31)
Whereas, The college years have historically been a time where
many of our young people are tempted to fall away from the faith as
they find themselves confronted by dominant secular and increasingly anti-Christian worldviews; and
Whereas, We have experienced escalating turmoil on our
nation’s university campuses in recent years, including the loss of
freedom of speech and religious expression; and
Whereas, An annual survey of over 153,000 college freshmen,
“The American Freshman,” demonstrates that college freshmen are
increasingly distancing themselves from any religion (28 percent
in 2015 compared to 12 percent in 1971); and
Whereas, According to a recent Gallup poll in 2015, the percentage of Christians among this age group continues to trend
lowest among college-age young adults (18–24); and
Whereas, One of the greatest tasks each generation has is to
hand over the faith to the generation that follows it; and
Whereas, We all wish to join the apostle John in saying of the
young people of the church, “I have no greater joy than to hear that
my children are walking in the truth” (3 John 4); and
Whereas, We are witnessing increased zeal by many of our
LCMS college students to confess their faith in the public square
although it is getting increasingly more difficult to do so; and
Whereas, The enormous challenges that our young people
face on our university campuses also present equally tremendous
“16. Family, Youth, and Young Adults”

Resolved, That we encourage all LCMS families, pastors, youth
workers, and congregations to increase their own efforts to help
connect their graduating high school students to our LCMS U campus ministries as early as possible; and be it finally
Resolved, That the Synod encourage efforts to be made by LCMS
U in the next triennium to develop a strategic and comprehensive
plan to help congregations and families better prepare high school
graduates for the transition to college life, develop resources to help
those going to college better understand the challenges and worldview frameworks that they will face during their college years, and
increase training opportunities and resources to aid our college-​
age youth in boldly witnessing to their faith on campus and in the
public square.
Action: Adopted (6)
(After debate was closed by voice vote, Res. 16-05 was adopted
as presented, also by voice vote.)

To Encourage CTCR and Scouting Task Force
to Move Quickly in Providing Guidance
Concerning Scouting
RESOLUTION 16-06
Overture 16-03 (CW, pp. 476–477); Overture L16-05 (TB, pp.
35–36)
Whereas, Many congregations of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod (LCMS) desire to continue providing scout-like
organizations for both boys and girls; and
Whereas, A Scouting Task Force has been appointed under
the Office of the President of the LCMS to provide guidance to
congregations and families regarding involvement with such organizations; and
Whereas, The CTCR has been asked to evaluate the content of
the statements of faith required by some scouting organizations;
and
Whereas, The Scouting Task Force cannot complete its assigned
task until the CTCR has rendered its opinion; therefore be it
Resolved, That the CTCR expedite its work in this matter; and
be it further
Resolved, That the Scouting Task Force move quickly with its
work to provide such needed guidance; and be it finally
U P O N T H I S R O C K • Resolutions

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