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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2026, Page 288

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

NATIONAL WITNESS

288
Ov. 1-20

To Include Homeschool Enrollment
in Statistical Reports of the Synod
WHEREAS, The Synod tracks Lutheran schools and their
enrollees in its statistical records; and
WHEREAS, The homeschools of our congregation members are
Lutheran schools; and
WHEREAS, A full accounting of all Lutheran schools and all
students so enrolled is essential for congregations, districts, and the
Synod to support such educational endeavors; therefore be it
Resolved, That each congregation include as a separate category
in the statistical reports of the Synod the number of households
engaged in homeschooling and the number of children, preschool
through twelfth grade so enrolled; and be it further
Resolved, That congregations, districts, and the Synod account
for all Lutheran schools in their promotion and support of Lutheran
education.
Circuit 14 (Austin)
Minnesota South District
Ov. 1-21

To Encourage Faithful Youth Ministry and to
Initiate Synodwide Study of Generation Alpha
WHEREAS, Our Lord Jesus Christ has commanded His Church to
make disciples of all nations by baptizing and teaching the baptized
(Matt. 28:19–20), and to raise up successive generations in the faith;
and
WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, through the
Office of National Mission (ONM) (Youth Ministry in particular),
has conducted research to help congregations better understand and
retain Millennials, notably publishing Relationships Count:
Engaging & Retaining Millennials, a three-phase research project
that used surveys and focus groups to gain a deeper understanding
of retention rates of young people in the Synod; and
WHEREAS, The Relationships Count project and its associated
resources have emphasized the importance of sustained, faithful
relationships (pastoral, congregational, peer, and family) in forming
and keeping young adults integrated in the Church; and
congregations that prioritize sustained Gospel-centered
relationships are better positioned to shepherd youth into adult
discipleship; and
WHEREAS, The Relationships Count project attempted some
forecasting of the spiritual care needs of Generation Z youth in the
final chapter of the published book, making use of and interpreting
data collected in other demographic and sociological studies; and
WHEREAS, Such broader, nationally representative research
shows important context about the religious lives of American
adolescents: as of a 2020 Pew Research Center study, about 63
percent of U.S. teenagers (ages 13–17) identify as Christian,
compared with a higher share (72%) among their parents; a small
set (4%) of U.S. teenagers (ages 13–17) are affiliated with nonChristian faiths; and fully a third (32%) of U.S. teenagers are
religiously unaffiliated; additionally, Pew found that roughly four
in ten U.S. teens report attending religious services at least once or
twice a month, with about one-third reporting weekly attendance,
and that the attendance of both teenagers and their parents is mostly
identical, percentage-wise; this data highlights both the continuing

2026 Convention Workbook

presence of faith among many teenagers and the pastoral challenge
of forming regular worship and faith practices among them and their
families (Religious affiliation among American adolescents,
pewresearch.org/religion/2020/09/10/religious-affiliation-amongamerican-adolescents, accessed March 20, 2026); and
WHEREAS, Long-standing youth and religion research (including
the National Study of Youth and Religion and related projects) has
repeatedly shown that family practice, congregational relationships,
and accessible catechesis matter greatly in whether adolescents
articulate and continue in a robust Christian faith into adulthood;
and
WHEREAS, A new generational cohort, commonly labeled
Generation Alpha (roughly children born beginning around 2010),
is coming of age in distinct cultural and technological
circumstances that differ from Millennials and Gen Z; and
understanding Generation Alpha’s particular formation patterns,
media ecosystems, family structures, and religious orientations will
help the Synod equip pastors, teachers, and other church workers to
help them and their families to grow in the Christian faith and piety;
and
WHEREAS, The Synod benefits when the ONM, auxiliaries such
as Lutheran Hour Ministries, and recognized service organizations
(RSO) (such as Higher Things) collaborate to produce research and
resources that are both academically sound and pastorally useful;
therefore be it
Resolved, That the 2026 Synod convention give thanks to God
for the work of LCMS Youth Ministry, Concordia Publishing
House, Higher Things, and countless pastors, teachers, other church
workers, youth leaders, and parents, who have labored faithfully to
serve children, adolescents, and young adults across the Synod; and
be it further
Resolved, That the Synod give continued thanks for the
Relationships Count research and resources, and for the practical
guidance it has supplied to congregations seeking to form young
people in the faith; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod directs the ONM, through LCMS
Youth Ministry in cooperation with applicable partners and RSOs,
to undertake or commission a focused, methodologically rigorous
study of Generation Alpha and their families within the Synod’s
congregations and schools; and that the purpose of such a study be
to identify (1) patterns of religious identity and practice among
Generation Alpha, (2) formative influences (family, school, digital
media, peers), and (3) concrete, theologically faithful pastoral and
educational strategies congregations can employ to baptize,
catechize, and nurture this generation in the Christian faith; and be
it further
Resolved, That the ONM then produce at least a publicly
available summary of findings, along with a set of practical
implementation resources (for congregations, districts, and schools)
that prioritize baptismal catechesis, regular worship participation,
Lutheran doctrine and practice, parental support, and sustained
relational ministry, so congregations of all sizes may readily apply
the findings in local ministry contexts; and be it finally
Resolved, That the Synod give thanks to God for the faithful
service of pastors, teachers, other church workers, youth workers,
congregational leaders, and volunteers throughout the Synod, and
commend to the Church’s continued prayer and support those who
labor to bring the Gospel to our young people and to form them in
the life of the Church.
Board for National Mission