Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 2026 · 69th Convention, Phoenix › Page 289
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2026, Page 289

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

NATIONAL WITNESS
Ov. 1-22

To Affirm Atlantic District Commitment
to Education and Formation
WHEREAS, The 2022 Atlantic District convention passed
Resolution 2022-01-03, “To Explore Future Lutheran Higher
Education Opportunities in the East Coast Region” (2022 Atlantic
District
Proc.,
11,
ad-lcms.org/now/districtevents/convention/convention-61); and
WHEREAS, The 2022 district convention passed a resolution
(2022-01-09, “Encouraging the Use of the Ancient Catechumenate
Model”) to affirm the ancient catechumenate; and
WHEREAS, In 2024, an education committee was formed by the
district board of directors to consider current and future
opportunities for Lutheran education and formation; and
WHEREAS, The district has committed resources specifically to
the mission and ministries of Martin Luther School in Queens and
Our Saviour Lutheran School in The Bronx, among other schools;
and
WHEREAS, The district has a tradition of forming solid
theological minds grounded in the evangelical, catholic, and
reforming tradition of the Augsburg Confession in its congregations
and schools; therefore be it
Resolved, That the district in convention affirm the ongoing
work of its education committee; and be it further
Resolved, That the district in convention encourage her
congregations to recommit themselves to the tradition of raising up
and forming solid theological minds grounded in the evangelical,
catholic, and reforming tradition of the Augsburg Confession; and
be it finally
Resolved, That the district in convention memorialize this
resolution to the 2026 Synod convention.
Atlantic District
Ov. 1-23

To Affirm and Encourage Parents
as Primary Teachers of the Faith
WHEREAS, In the Scriptures, we read: “Fathers, do not provoke
your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and
instruction of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4); and
WHEREAS, Luther writes in the Small Catechism, “Fathers, do
not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the
discipline and instruction of the Lord. (Eph. 6:4)” (SC Table of
Duties, For Parents); and
WHEREAS, Luther, in his Large Catechism explanation to the
Fourth Commandment states, “But [parents] should consider that
they are obligated to obey God. First of all, they should seriously
and faithfully fulfill their office, not only to support and provide for
the bodily necessities of their children, … but, most of all, they
should train them to honor and praise God [Proverbs 22:6]” (LC I
168–69); and
WHEREAS, Luther further declares, “let everyone know that it is
his duty, on peril of losing the divine favor, to bring up his children
in the fear and knowledge of God above all things [Proverbs 1:7]”
(LC I 174); and

289

WHEREAS, Parents are, therefore, entrusted with the ultimate
responsibility of teaching the faith and catechizing their children;
and
WHEREAS, Contrary to Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions,
parents may neglect their role as the primary teacher of the faith in
the lives of their children or be given the impression that faith
formation in their children is a primary work of the pastor, teacher,
or other called minister of the congregation, rather than the father
and mother; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod in convention clearly and
unequivocally reassert and affirm the scriptural truth that God has
given to parents to be the primary teachers of the faith in their
children; and be it further
Resolved, That parents within the church be regularly
encouraged to undertake and fulfill the duty God has given them to
bring up their children in the fear and knowledge of God; and be it
further
Resolved, That the pastors, teachers, and other commissioned
ministers of the church be encouraged to affirm parents in their
God-given duty and to support, equip, and encourage them, through
prayer and other means, to fulfill the duty God has given them; and
be it finally
Resolved, That the Synod use its resources and influence to
encourage parents in their God-given role as the primary teachers
of the faith for their children.
St. John
Seward, NE
Ov. 1-24

To State Religious Objection to Government
Interference with Parents’ Duty
WHEREAS, The Small Catechism confesses that God has created
and given to each person “my body” (SC II, Second Article); and
WHEREAS, The body of the baptized is the temple of the Holy
Spirit and belongs not to government or its institutions (such as
schools [public or private]), but to God (1 Cor. 6:19); and
WHEREAS, The Fourth Commandment, as explained in the Large
Catechism, places all authority over a child on the parents of that
child, so that we confess, “For all authority flows and is born from
the authority of parents. Where a father is unable alone to educate
his … child, he uses a schoolmaster to teach the child. … So all
whom we call ‘masters’ are in a place of parents and must get their
power and authority to govern from them” (LC I [Fourth
Commandment] 141–142); and
WHEREAS, The Scriptures and the Catechism do not limit
parental authority to a particular age, but state that God has given
authority to parents over all children who live under their roof; and
WHEREAS, The doctrine of the two kingdoms affirms
prescriptively that while the government bears the sword for civil
order (Rom. 13:4), it allows the kingdom of the left no jurisdiction
relative to the responsibilities God has given to parents in the
spiritual and moral upbringing of their children; and
WHEREAS, Government in our society—at federal, state, and
local levels—has attempted or may attempt to step between children
and their parents (impeding the parents' duty to raise their children
in the faith and life of the Christian confession) in various ways,
including but not limited to:
2026 Convention Workbook