Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 2026 · 69th Convention, Phoenix › Page 290
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2026, Page 290

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

290

NATIONAL WITNESS

laws that mandate vaccines for children even without
parents’ approval;
• laws that allow, recommend, or give children sex change
operations or medical procedures for “transitioning” minors
without parents’ approval;
• laws that permit minors to get an abortion without parents’
approval;
• laws that label parents who refuse their minor children
vaccines, sex change operations and procedures, or abortions
as engaging in child abuse;
• laws that remove children from the custody of parents who
refuse their minor children vaccines, sex change operations
and procedures, or abortions;
• school policies that teach children various anti-scriptural
social agendas without parents’ approval;
• school policies that mandate vaccines for children even
without parents’ approval;
• school policies that encourage children to “transition,” use
gender-confusing language, or introduce sexual or gender
identities that do not conform with the child’s birth sex
without parents’ approval;
therefore be it
Resolved, That the English District boldly, unequivocally, and
plainly state its objection on the grounds of religious belief and
constitutionally protected religious liberty, to any federal, state, or
local law or mandate, and any school policy that imposes the
government’s will over the parents’ duty to raise their children or
that aids the minor child’s will to be kept secret from the parents;
and be it further
Resolved, That the English District state plainly its willingness
and readiness to support, come to the aid of, and speak in defense
of any parents within sister congregations of the district who face
such interference, whether by providing pastoral care, connecting
them with legal or educational resources, or advocating publicly and
lawfully on their behalf; and be it further
Resolved, That the district urge Synod in convention and each
district to boldly, unequivocally, and plainly state their
unconditional agreement with this religious objection to
government interference in Christian parents’ duty to raise their
children in the faith and life of the Christian confession; and be it
further
Resolved, That the district urge the Synod and each district to
boldly, unequivocally, and plainly denounce any teachings of any
church bodies that seek to advocate for or tolerate the government
interfering with parents’ duties in raising their children in the
Christian faith and life; such teachings are unbiblical, unchristian,
false, opposed to God, and worthy of condemnation; and be it
further
Resolved, That the district urge member congregations and all
their families to benefit their children with the use of Lutheran
schools or Lutheran homeschools/hybrid cooperatives, or to
become involved in their local public school government, that the
parents may safeguard their God-given responsibility, and that the
children may be protected from such government overreach and
godless agendas and may be raised in the proper fear of the Lord;
and be it finally
Resolved, That the English District encourage member
congregations and pastors to equip parents through ongoing
•

2026 Convention Workbook

catechesis and public teaching regarding their God-given vocation,
their rights under the law, and the spiritual care of their households.
English District
Ov. 1-25

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 to God and God alone (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, Government in our society—at federal, state, and
local levels—may in various ways attempt to step between children
and their parents in defiance of scriptural exceptions allowing the
government to do so (impeding the parents’ duty to raise their
children in faith and life of the Christian confession); therefore be
it
Resolved, That the Northern Illinois District boldly,
unequivocally, and plainly state its objection on the grounds of
religious belief to any federal, state, local law, mandate and any
school policy—excepting those granted to such by Scripture, such
as abuse or neglect according to scriptural definitions—that
infringes with the parents’ duty to raise their children or that aids
the minor child in circumventing parental authority; and be it further
Resolved, That the district state plainly its willingness to
recommend resources for any parents within sister congregations of
the district who face the challenge of government laws or school
policies negating parents’ duties to raise their children in the fear of
the Lord; and be it further
Resolved, That the district commend parents for their work in
raising their children in the training and instruction of the Lord
(Eph. 6:4) so that they might be found faithful though surrounded
by teachings and influences contrary to the Gospel; and be it further
Resolved, That the district urge member congregations and all
their families to benefit their children with the use of Lutheran
schools, Lutheran homeschools, and other opportunities for
Christian education, that the parents may safeguard their God-given
responsibility, and that the children may be protected from such
government overreach and godless agendas and may be raised in
the proper fear of the Lord; and be it finally
Resolved, That the district urge the 2026 Synod convention to
unequivocally and plainly state its objection on the grounds of
religious belief to any federal, state, local law, mandate, and any
school policy—excepting those granted to such by Scripture, such
as abuse or neglect according to scriptural definitions—that
infringes with the parents’ duty to raise their children or that aids