Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 2026 · 69th Convention, Phoenix › Page 322
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2026, Page 322

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

322

LIFE TOGETHER

WHEREAS, The Office of National Mission (ONM) and the
Office of International Mission (OIM) are tasked with the granting
of RSO status (Bylaw 6.2.4); and
WHEREAS, Lutheran Community Services Northwest (LCSNW)
and Lutheran Social Services of Northern California (LSSNorCA)
have both been granted RSO status; and
WHEREAS, LCSNW, as recently as June of 2024, participated in
an annual Spokane Pride Parade “as they do every year” in an effort
to make their communities “more healthy, just, hopeful and [sic]
Prideful for all,” (“Pride is more than a month at LCSNW; it’s a
mindset to serve LGBTQ clients,” lcsnw.org/2024/06/pride-ismore-than-a-month”, accessed Oct. 1, 2024); and
WHEREAS, LSSNorCA stands with the LGBTQIA+ community
and proudly supports them, as stated in a 2023 letter from the CEO
of the LSSNorCA, (“Statement on LGBTQIA+ Pride,”
www.lssnorcal.org/file_download/b8699925-8345-437f-8cdadad7d95d3d77, accessed Oct. 1, 2024); therefore be it
Resolved, That the RSO status of LCSNW and LSSNorCA be
terminated immediately; and be it further
Resolved, That Synod members support and encourage their
respective district presidents as they go about their task given them
in Bylaw 6.2.1 (c) of overseeing the RSOs under their ecclesiastical
supervision.
Resolved, That the Office of the Secretary decline any
applications for RSO status received from any organization
supporting, uplifting, celebrating, or otherwise promoting
LGBTQIA+ groups, agendas, thoughts, ideas, ideals, etc., including
organizations seeking RSO status that are partnered with an
organization supporting, advocating, or otherwise promoting the
same; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod direct the ONM and OIM not to grant
or renew RSO status to any organization supporting, uplifting,
celebrating, or otherwise promoting LGBTQIA+ groups, agendas,
thoughts, ideas, ideals, etc., including organizations seeking RSO
status that are partnered with an organization supporting, uplifting,
celebrating, or otherwise promoting LGBTQIA+ groups, agendas,
thoughts, ideas, ideals, etc.; and be it further
Resolved, That Bylaw 6.2.3 be amended as follows:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
6.2.3
Program administration shall be carried out by the Offices
of National and International Mission according to these bylaws, and
according to policies and criteria developed by the Synod Board of
Directors, mission boards, and mission offices.
(a) The Board of Directors of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod shall adopt common policies and criteria for granting of
recognized service organization status by Synod’s mission
offices, such polices relating to expectations for the corporate
structure and governance of the organizations, statements
regarding their legal and corporate independence from the Synod,
and the necessary relation of their work to the mission and
ministry of the Synod as generally expressed in its Constitution
and Bylaws. These policies shall include an agreement with the
recognized service organization stating that they adopt and will
uphold the biblical definition of manhood, womanhood, and
marriage, as adopted by the Synod and that they will not endorse,
support the work of, nor enter into partnerships with other
organizations who either undermine or do not uphold the same.
The Board of Directors shall approve the standard form of
agreement to be entered into by the Synod and each recognized
service organization.

2026 Convention Workbook

…

and be it finally
Resolved, That Bylaw 6.2.4 be amended as follows:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
6.2.4
Subject to policies adopted by the Synod’s Board of
Directors and the respective mission board, recognized service
organization status may be granted by the Office of National Mission
or the Office of International Mission to a service organization (other
than an auxiliary) that extends the mission and ministry of the Synod
but is not part of the Synod as defined by its Constitution and
Bylaws.
(a) Applications for recognized service organization status shall
be made to the Office of the Secretary of the Synod, which will
facilitate the application as follows:
…
(4) To be declined are all applications for RSO status from
organizations currently supporting, uplifting, celebrating, or
otherwise promoting groups, agendas, thoughts, ideas, ideals,
etc., contrary to God’s design for man and woman as well as
applications from organizations seeking RSO status that are
partnered with the same.
(b) Within the area of its responsibility and in accordance with
policies and criteria developed by the Synod Board of Directors,
the respective mission board and office, each mission office shall
determine to which organizations recognized service
organization status will be granted and revoked.
…

South Wisconsin District
Ov. 4-36

To Offer Care and Support for Families
Affected by Homosexuality, Transgenderism,
and Sexual Libertinism
WHEREAS, God in His almighty power has made humans in His
image, which has subsequently been defaced and damaged through
original sin (Genesis 1; Ap II 17–18; FC SD I 10–11); and
WHEREAS, God made humans male and female (Gen. 1:27; Matt.
19:4), and designed marriage between a man and a woman (Gen.
2:24) for the purposes of companionship and support (Gen. 2:18,
20–23), procreation (Gen. 1:28), and protection from sin (1 Cor.
7:1–9); and
WHEREAS, God has designed and gifted sexual intimacy and
intercourse to occur only within marriage between one husband and
one wife (Ex. 20:14; Deut. 5:18; Num. 5:11–31; Matt. 5:27–30);
and
WHEREAS, The world and our own sinful flesh continue to tempt
Christians away from God’s design for marriage and sexuality, with
errors such as sexual libertinism, homosexuality, and
transgenderism; and
WHEREAS, The families of our congregations and church
workers face these temptations and struggle to find resources for
instruction, spiritual care, and personal counseling that are faithful
to biblical designs for marriage and sexuality; and
WHEREAS, The Synod’s Created Male and Female task force,
created by the Office of National Mission in accordance with 2019
Resolution 11-03A, “To Encourage Synod to Develop Resources to
Aid Congregations and Schools regarding Sexual Orientation and
Gender Identity Issues,” and continued by the Synod as instructed
in 2023 Res. 1-04A, “To Continue to Address Sexual Orientation