Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 2026 · 69th Convention, Phoenix › Page 329
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2026, Page 329

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

LIFE TOGETHER
WHEREAS, The Lutheran Confessions, particularly the Small
Catechism, affirm the duty of parents and the Church to catechize
children in the Christian faith (SC Preface; LC Shorter Preface); and
WHEREAS, Very small congregations in the Synod, often with
limited resources and including several age groups in one class, face
challenges in providing consistent, high-quality Sunday school
instruction; and
WHEREAS, A Lutheran, lectionary-based Sunday school
curriculum, designed for flexibility and ease of use, would support
small congregations in faithfully teaching the Word of God to
children; and
WHEREAS, The Synod has a history of providing educational
resources to support congregations in their catechetical
responsibilities, as seen in the work of Concordia Publishing House
(CPH) and the Synod’s Office of National Mission (ONM);
therefore be it
Resolved, That the Montana District memorializes the Synod in
convention to direct the appropriate entities, such as the ONM or
CPH, to produce a digital, Lutheran, lectionary-based Sunday
school curriculum that can be easily applied to very small
congregations; and be it further
Resolved, That this curriculum be designed to be doctrinally
sound, rooted in the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions,
structured for flexibility to accommodate the very limited resources
and the occasional attendees; and be it further
Resolved, That the curriculum include practical materials, such
as lesson plans, activities, and resources that can be easily
implemented by lay leaders or pastors of small congregations; and
be it further
Resolved, That the curriculum be a cost-effective option for very
small congregations; and be it finally
Resolved, That the LCMS encourage its congregations to support
and pray for this effort, that all children in the LCMS may grow in
the knowledge and love of Christ through faithful catechesis (Eph.
4:12–13).
Montana District
Ov. 4-51

To Address Uses of Artificial Intelligence
WHEREAS, Man is fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm
139:14) in the image of God (Gen. 1:26–27); and
WHEREAS, All First Article gifts, including powerful
technological tools such as artificial intelligence (AI), are created
by human beings with the gifts and abilities that God has granted to
us as the pinnacle of the created order (Gen. 1:26–28; 2:7; 5:1–2);
and
WHEREAS, These gifts can be harnessed for human flourishing as
we seek to love God and neighbor (Deut. 6:4–5; Lev. 19:18; Matt.
22:37–39; Mark 12:30–31); and
WHEREAS, The fall into sin has made us dead to God and
darkened our minds; and
WHEREAS, The fall into sin has also adversely affected every
aspect of creation, including the development and use of these
powerful innovations (Rom. 8:22); and
WHEREAS, Computer algorithms bear no inherent morality, no
eternal soul, no love or fear of God, and no prayerful heart to guide
its decisions; and

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WHEREAS, These tools are designed with the distinct values and
purposes of their fallen human creators in mind; and
WHEREAS, These tools may shape us in subtle, yet meaningful
ways—including our understanding of God, humanity, and the
world around us; and
WHEREAS, AI raises deep, crucial questions that challenge God’s
revelation about what it means to be human, which are often rooted
merely in human capacities rather than in divinely granted
ontological status; and
WHEREAS, We alone, as God’s image bearers, created by the
Father through the Son and given His Holy Spirit in Baptism, bear
the moral responsibility for the development and use of tools (Rom.
12:1–2); and
WHEREAS, AI algorithms could serve as a digital ministry
assistant, creating and curating digital content and communications;
and
WHEREAS, The use of AI (e.g., ChatGPT) is now being
experimented with by churches to create sermons, prayers, images,
hymns, and other resources for use in worship; and
WHEREAS, AI algorithms may soon be tasked to function as
automated chaplains, more available and responsive than other
community members, so that people may come to rely on it for
spiritual sustenance instead of on Word and Sacrament; and
WHEREAS, AI and other emerging technologies afford us
unprecedented opportunities for advancement across industries and
throughout our societies, but may also have dangerous and
dehumanizing outcomes if not utilized with godly wisdom and
discernment; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod state unequivocally that our intrinsic
value is as image bearers—not rooted in what we do or contribute
to society—and that human dignity must be central to any ethical
principles, guidelines, or regulations for any and all uses of these
powerful emerging technologies; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod affirm that God’s unchanging Word is
more than sufficient for whatever ethical challenges, questions, and
opportunities we may face today or in the future as these
technologies continue to be developed and deployed in our
communities; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod acknowledge the powerful nature of
AI and other emerging technologies to potentially draw us from our
reliance on true Word and Sacrament ministry; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod proactively engage and shape these
emerging technologies rather than simply respond to the challenges
of AI and other emerging technologies after they have already
affected our churches and communities; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod encourage all who employ these tools
to do so in honest, transparent, and Christ-like ways that focus on
loving God and loving our neighbor as ourselves (Matt. 22:37–40),
never seeking to willfully deceive others or take advantage of them
for unjust gain or the accumulation of power; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod establish a task force to further study
the use of AI technology in the church; and be it further
Resolved, That the Council of Presidents (COP), the Office of
the President (OTP), and the Commission on Theology and Church
Relations (CTCR) produce a joint document to be presented in a
manner that allows for appropriate theological reflection and study
of the use of AI; and be it finally

2026 Convention Workbook