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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2026, Page 422

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

422

UNIVERSITY EDUCATION

WHEREAS, 2023 Resolution 7-04B, “To Revise Bylaws to
Revisit and Renew Relationship of Colleges and Universities with
the Synod” (Proc., 170–90), narrowed the role of CUS by relieving
it of operational responsibilities, allowing it to focus on our
universities’ Lutheran identity and mission; and
WHEREAS, CUS, under the leadership of its Board of Directors
(BOD) and new staff, has taken up the challenge of this mission and
made great strides toward an established, lasting approach that
implements the Synod’s convention decisions while honoring the
necessary academic freedom and autonomy of our institutions; and
WHEREAS, CUS, a synodwide corporate entity, serves as a buffer
between corporate Synod and its five universities, implementing the
directions of the Synod’s conventions while maintaining the degree
of separation required by national accrediting boards for our
institutions; and
WHEREAS, CUS provides a legal buffer between corporate Synod
and our universities, as attested by its not being involved in any
legal disputes; and
WHEREAS, The presence of CUS staff and visitation teams on our
campuses has produced significant positive results in relationship
building and the growth of trust; and
WHEREAS, CUS, as a synodwide corporate entity, through the
visitation process has produced positive improvements in the focus
on Lutheran identity and mission on our campuses as attested to by
the formal visitation team reports and letters of determination; and
WHEREAS, The Concordia University System Education
Network (CUEnet) provides the online program for teacher
colloquy, the first six courses for colloquy for the other
commissioned ministry categories, and other resources as a
common enterprise of the several universities through the CUS as a
synodwide corporate entity; and
WHEREAS, CUS has been endowed by private donors with a
substantial foundation consisting of many restricted funds for
student scholarships and institutional support that is the sole
property of CUS; and
WHEREAS, The floor committee overseeing the drafting and
adoption of 2023 Res. 7-04B never considered changing the status
of CUS as a synodwide corporate entity; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod in convention affirm and sustain CUS
as a synodwide corporate entity in perpetuity; and be it further
Resolved, That the endowments entrusted to CUS remain solely
under its ownership and stewardship; and be it further
Resolved, That the implementation of 2023 Res. 7-04B continue
unabated; and be it further
Resolved, That the effective implementation of 2023 Res. 7-04B
by CUS be evaluated by an independent task force to be formed by
the 2032 Synod convention to bring recommendations and/or
resolutions for consideration to the 2035 Synod convention; and be
it further
Resolved, That the CUS BOD and staff be commended for their
work so far; and be it finally
Resolved, That the Synod give thanks to God for the work of the
CUS and our universities in carrying out their mission, pledging
continued prayer, financial support, and encouragement.
St. John
Springfield, PA

2026 Convention Workbook

Ov. 7-04

To Define and Affirm Lutheran Identity
WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod states in
Article II of its Constitution:
The Synod, and every member of the Synod, accepts without
reservation:
1. The Scriptures of the Old and the New Testament as the written
Word of God and the only rule and norm of faith and of practice;
2. All the Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church as
a true and unadulterated statement and exposition of the Word of
God, to wit: the three Ecumenical Creeds (the Apostles’ Creed,
the Nicene Creed, the Athanasian Creed), the Unaltered
Augsburg Confession, the Apology of the Augsburg Confession,
the Smalcald Articles, the Large Catechism of Luther, the Small
Catechism of Luther, and the Formula of Concord.

therefore be it
Resolved, That the term Lutheran identity be defined solely by
the Scriptures and Lutheran Confessions; and be it further
Resolved, That the term Lutheran identity be defined first and
foremost according to Article IV of the Augsburg Confession: “Our
churches teach that people cannot be justified before God by their
own strength, merits, or words. People are freely justified for
Christ’s sake, through faith, when they believe that they are
received into favor and that their sins are forgiven for Christ’s sake.
By His death, Christ made satisfaction for our sins. God counts this
faith for righteousness in His sight (Romans 3 and 4 [3:21–26;
4:5]),” and not in a manner that adds moral, ethical, cultural, legal,
or political requirements or preferences to the Evangelical Lutheran
confession; and be it further
Resolved, That the term Lutheran identity be affirmed as
adherence to the Scriptures and Lutheran Confessions alone,
understanding that “the churches will not condemn one another
because of differences in ceremonies when, in Christian liberty, one
has less or more of them” (FC SD X 31), and rejoicing in the
Evangelical Lutheran foundation of grace alone, faith alone,
Scripture alone, and Christ alone as the foundation of the Lutheran
Confessions; and be it finally
Resolved, That the Pacific Southwest District in convention
memorialize the Synod in convention to ensure the existing
“Lutheran Identity and Mission Outcome Standards” (LIMOS)
(cus.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/LIMOS-EvaluationTool.pdf) used in the visitation of our Concordia Universities are in
alignment with this definition of Lutheran identity.
Pacific Southwest District
Ov. 7-05

To Define and Affirm Lutheran Identity
WHEREAS, The term Lutheran identity is used without having a
clear definition, nor having scriptural or confessional references;
and
WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod states in
Article II of its Constitution:
The Synod, and every member of the Synod, accepts without
reservation:
1. The Scriptures of the Old and the New Testament as the written
Word of God and the only rule and norm of faith and of practice;
2. All the Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church as
a true and unadulterated statement and exposition of the Word of