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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2026, Page 423

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

UNIVERSITY EDUCATION
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.

WHEREAS, Article VII of the Augsburg Confession (AC)
declares, “it is enough to agree about the doctrine of the Gospel and
the administration of the Sacraments. It is not necessary that human
traditions, that is, rites or ceremonies instituted by men, should be
the same everywhere. As Paul says, ‘One Lord, one faith, one
baptism, one God and Father of all’ (Ephesians 4:5–6)” (2–4); and
WHEREAS, According to AC XXVIII: “It is necessary that the
doctrine of Christian freedom be preserved in the churches. In other
words, the bondage of the Law is not necessary in order to be
justified, as it is written in the Epistle to the Galatians, ‘do not
submit again to a yoke of slavery’ (5:1). It is necessary for the chief
article of the Gospel to be preserved, namely that we obtain grace
freely by faith in Christ, and not by certain observances or acts of
worship devised by people. … It is proper to keep such ordinances
just so long as consciences are not burdened to think that they are
necessary to salvation, or to regard it as sin if they are changed
without offending others” (51–52, 56); and
WHEREAS, According to Article X of the Formula of Concord,
Solid Declaration: “As soon as Christian freedom is weakened and
human traditions are forced on the Church with coercion, as though
it were wrong and a sin to omit them, the way is already prepared
for idolatry. In this way, human traditions are multiplied and
regarded as divine worship, not only equal to God’s ordinances, but
even placed above them” (15); and
WHEREAS, There is great benefit in common traditions, rites, and
ceremonies, as stated in AC XXIV, “Our churches are falsely
accused of abolishing the Mass. The Mass is held among us and
celebrated with the highest reverence. Nearly all the usual
ceremonies are also preserved, except that the parts sung in Latin
are interspersed here and there with German hymns. These have
been added to teach the people” (1–2), and stated in 2016
Resolution 4-04A, “To Appeal to the LCMS Congregations,
Workers, and Institutions within Christian Freedom and for Love’s
Sake to Retain a Common Order of Service for the Lord’s Supper,”
although they do not form the basis of our unity or identity, but are
useful for teaching the faith; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod in convention reaffirm the definition
of Lutheran identity as already listed in the Scriptures, the Lutheran
Confessions, and the Synod Constitution, namely that:
1. Lutheran identity is found in the right teaching of the
Gospel and the administration of the Sacraments, not in the
uniformity of human rites, ceremonies, or traditions
instituted by men.
2. Lutheran identity is found in the acceptance of the
Scriptures of the Old and the New Testament as the written,
inerrant Word of God and the only rule and norm of faith
and of practice.
3. Lutheran identity is found in the acceptance of all the
Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church as a
true and unadulterated statement and exposition of the
Word of God;
and be it further

423

Resolved, That all policies and Bylaws of the Synod regarding
Lutheran identity be examined and brought into conformity with the
Scriptures and the Confessions mentioned above.
Michigan District
Ov. 7-06

To Encourage University Worship Practices
Faithful to Scriptures and Confessions and
Reflecting Breadth of Worship in the Synod
WHEREAS, The Synod holds worship as central to the life and
faith of its congregations, universities, and seminaries, reflecting
the church’s commitment to the Scriptures and the Lutheran
Confessions; and
WHEREAS, The Synod encourages congregations “to strive for
uniformity in church practice, but also to develop an appreciation
of a variety of responsible practices and customs which are in
harmony with our common profession of faith” (Const. Art. III 7);
and
WHEREAS, Member congregations of the Synod are permitted to
have a variety of worship practices, provided such practices are
faithful to scriptural teachings and the Lutheran Confessions; and
WHEREAS, The universities of the Synod play a crucial role in
preparing graduates for membership and service within the Synod
and, as such, should reflect the breadth of worship practices found
in member congregations of the Synod; and
WHEREAS, The Synod in convention (2023 Res. 7-04B, “To
revise Bylaws to Revisit and Renew relationship of colleges and
Universities with the Synod”) revised Bylaw subsection 3.6.6 to
direct the Concordia University System (CUS) Board of Directors
to develop and adopt Lutheran Identity Mission Outcome Standards
(LIMOS), which were adopted in February, 2024, including
Identity Standard 2.1, that states, “The ecclesiastical mission and
goals are clearly and consciously pursued in the design and delivery
of campus worship;” and Item 2.1.5 of the LIMOS Evaluation Tool
asks, “How is commitment to the church’s heritage and unity
reflected in the use of liturgies, hymnals, and hymnody?” and
“Describe the regular pattern of chapel services noting liturgies and
hymnals used and those who serve as preacher and liturgists” (CUS,
Lutheran Identity and Mission Outcome Standards with Evaluation
Tool [adopted 2024], 1, 5); and
WHEREAS, Formal visitations were conducted with each of the
universities of the Synod in 2025, during which the following
observations were made regarding campus worship:
• “Chapel services provide a range of Christian worship styles
and liturgies” (CUS, Concordia University Irvine Formal
Visitation Letter of Determination and Report, Mar. 9, 2025,
p. 2).
• “Documented examples and direct observation show the
regular pattern of leadership by ordained clergy and regular
use of LSB liturgies and hymnody. Vestments are regularly
used,” and “Wednesday worship uses LBS [sic] Responsive
Prayer combined with contemporary hymnody and
instrumentation.” (CUS, Concordia University Wisconsin
and Ann Arbor Formal Visitation Letter of Determination
and Report, Feb. 9, 2026, p. 3)
• “Chapel is offered daily Monday through Friday, and uses
the church’s liturgy and hymnody” (CUS, Concordia
University Chicago Formal Visitation Letter of
Determination and Report, Jan. 30, 2026, p. 3).
2026 Convention Workbook