To Reject All Forms of Racism and Affirm Our Witness to All People

WHEREAS, Scripture reveals that all people are created in the image of God, one human race, one common humanity, no matter what our outward distinctions might be (Gen. 1:26–27, 9:6; Acts 17:25–26), giving every human inherent value (Psalm 139:13–14); and

WHEREAS, In Jesus, God became man and so identifies fully with every human being (Matt. 1:1–17; Luke 3:23–38), His mission of redemption is for all of mankind (Heb. 2:17), and in Him the value of every person in the eyes of God is verified (John 3:16–17); and

WHEREAS, The apostle Peter said, “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him” (Acts 10:34– 35); and

WHEREAS, James says, “If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors” (James 2:8–9); and

WHEREAS, Contrary to Scripture, there are ideologies that determine human worth and value in other ways, such as genetics, biology, physical characteristics, cultural heritage, or historical experiences; and

WHEREAS, In common speech, “race” distinguishes people according to skin color and geographical heritage; and

WHEREAS, The Synod in convention adopted 2019 Resolution 11-04A, “To Affirm the Common Humanity of All People and Ethnicities,” which states: “Racism is defined as: (1) A belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race (www.merriam- webster.com/dictionary/racism); and (2) Prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one’s own race is superior (www.lexico.com/en/definition/racism)” (Proceedings, 217); and

WHEREAS, Racism thus defined denies biblical truth as it claims that some races are inherently superior to others; and

WHEREAS, There are contemporary movements, methodologies, and ideologies that seek to address racism such as Black Lives Matter (BLM); Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI); and Critical Race Theory (CRT); and

WHEREAS, BLM, DEI, and CRT are multifaceted and include controversial aspects and theories as well as some explicitly unbiblical tenets; and

WHEREAS, Elements of the BLM organizational philosophy, certain DEI policies, and some proponents of CRT often divide people on the basis of race and may therefore promote another form of racism; and

WHEREAS, Additional contemporary ideologies and movements such as Nazism, White Supremacy, and White Nationalism espouse unbiblical aspects, theories, and tenets; and

WHEREAS, Nazism, White Supremacy, and White Nationalism divide people on the basis of race, therefore promoting racism; and

WHEREAS, The Church exists to call the world to repent of sin including racial and ethnic division and discrimination, and to proclaim that Christ Himself is our peace and that we are reconciled to God and one another only through Him (Eph. 2:14–16; Acts 17:30–31); therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) rejects any doctrine or ideology that teaches the superiority of one race, ancestry, or nationality over another or that teaches that an individual is inherently racist or oppressive because of his or her race, ancestry, or nationality;

and be it further

Resolved, That Synod’s congregations and church workers, and its national and district workers, in teaching the scriptural truth that Christ is the Savior of all people of every color and ethnicity, recognize the need for humility and acknowledge our past failures in this regard (James 4:6); and be it further

Resolved, That Synod’s congregations and church workers, and its national and district workers, engage vigorously in the Great Commission to see all people of every color and ethnicity come to faith in Christ and be incorporated in LCMS congregations; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod recognize that members of LCMS congregations may seek to address racism in various ways, and we commit to love one another in Christ, seeking to find common ground in our confession of the Word of God; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod continue to utilize the 1994 Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR) Report Racism and the Church: Overcoming the Idolatry, develop additional resources to combat racism, and work collaboratively to proclaim God’s love for all people in Christ;

and be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod in convention direct the CTCR to examine, from a biblical perspective, the issues around race and racism central to contemporary discussions and life, including movements, methodologies, and ideologies that divide people by race