To Continue to Address Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Issues

Preamble Over the course of the 2019–2023 quadrennium, the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) Office of National Mission (ONM) staff reflected on how best to respond to the Synod’s ongoing desired goals, objectives, and possible beneficial actions pertaining to sexual orientation and gender identity issues. The ONM leadership especially considered 2019 Resolution 11-03A, “To Encourage Synod to Develop Resources to Aid Congregations and Schools regarding Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Issues,” particularly its eight resolved statements:

Resolved, That the LCMS in convention affirm and faithfully confess the biblical truth that God created humanity as male and female; and be it further

Resolved, That we regard all those who experience sexual orientation and gender identity issues as our neighbors, beloved of God, and therefore condemn acts of abuse committed against them; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod in convention gives thanks for those individuals who, despite same-sex attraction or gender identity confusion, continue to live chaste and decent lives in repentant faith, and that LCMS congregations, districts, and Synod entities seek the counsel and leadership of such individuals in developing faithful approaches to minister to those who experience same- sex attraction and gender identity confusion; and be it further

Resolved, That pastors and congregations of the Synod be encouraged to minister compassionately to those who experience sexual orientation and gender identity issues through prayer, the proclamation of Law and Gospel, the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, corporate and individual confession and absolution, the proper administration of the Lord’s Supper, the mutual conversation and consolation of the brothers and sisters, and pastoral care; and be it further

Resolved, That pastors and congregations of the Synod be encouraged to minister compassionately to the families, friends, and all others impacted by those who experience same-sex attraction, those who are involved in same-sex relationships, and those whose sexual self-understanding is shaped by a distressing conflict between their biological sex and their perceived gender identity through prayer, the proclamation of Lawand Gospel, the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, corporate and individual confession and absolution, the proper administration of the Lord’s Supper, the mutual conversation and consolation of the brothers and sisters, and pastoral care; and be it further

Resolved, That church workers and congregations in the Synod be encouraged to utilize the following CTCR reports: Human Sexuality: A Theological Perspective; Response to Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust; The Creator’s Tapestry: Scriptural Perspectives on Man-Woman Relationships in Marriage and the Church; and Gender Identity Disorder or Gender Dysphoria in Christian Perspective; as well as the treatment of these matters in Luther’s Small Catechism with Explanation (Concordia Publishing House, 2017); and be it further

Resolved, That the CTCR be directed to prioritize the updating of the 1981 study, Human Sexuality; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod in convention direct the Office of National Mission, Concordia Publishing House, the seminaries, and the Concordia University System to continue to provide resources that enable the church to confess the truth boldly and minister compassionately both to those who experience sexual orientation and gender identity issues and those who care for them. The ONM eventually determined to establish an ad hoc task force to undertake further study, immediately feasible actions and the development of recommendations aimed at future Synod actions, and initiatives to address sexual orientation and gender identity issues. The ONM is grateful for the direct participation of the following individuals on the ad hoc task force, chaired by Rev. Christopher Esget (Immanuel Lutheran Church, Alexandria, Va.); Rev. Kevin Robson (Chief Mission Officer); Deac. Dr. Tiffany Manor (ONM); Dr. Mark Rock en bach (faculty member, Concordia Seminary); Ms. Nicole Chappell (ONM); Dr. Gifford Grobien (faculty member, Concordia Theological Seminary); Rev. Kevin Karner (Immanuel Lutheran Church, Bristol, Conn.); Rev Jonathan Lange (St. Paul Lutheran Church, Kemmerer, Wyo. and Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Evanston, Wyo.); Rev Brian Barlow (Resurrection Lutheran Church, Quartz Hill, Calif.); and Rev Jared Melius (Mt. Zion Lutheran Church, Denver, Colo.). Thead-hoc task force sought to: study, summarize and articulate the current state of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity resources available to Synod’s people and institutions; determine the preferred means of elevating awareness and increasing the use of such resources in the mission and ministry of our congregations, schools, and families; identify and prioritize additional resource development according to current, and future needs; and to outline learnings, recommendations, and future planned work emerging from these outcomes. Pandemic constraints did not allow the task force to complete all of the objectives during the quadrennium. In view of the still-applicable whereas statements of 2019 Res. 11- 03A (Proceedings, 215–16), which are entrusted to delegates to criticality of the work described above, this ad hoc task force is hereby commending, through the LCMS Board for National Mission, the following overture to the 2023 Synod convention.

WHEREAS, In the beginning God created man in his own image, “male and female, he created them” (Gen. 1:27); and

WHEREAS, As the Small Catechism (SC) teaches, “I believe that God has made me and all creatures. He has given me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my members” (SC II, First Article); and

WHEREAS, After humanity’s fall into sin, Jesus again affirmed God’s continuing work: that from the beginning he created them “male and female” (Matt. 19:4); and

WHEREAS, All sexual corruption and confusion result from humanity’s fall into sin and often lead to rebellious and sinful acts against God’s will (James 1:14–15); and

WHEREAS, All sexual acts outside of faithful, biblical marriage, which is between one man and one woman, are sinful and contrary to God’s will (Rom. 13:13; 1 Cor. 6:9–11); and

WHEREAS, Sex, a physical reality created by God, is now considered by many in our culture to be a social construct; and

WHEREAS, The Federal Government of the United States has ruled that marriages may be contracted between two persons of the same sex; and

WHEREAS, The Body of Christ has been called to proclaim His saving Gospel to all the world, including those who are uncertain whether they are “truly” male or female (this does not include intersex individuals, see ex cursus in LCMS Commission on Theology and Church Relations [CTCR], Gender Identity Disorder or Gender Dysphoria in Christian Perspective), those who present themselves as members of the opposite sex in dress and physical appearance, and those who participate in hormonal and/or surgical procedures in an attempt to modify their anatomy from male to female or from female to male; and

WHEREAS, We are called to preach repentance and forgiveness of sins with clarity and compassion to all; and

WHEREAS, The LCMS parochial schools, congregations, seminaries, the Concordia University System (CUS), and individuals in our Synod are experiencing mounting pressure as a result of cultural and legal changes; and

WHEREAS, LCMS church workers and laity have asked for guidance in pastoral care for individuals and families struggling with matters of same-sex attraction and sexual identity issues; and

WHEREAS, The Church is called to support and proclaim the Gospel to all those who struggle with the corrupting power of concupiscence, including those with the propensity toward amyriad of sexual sins and identity confusion; and

WHEREAS, The LCMS has produced resources such as the following CTCR reports: Gender Identity Disorder or Gender Dysphoria in Christian Perspective (adopted Sept. 2014); Human Sexuality: A Theological Perspective (adopted Sept. 1981); Response to Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust (adopted April 2012); and The Creator’s Tapestry: Scriptural Perspectives on Man- Woman Relationships in Marriage and the Church (adopted Dec. 2009); as well as the treatment of these matters in Luther’s Small Catechism with Explanation (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House [CPH], 2017); and

WHEREAS, The ONM has already established an ad hoc Created Male and Female task force in response to 2019 Res. 11-03A which has begun work on these and related issues; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod direct the continuance of said task force for the new triennium, consisting of the current ad-hoc task force members (which includes parish pastors, commissioned church workers, representation from the Council of Presidents, ONM, and the seminaries), and also add to the existing membership as necessary, to include but not be limited to representation from LCMS Communications, CUS, and CPH; and be it further

Resolved, That the task force consider conducting field research;

and be it further

Resolved, That the task force recommend and advocate for strategies and structural approaches to better serve the Church and address the challenges posed by contemporary sexual ethics, and recommend and coordinate implementation with Synod entities and organizations that will best deliver resources to the Church; and be it finally

Resolved, That the task force report to the next Synod convention its work and further recommendations.