To Love Our Neighbor by Rebuking False Doctrine

WHEREAS, Our Lord Jesus Christ, who has all authority in heaven and on earth, commands us to make disciples by baptizing in the triune name and by teaching all that He has commanded (Matt. 28:18–20); and

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Confessions, because they are a right exposition of God’s Word stand as the doctrinal standard for our congregations, church body, and its institutions, confess that “the sole rule and standard according to which all dogmas together with [all] teachers should be evaluated and judged are the prophetic and apostolic Scriptures of the Old and of the New Testament alone” (Formula of Concord Epitome [FC Ep.] Summary, Rule, and Norm 1); and

WHEREAS, In our times ideologies by various names have arisen which reject both the authority and truth of God’s Word, claiming as authoritative standard for judgment each person’sindividual self- determination, as shaped by categories including class, race, sex, perceived gender identity, sexual preference, economic condition, and/or the intersection of any perceived grievances; and

WHEREAS, After the fall into sin humankind has done injustice and suffered evils that perpetuate our poor, miserable condition, which evokes in the Christian the compassionate, loving desire for prudent works of mercy as ordered by God’s Word, and the commitment to give bold, clear and steadfast witness to Jesus as the One who is our true peace and who alone breaks down dividing walls of hostility, reconciling us to God and each other through His blood shed on the cross (Eph. 2:13–22); and

WHEREAS, Some prevailing ideologies confuse belief in and commitment to “diversity,” “equity,” and “inclusion” (as popularly understood) as constitutive of “righteousness,” prescribing social policies as the means by which the human condition will be made right; and

WHEREAS, Belief in false doctrine and participation in its practices are fatal to Christian faith and disciple ship, and yet many of our children and institutions may be led into error through ignorance of these false doctrines,or lack of preparation in how best to love our suffering neighbors as Christians, as the Lord says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge”(Hosea4:6a);therefore be it

Resolved, That the members of the congregations of the Indiana District examine themselves and repent where they have failed to love their neighbors by not rebuking false doctrine (2 Tim. 4:1–7; Eph. 4:14–15; Gal. 6:1); and be it further

Resolved, That the pastors and congregations of the district affirm their confession of the authority of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, as well as affirm their confession that “the sole rule and standard according to which all dogmas together with [all] teachers should be evaluated and judged are the prophetic and apostolic Scriptures of the Old and of the New Testament alone” (FC Ep. Summary, Rule, and Norm 1); and be it further

Resolved, That the pastors and congregations of the district identify as false doctrine and condemn any ideology, doctrine, teaching,or movement which claims the authority of an individual’s self-determination over and above the Lord God speaking in His Word (Deut. 12:8; Prov. 12:15; Jer. 23:28), by whatever diversity of name(s) these ideologies may clearly be known; and be it further

Resolved, That the pastors and congregations of the district reject any organization, trainings, movement, or ethic, by whatever diversity of name(s) they may clearly be known, which promise righteousness through social action, perpetuates discontent through grievance, reduces the human person’s essence to such categories like those listed above, or contradicts the Word and there by the unity Christians have in it (2 Cor. 6:14–16; FC Ep. Summary, Rule, and Norm 1; Eph. 4:1–16; Gal. 1:6–10); and be it further

Resolved, That the pastors and congregations of the district call on their members to love their neighbors as Christians, rejecting policy and language which come from worldly presuppositions, but instead discovering ways to show mercy to their neighbors within the framework of Holy Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions for what constitutes righteousness, just action for the love of neighbor, and unity through repentant faith in Christ Jesus (Matt. 12:30; John 14:6); and be it further

Resolved, That the Indiana District President, on behalf of the district, exhort, encourage, and assist the education institutions of the district (which are under direct assault from these false teachings and social actions) to remain steadfast in believing, teaching, and confessing the authority of God in His Word, and not to use “commitment to and belief in diversity, equity, and inclusion” as a rule or standard to evaluate those serving in them; and be it finally

Resolved, That the district in convention memorialize the 2023 Synod convention to exhort, encourage, and assist the educational institutions of our church body (which are under direct assault from these false teachings and social actions) to remain steadfast in believing, teaching, and confessing the authority of God in His Word, andnot to use“commitment to and belief in diversity, equity, and inclusion” as a rule or standard to evaluate those serving in them.