To Reject Critical Race Theory and Its Worldview in the Church

WHEREAS, God has created all people and they are blood related going back to our mutual fathers, Adam and Noah, and all are subject to the stain of original sin, but now also have been equally redeemed by the blood of Christ in order to be reconciled to God and to each other (Gen. 1:26–28, Genesis 10, Rom. 5:12–21, 1 Cor. 15:20–23); and

WHEREAS, God desires that all people of every nation and ethnicity be baptized, believe in Him, and be saved (Matt. 28:18– 20, Mark 16:16–17, John 3:16–17, 1 Tim. 2:3–6); and

WHEREAS, God’s Word 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 of the transgressors” (James 2:8–9); and

WHEREAS, The Synod in convention has passed resolutions in past conventions repudiating all racism, for example, 1992 Resolution3-03,“To Combat All Racism”(Proceedings,113–114), and 2019 Res. 11-04A, “To Affirm the Common Humanity of All People and Ethnicities” (Proceedings, 216–218); and

WHEREAS, Critical Race Theory (CRT) has become a common, multifaceted, and controversial theory for discussion of contemporary race relations; therefore be it

Resolved, that the Southern Illinois District confess that there is one human family, descended from Adamand Noah, and that God’s desire is for all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth; and be it further

Resolved, That the district call upon all her members to love their neighbors as themselves, and to seek to live in peace and harmony with all people by proclaiming that Jesus is Lord, and bringing forth the fruits of faith in serving the neighbor; and be it further

Resolved, That the district reject the worldview of CRT, as it is contrary to Scripture and counterproductive to true racial conversation and reconciliation, for it pursues equality of outcome (“equity”) between racial groups, which requires treating individuals unequally based on race; and be it further

Resolved, That the district reject all organizations, movements, petitions, and theological language that support the worldview of CRT in a positive manner; and be it further

Resolved, That the district reject any doctrine, such as that proposed by CRT,that teaches that an individual is inherently racist, or oppressive,whether consciously or unconsciously,because of his or her race, ancestry, or nationality; and be it finally

Resolved, That the district submit this resolution as an overture to the 2023 Synod convention.