To Prevent Harmful Philosophies, Ideologies, and Contemporary Movements Contrary to the Christian Faith from Damaging Our Congregations, Schools, Colleges, and Seminaries

WHEREAS, God created all people equal, but not interchangeable (Gen. 1:26–27); and

WHEREAS, God created male and female, and no other gender (Gen. 1:27); and

WHEREAS, The fall into sin ruined and perverted the creation (Gen. 3:14–19), which was once very good (Gen. 1:31), hence an order was instituted by God for the relationship between man and woman (Gen. 3:16); and

WHEREAS, After the fall into sin, man and woman remained equal but not interchangeable (Gen. 3:20); and

WHEREAS, All people are subject to the stain of original sin, but now also have been equally redeemed by the blood of Christ as the only way to be reconciled to God and to each other (Rom. 3:23–26); and

WHEREAS, Because of sin, racism—the sinful notion that some races are inherently superior or inferior to others— misunderstanding, and strife are present in the world and experienced in our congregations and communities; and

WHEREAS, Christ teaches us to love all peoples and nations, and consequently the Synod abhors racism, and in convention has passed resolutions repudiating all racism, (1992 Resolution 3-03;

WHEREAS, Contemporary ideologies and movements such as Black Lives Matter (BLM), Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), and Critical Race Theory (CRT) have become common, multifaceted, and controversial theories, based in non-Christian and anti-Christian tenets, which divide people based solely on the basis of sexual orientation or race; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod reject any doctrine that teaches:

• that one’s race, ancestry, or nationality are inherently superior to the race, ancestry, or nationality of another;

• that any individual is inherently racist, or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously, based solely on hisor her race, ancestry, or nationality;

and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod reject any doctrine that assumes or allows for any categories of gender other than those intrinsic to God’s created order, viz., “male and female” (Gen. 1:27); and be it further

Resolved, That the English District in convention reject BLM, DEI, CRT, and similar ideologies and world views, as they are contrary to Scripture and counterproductive to true racial conversation and reconciliation, for they pursue equality of outcome—equity—between racial groups, which requires treating individuals unequally based on race; and be it further

Resolved, That the district, together with all our congregations, schools, universities, and seminaries, also reject all organizations, ideologies, philosophies, movements, petitions, and doctrines that present the BLM, DEI, or CRT world views, or related anti- Scriptural world views or doctrines in a positive manner; and be it further

Resolved, That the congregations of the district be encouraged to engage members of their communities in conversations that build unity among all men in light of the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ;

and be it further

Resolved, That we commend those within the district who, in the light of our Lord’s charge known as the “Great Commission,” intentionally proclaim and work to reach out with the Gospel of Jesus to all peoples regardless of race, gender, nationality, or ethnicity with the goal of bringing them into the blessed unity we have in Christ our Head (Rom. 12:5; 1 Cor. 12:27; Eph. 2:19–22, 4:25); and be it finally

Resolved, That the district memorialize the Synod as it gathers at its 2023 convention to do the same.