To Build Diverse Synod United in Christ

WHEREAS, The Scriptures teach that all Christians are brothers and sisters in Christ, no matter how different we might be, for example:

• Isaiah 11:10 (NIV), “In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious”;

• Galatians 3:26–29 (NIV), “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise”; and

• Revelation 7:9 (NIV), “After this I looked and there before mewasagreat multitude that noone could count, from every nation,tribe,people and language,standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb”; and

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS), our districts, our congregations, and other partner ministries have embraced this unity in Christ by reaching out to new neighbors, people of many ethnicities and races, children, youth, expectant mothers, those with physical and developmental challenges, those suffering from debilitation of age, those coming out of incarceration, and many other challenges throughout the years; and

WHEREAS, We have not been perfect. In far too many ways we have failed to embrace all of God’s children in Christ; therefore be it

Resolved, That the members of the LCMS give God thanks for the ways that God has used our hands to minister to such a diverse group of people, especially in the ways that God has used us to serve the weakest and most vulnerable among us; and be it further

Resolved, That we repent of the ways that we have been un welcoming or brought division with those who are different from us in some way or turned our back on those in need; and beit further

Resolved, That we rejoice in the forgiveness of Christ and the opportunities that God continues to give to us; and be it further

Resolved, That we encourage our congregations and entities to be places where all Christians are honored as brothers and sisters in Christ, no matter the outward differences; and be it further

Resolved, That we celebrate the variety of cultural expressions of the Gospel among the congregations and ministries of our Synod;

and be it further

Resolved, That we support our ethnic and urban congregations and ministries in their work; and be it further

Resolved, That we give our support to those specialized ministries that support the vulnerable among us; and be it further

Resolved, That we diligently prepare both pastoral and lay leaders for a variety of settings with our full support and encouragement of the traditional, Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology (EIIT), Center for Hispanic Studies, and Specific Ministry Pastor seminary programs and the programs of our universities; and be it further

Resolved, That we seek out every opportunity that God gives to us to share the Gospel with people of every nation, tribe, people and language among us; and be it further

Resolved, That we give thanks to God for His forgiveness in Christ, and that He continues to use our weak, trembling hands in His service (Psalm 90:17); and be it finally

Resolved, That this resolution be passed to the glory of God and in loving tribute to the sainted professors Dr. Kou Seying, former Associate Deanfor Urbanand Cross-Cultural Ministry at Concordia Seminary (CSL) and Dr. John Loum, former Director of the EIIT program at CSL, whose vision was a diverse Synod, united in Christ.