To Protect Christian Consciences

WHEREAS, Christians are called to“render to God what is God’s” (Luke 20:25) and to “obey God rather than man” (Acts 5:29); and

WHEREAS, Christians are called to “obey their magistrates save when they are commanded to sin” (Apology of the Augsburg Confession XVI 6–7); and

WHEREAS, The Holy Scriptures teach that man is not free to bind the conscience of another to a merely human commandment (Gal. 5:1–6; Rom. 14); and

WHEREAS, There are increased attacks on Christian conscience; such attacks including, but not limited to attacking Biblical authority regarding the sanctity of human life, human sexuality, Christian marriage, necessity of in-person Christian worship, enforced masking, vaccine mandates, and other issues of Christian conscience; and

WHEREAS, This is clearly evidenced not only anecdotally, but also concretely, for instance, by the recent Equality Act in the United States Congress (H.R.5), negating application of The Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (see Sec. 1107), and redefining sex beyond the Biblical teaching (see Sec. 1101); and

WHEREAS, This violation of conscience is a violation of one’s Christian freedom and Christian wisdom and may result in sin; and

WHEREAS, There is historic success in claiming religious exemption from violations of conscience on the basis of Religious Freedom in America (e.g. Philadelphia v. Catholic Social Services [2021], The Lutheran Church–-Missouri Synod v. FCC [1998], or Meyer v. Nebraska [1923]); therefore be it

Resolved, That the South Wisconsin District, congregations and their members abstain from every teaching of men that violates their Christian consciences bound to God’s Word alone in every sphere of life; and be it further

Resolved, That the district, congregations, and their members be encouraged to speak and act in a Christian manner against such breaches of conscience in their daily vocations; and be it further

Resolved, That the district give its full assistance of every kind to any congregation of the district or member of a district congregation in securing religious exemption from teachings and practices contrary to God’s Word; and be it finally

Resolved, That the district in convention refer this matter to the