To Prioritize “Living as the Baptized” as a Mission and Ministry Focus for the 2022–2025 Triennium

WHEREAS, Holy Baptism is a treasured gift through which God claims us as His own, forgives our sins, and grants us life and salvation (Rom. 6:3–11; 1 Peter 3:21); and

WHEREAS, We, as baptized children of God, are members of the royal priesthood, living stones “rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious…being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:4–5); and

WHEREAS, Our citizenship as the baptized is in heaven (Phil. 3:20), and as such, we are called to live according to the Word, not the world; and

WHEREAS, Living according to our baptismal identity is becoming more challenging, as norms and values of our post- Christian culture, many of which are rooted in ideas antithetical to God’s Word, exert ever stronger pressure on Christians to think, act, and believe in ways contrary to their God-given identity in Christ; and

WHEREAS, Church membership in the U.S. has continued to decline while the percentage of those claiming no religious affiliation—“nones”—has increased (Gallup Poll, 2021), pointing to a general weakening of Christian identity; and

WHEREAS, Lutherans confirmed in the faith acknowledge in the Rite of Confirmation their intention “to remain steadfast in this confession and church, and to suffer all, even death, rather than fall away from it,” (Lutheran Service Book Agenda, 30) yet a 2017 Synod study of millennials and the church found that Synod is retaining only 33 percent of its young people into adulthood, reflecting general societal trends (“Executive Summary: 2017 Millennial Research”, www.you the source.com/wp- content/uploads/2018/06/Exec-Summary-Millenial-Research- Final RFP.pdf, accessed March 17, 2023); and

WHEREAS, Lack of a strong baptismal identity, especially in the context of an increasingly secular culture, is a serious obstacle in our calling to proclaim, teach, and share the Gospel, leaving the baptized ill-equipped to engage in mission and ministry activities;

therefore be it

Resolved, That the Kansas District and its members prioritize strengtheningbaptismalidentityinthecomingtriennium,equipping and encouraging the baptized to stand firm in the faith and resist being conformed to the world (Rom. 12:2) and to move forward boldly as the baptized people of God to expand the kingdom; and be it further

Resolved, That the district promote the use of resources by congregations and schools designed to strengthen habits central to a strong sense of baptismal identity, including faithful worship, reception of the Lord’s Supper, prayer, Bible study, home devotions, mutual up building, and living out one’s vocation; and be it further

Resolved, That congregations and schools be encouraged to equip the saints in their midst to boldly “proclaim, teach, and share” by providing training and opportunities in evangelism, apologetics, and lifelong disciple ship, with the help of Synod and district resources (Every One His Witness; re:Vitality, “Shepherding the Strays”; Mission Field: USA); and be it finally

Resolved, That the district memorialize the Synod as it gathers at the 2023 Synod convention recommending adoption of a mission and ministry emphasis consistent with helping Lutheran Christians hold fast to their baptismal identity, as is the case with the Synod’s current emphasis of Making Disciples for Life (2019 Resolution 4- 03A, “To Commend to Synod Priorities for Mission and Ministry Emphasis for the 2019–2022 Triennium”).