To Study, and To Make Recommendations to Stop and Reverse, Long Decline in Synod Membership

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, founded in 1847, has historically been one of the largest Lutheran bodies in the United States; and

WHEREAS, The Synod has always placed a strong emphasis on confessional fidelity, education, and mission work; and

WHEREAS, The Synod has experienced periods of remarkable growth, especially after World War II, leading to a peak in membership in the latter half of 20th century; and

WHEREAS, In 1980, the Synod reported 2,719,319 baptized members; 6,048 congregations; 1,453 elementary schools; 59 high schools; 11 colleges in the United States; and three seminaries (one in Canada); and

WHEREAS, In 2024, the Synod reported 1,635,076 baptized members; 5,794 congregations; 660 elementary schools; and 114 high schools; 5 colleges; and two seminaries; and

WHEREAS, This decline reflects the aging of our membership, lower birth rates, fewer young families joining our congregations, rural depopulation, and the increasing secularization of our culture; and

WHEREAS, The faithfulness of the Synod to Holy Scripture, the Lutheran Confessions, the proper distinction between Law and Gospel, and the Great Commission, along with our traditional forms of worship, are still our greatest strengths and the means through which the Holy Spirit grows Christ’s Church; therefore be it

Resolved, That a synodwide conversation be encouraged to take place over the next triennium involving all our congregations, circuit forums, districts, schools, colleges, seminaries, and all other agencies of our church regarding this long trending decline, how to slow it, and ultimately reverse it; and be it further

Resolved, That this synodwide conversation include wherever possible essayists, trained speakers and facilitators with knowledge of the subject, panel discussions, informative videos, and printed material; and be it further

Resolved, That appropriate agencies of the Synod, such as our seminaries and/or the Board for National Mission along with Concordia Publishing House, prepare conversation and study materials to facilitate this synodwide conversation, as well as develop formats by which results and recommendations of these conversations can be submitted to the appropriate agencies for compilation, editing, summarization, recommendations, proposals, and synodwide publication before the 2029 Synod convention; and be it finally

Resolved, That every baptized member of our congregations be encouraged to continue steadfastly in prayer for the success of the Gospel and the prospering of the Synod, that the decline would be stopped, and that a great harvest of souls would be brought in and continue to be added to the church to the end that “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:10–11).