To Encourage Faithful Youth Ministry and to Initiate Synodwide Study of Generation Alpha

WHEREAS, Our Lord Jesus Christ has commanded His Church to make disciples of all nations by baptizing and teaching the baptized (Matt. 28:19–20), and to raise up successive generations in the faith; and

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, through the Office of National Mission (ONM) (Youth Ministry in particular), has conducted research to help congregations better understand and retain Millennials, notably publishing Relationships Count: Engaging & Retaining Millennials, a three-phase research project that used surveys and focus groups to gain a deeper understanding of retention rates of young people in the Synod; and

WHEREAS, The Relationships Count project and its associated resources have emphasized the importance of sustained, faithful relationships (pastoral, congregational, peer, and family)in forming and keeping young adults integrated in the Church; and congregations that prioritize sustained Gospel-centered relationships are better positioned to shepherd youth into adult disciple ship; and

WHEREAS, The Relationships Count project attempted some forecasting of the spiritual care needs of Generation Z youth in the final chapter of the published book, making use of and interpreting data collected in other demographic and sociological studies; and

WHEREAS, Such broader, nationally representative research shows important context about the religious lives of American adolescents: as of a 2020 Pew Research Center study, about 63 percent of U.S. teenagers (ages 13–17) identify as Christian, compared with a higher share (72%) among their parents; a small set (4%) of U.S. teenagers (ages 13–17) are affiliated with non- Christian faiths; and fully a third (32%) of U.S. teenagers are religiously unaffiliated; additionally, Pew found that roughly four in ten U.S. teens report attending religious services at least once or twice a month, with about one-third reporting weekly attendance, and that the attendance of both teenagers and their parents is mostly identical, percentage-wise; this data highlights both the continuing presence of faith among many teenagers and the pastoral challenge of forming regular worship and faith practices among them and their families (Religious affiliation among American adolescents, pew research.org/religion/2020/09/10/religious-affiliation-among- american-adolescents, accessed March 20, 2026); and

WHEREAS, Long-standing youth and religion research (including the National Study of Youth and Religion and related projects) has repeatedly shown that family practice, congregational relationships, and accessible catechesis matter greatly in whether adolescents articulate and continue in a robust Christian faith into adulthood; and

WHEREAS, A new generational cohort, commonly labeled Generation Alpha (roughly children born beginning around 2010), is coming of age in distinct cultural and technological circumstances that differ from Millennials and Gen Z; and understanding Generation Alpha’s particular formation patterns, media ecosystems, family structures, and religious orientations will help the Synod equip pastors, teachers, and other church workers to help them and their families to grow in the Christian faith and piety; and

WHEREAS, The Synod benefits when the ONM, auxiliaries such as Lutheran Hour Ministries, and recognized service organizations (RSO) (such as Higher Things) collaborate to produce research and resources that are both academically sound and past orally useful;

therefore be it

Resolved, That the 2026 Synod convention give thanks to God for the work of LCMS Youth Ministry, Concordia Publishing House, Higher Things, and countless pastors, teachers, other church workers, youth leaders, and parents, who have labored faithfully to serve children, adolescents, and young adults across the Synod; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod give continued thanks for the Relationships Count research and resources, and for the practical guidance it has supplied to congregations seeking to form young people in the faith; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod directs the ONM, through LCMS Youth Ministry in cooperation with applicable partners and RSOs, to undertake or commission a focused, methodological ly rigorous study of Generation Alpha and their families within the Synod’s congregations and schools; and that the purpose of such a study be to identify (1) patterns of religious identity and practice among Generation Alpha, (2) formative influences (family, school, digital media, peers), and (3) concrete, theologically faithful pastoral and educational strategies congregations can employ to baptize, catechize, and nurture this generation in the Christian faith; and be it further

Resolved, That the ONM then produce at least a publicly available summary of findings, along with a set of practical implementation resources (for congregations, districts, and schools) that prioritize baptismal catechesis, regular worship participation, Lutheran doctrine and practice, parental support, and sustained relational ministry, so congregations of all sizes may readily apply the findings in local ministry contexts; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod give thanks to God for the faithful service of pastors, teachers, other church workers, youth workers, congregational leaders, and volunteers throughout the Synod, and commend to the Church’s continued prayer and support those who labor to bring the Gospel to our young people and to form them in the life of the Church.