To Direct Offices of National and International Mission to Deny or Revoke Recognized Service Organization Status for Organizations Supporting, Advocating, or Otherwise Promoting LGBTQIA+ Agenda and Lifestyle, and To Amend Bylaws 6.2.3–4

WHEREAS, Since before the fall into sin, God created human beings male and female (Gen. 1:27); and

WHEREAS, Since before the fall into sin, God gave man and woman to be husband and wife (Gen. 2:24); and

WHEREAS, After the fall into sin, God reiterates that he still gives man and woman to be husband and wife in marriage (Matt. 19:5; Mark 10:7; Eph. 5:31); and

WHEREAS, Sin is anything that goes contrary to God’s purpose and design (1 John 5:17); and

WHEREAS, Our country has adopted policies and practices that uphold, promote, and uplift LGBTQIA+ positions on gender, sexuality, and marriage that are contrary to God’s design and are therefore sinful according to God’s Word (e.g. ruling that marriage is no longer exclusively the lifelong union of one man and one woman); and

WHEREAS, The LGBTQIA+ community is supported, uplifted, and celebrated at many times and places (e.g. Pride month, Pride parades, etc.); and

WHEREAS, The Christian is called to not follow in the deeds of darkness, but rather, is to lead a holy and God-pleasing life (Eph. 5:11; 1 Peter 2:9); and

WHEREAS, Such a God-pleasing life does not seek to remain in sin nor to celebrate it, but repents of it, receives forgiveness for it, and strives to sin no more (Rom. 6:1–2; Psalm 32:5; John 8:11); and

WHEREAS, The Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR) published a report on marriage and sexuality entitled, A Chaste and Decent Life: An Update to Human Sexuality 1981, which concludes that, “attitudes towards gender identity and dysphoria, homosexuality and homosexual marriage, and societal pressures regarding sexuality, among others, have changed markedly in the last four decades,” yet still maintaining that “God’s intention for human sexuality does not change” (LCMS CTCR, [adopted 2022], 37); and

WHEREAS, The Synod has upheld and reaffirmed such positions regarding marriage and sexuality, as recently as the 2023 Synod convention (Resolution 5-11, “To Reaffirm Synod’s Biblical Positions on Marriage and Sexuality”); and

WHEREAS, The granting of recognized service organization (RSO) status by the Synod “signifies that a service organization, while independent of the Synod, fosters the mission and ministry of the church,engages in program activity that extends the mission and ministry of the Synod, is in harmony with the programs of the Synod, and respects and does not act contrary to the doctrine and practice of the Synod” (Bylaw 6.2.1); and

WHEREAS, Many resources from the Synod and its partners (Lutheran Church Extension Fund, Concordia Plan Services, etc.) are made available to the RSOs of the Synod to support their work; and

WHEREAS, The Office of National Mission (ONM) and the Office of International Mission (OIM) are tasked with the granting of RSO status (Bylaw 6.2.4); and

WHEREAS, Lutheran Community Services Northwest (LCSNW) and Lutheran Social Services of Northern California (LSSNor CA) have both been granted RSO status; and

WHEREAS, LCSNW, as recently as June of 2024, participated in an annual Spokane Pride Parade “as they do every year” in an effort to make their communities “more healthy, just, hopeful and [sic] Prideful for all,” (“Pride is more than a month at LCSNW; it’s a mindset to serve LGBTQ clients,” lcsnw.org/2024/06/pride-is- more-than-a-month”, accessed Oct. 1, 2024); and

WHEREAS, LSSNor CA stands with the LGBTQIA+ community and proudly supports them, as stated in a 2023 letter from the CEO of the LSSNor CA (“Statement on LGBTQIA+ Pride,” lssnorcal.org/file_download/b8699925-8345-437f-8cda- dad7d95d3d77, accessed Oct. 1, 2024); therefore be it

Resolved, That the RSO status of LCSNW and LSSNor CA be terminated immediately; and be it further

Resolved, That Synod members support and encourage their respective district presidents as they go about their task given them in Bylaw 6.2.1 (c) of overseeing the RSOs under their ecclesiastical supervision; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod direct the ONM and OIM to decline any applications for RSO status received from any organization supporting, uplifting, celebrating, or otherwise promoting LGBTQIA+ groups, agendas, thoughts, ideas, ideals, etc., including organizations seeking RSO status that are partnered with an organization supporting, advocating, or otherwise promoting the same; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod direct the ONM and OIM to not grant or renew RSO status to any organization supporting, uplifting, celebrating, or otherwise promoting LGBTQIA+ groups, agendas, thoughts, ideas, ideals, etc., including organizations seeking RSO status that are partnered with an organization supporting, uplifting, celebrating, or otherwise promoting LGBTQIA+ groups, agendas, thoughts, ideas, ideals, etc.; and be it further

Resolved, That Bylaw 6.2.3 be amended as follows: PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING 6.2.3 Program administration shall be carried out by the Offices of National and International Mission according to these bylaws, and according to policies and criteria developed by the Synod Board of Directors, mission boards, and mission offices. (a) The Board of Directors of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod shall adopt common policies and criteria for granting of recognized service organization status by Synod’s mission offices, such polices relating to expectations for the corporate structure and governance of the organizations, statements regarding their legal and corporate independence from the Synod, and the necessary relation of their work to the mission and ministry of the Synod as generally expressed in its Constitution and Bylaws. These policies shall include an agreement with the recognized service organization stating that they adopt and will uphold the biblical definition of manhood, womanhood, and marriage, as adopted by the Synod and that they will not endorse, support the work of, nor enter into partnerships with other organizations who either undermine or do not uphold the same. The Board of Directors shall approve the standard form of agreement to be entered into by the Synod and each recognized service organization. …

and be it finally

Resolved, That Bylaw 6.2.4 be amended as follows: PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING 6.2.4 Subject to policies adopted by the Synod’s Board of Directors and the respective mission board, recognized service organization status may be granted and revoked by the Office of National Mission or the Office of International Mission to a service organization (other than an auxiliary) that extends the mission and ministry of the Synod but is not part of the Synod as defined by its Constitution and Bylaws. (a) Applications for recognized service organization status shall be made to the Office of the Secretary of the Synod, which will facilitate the application as follows: … (4) To be declined are all applications for RSO status from organizations currently supporting, uplifting, celebrating, or otherwise promoting groups, agendas, thoughts, ideas, ideals, etc., contrary to God’s design for man and woman as well as applications from organizations seeking RSO status that are partnered with the same. (b) Within the area of its responsibility and in accordance with policies and criteria developed by the Synod Board of Directors, the respective mission board and office, each mission office shall determine to which organizations recognized service organization status will be granted and revoked. …