To Conclude Created Male and Female Task Force and Receive Its Recommendations

WHEREAS, Holy Scripture teaches the following truths concerning humanity: God created humanity to be male and female (Gen 1:27, Matt. 19:4); God instituted marriage between one man and one woman as a lifelong union for companionship and procreation (Gen 1:28; Gen. 2:18–24); and God commands chastity for those who are married and those who are single (Ex. 20:14; Deut. 5:18; Num. 5:11–31; Matt. 5:27–30); and

WHEREAS, Holy Scripture prohibits adultery, fornication, homosexuality, and other forms of sexual immorality as sin and as deviations from this created order (Ex. 20:15; Deut. 5:18; Num. 5:11–31; Rom. 1:18–32; Rom. 13:13; 1 Cor. 6:9–11); and

WHEREAS, Cultural attitudes in recent decades have increasingly advocated for views of sexual orientation and gender identity that are at odds with Scriptural truth; and

WHEREAS, In fulfillment of 2019 Resolution 11-03A, “To Encourage Synod to Develop Resources to Aid Congregations and Schools regarding Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Issues,” the Office of National Mission (ONM) created the ad hoc “Created Male and Female Task Force” to aid in identifying and producing resources that might “confess the truth boldly and minister compassionately both to those who experience sexual orientation and gender identity issues and those who care for them”; and

WHEREAS, 2023 Resolution 1-04A continued the task force with mandates to consider conducting field research; to “recommend and advocate for strategies and structural approaches to serve the Church better and address the challenges posed by contemporary sexual ethics, recommend and coordinate implementation with Synod entities and organizations that will best deliver resources to the Church, and encourage congregations to raise awareness of media propaganda, cultural intimidation, and mounting pressures upon all people to affirm viewpoints contrary to clear teaching in Holy Scripture, responding to those influences by the study of Holy Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions (particularly the Small Catechism)”; and finally to report on its work and make further recommendations to the 2026 Synod convention; therefore be it

Resolved, That the final report of the task force be commended to the Synod for consideration and guidance; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod in convention take up the recommendations proposed there in, including the following:

• That the ONM continue facilitating retreats for families affected by sexual orientation and gender identity confusion in the coming triennium and begin to recruit and train potential facilitators so these retreats might be expanded nationally;

• That the Council of Presidents (COP), in conjunction with the ONM, develop lists of theologically trustworthy counselors to whom they might refer those struggling with sexual orientation,gender identity,and related issues,aswell as criteria for evaluating and recommending those counselors;

• That the COP, in conjunction with the seminaries and administrators of the Concordia University System and its colleges, consult with one another regarding the development of counseling programs specifically designed to train counselors to deal theologically and ethically with such issues, as well as further training for clergy in addressing them at the congregational level;

• That the ONM, in collaboration with the staff of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR) and Concordia Publishing House, continue developing specific counter-cultural and apologetic resources critiquing LGBTQIA+ positions and continue promoting biblically faithful resources on these topics through the website hosted by the ONM (created male and female.org); and

• That the CTCR, in consultation with the ONM and the seminaries, consider if and how studies might be produced on the family as a unit and the foundation for a healthy society (man and woman, husband and wife, parents and children, procreation and chastity, vocation and the three estates), biblical anthropology, same-sex attraction, and gender dysphoria;

and be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod in convention receive the Created Male and Female Task Force report and these recommendations as a conclusion to its work, give thanks to the individual task force members for their labors, and pray that God might heal individuals, families, congregations, and communities from the ills and consequences of these sinful behaviors and ideas.