The 2019 Synod convention charged the Office of National Mission (ONM), among others, with the creation of 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” (Res. 11-03A). As a result, the ONM formed the Created Male and Female Task Force (originally named Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Task Force) during the 2019–23 extended triennium. The 2023 Synod convention voted to continue the task force; its Res. 1-04A also directed it to expand its membership, to consider conducting field research in the area of sexual orientation and gender identity, and 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).” The resolution finally asked the task force to report on its work and make further recommendations to the 2026 convention. The 2023–26 task force returned all regular members from the previous triennium, including the Rev. Christopher Esget (LCMS Fifth Vice-President, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Alexandria, Va.); Deaconess Dr. Tiffany Manor (ONM); Dr. Mark Rock en bach (faculty member, Concordia Seminary); the Rev. Kevin Robson (St. Louis, Mo.); Rev. Dr. Gifford Grobien (faculty member, Concordia Theological Seminary); the Rev. Kevin Karner (Immanuel Lutheran Church, Bristol, Conn.); the Rev. Jonathan Lange (St. Paul Lutheran Church, Kemmerer, Wyo., and Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Evanston, Wyo.); the Rev. Brian Barlow (Grace Lutheran Church, Banning, Calif.); and the Rev. Jared Melius (Mt. Zion Lutheran Church, Denver, Colo.). In addition, at the direction of 2023 Res. 1-04A, it added the following representatives of other Synod entities: the Rev. Roy S. Askins (Managing Director of Editorial, LCMS Communications); the Rev. Dr. Jacob Corzine (Vice-President of Publishing, Concordia Publishing House); the Rev. Dr. Richard J. Serina Jr. (Associate Executive Director, Commission on Theology and Church Relations [CTCR]); and the Rev. Dr. Scott Stiegemeyer (Associate Professor of Theology, Concordia University Irvine). Pastor Esget served as chair, Dr. Serina served as vice chair, and Pastor Karner served as secretary. The task force met four times during the triennium: June 13–14, 2024; Aug. 21–22, 2024; Aug. 6–7, 2025; and Nov. 4–5, 2025. In order to accomplish its work more effectively, the members divided themselves into two separate working groups that also met virtually to complete various projects. To fulfill the mandate to conduct field research, a research-focused working group developed multiple digital surveys concerning attitudes toward sexual orientation and gender identity, which it shared with LCMS commissioned ministers and ordained ministers, as well as further qualitative study of select individuals and families. The nearly 1,500 respondents showed a remarkable unity of doctrine regarding human sexuality and gender identity issues. Furthermore, almost all survey respondents knew personal acquaintances or households in the school or church either struggling with sexual identity issues or family members struggling with them (see the attached appendix to this report for particular areas where church workers felt less than prepared to respond to such situations). To fulfill the mandate related to the production of resources, a content-focused working group assessed existing publications and digital materials, identified specific materials to commend to the Synod, and identified other materials that are still needed. It compiled a list of recommended resources with annotations for distribution by ONM. In addition to its task force– specific work, individual members collaborated with the ONM for Created Male and Female programming and resource creation, helped lead multiple retreats for families affected personally by homosexuality and transgenderism, offered educational opportunities at the LCMS Youth Gathering, and recorded videos and podcasts to address related topics. The ONM now hosts a website that will include recommendations of literature, links to online resources, and other pertinent information (created male and female.org).
In concluding its work and submitting its report to the convention, the task force wishes to recommend several courses of action to the Synod and its entities to further address pressing issues of sexual orientation and gender identity and to help the members of our congregations understand those issues, respond to them, and care for and protect those struggling with them. • To continue and expand Created Male and Female retreats: Members of the task force organized and led two retreats at Shepherd’s Canyon Retreat Center for families affected by these issues. It is the recommendation of the task force that the ONM continue these retreats, and, additionally, seek to recruit and train potential facilitators (specifically those with counseling experience, theological competence, and pastoral sensitivity) so that such retreats might be expanded in number and to different locations.
- To cultivate lists of recommended counselors in every district: District presidents advised the task force that more personnel was needed to care for those struggling with sexual orientation and gender identity confusion and temptations. A request for theologically trustworthy counselors was expressly stated. To that end, it is recommended that the Council of Presidents ask each district (possibly in conjunction with other contiguous districts) to develop lists of LCMS counselors, psychologists, and psychiatrists who specialize in this area and whose understanding of marriage and sexuality reflects biblical positions. Relatedly, the task force also encourages member colleges of the Concordia University System to develop and promote counseling programs to help meet the growing demand for biblically competent, theologically trustworthy Lutheran counselors who specialize in sexual orientation and gender identity.
- To encourage synodwide conversation: The survey data referenced in this report conducted by LCMS Research Services shows remarkable unity on matters of sexual orientation and gender identity within the Synod. Those findings should receive more attention and foster discussion within the Synod, particularly related to matters of pastoral care. The task force encourages the districts and circuits of the Synod to study the findings in their conferences and meetings over the course of the next triennium. It encourages the use of the recommended resources available on the Created Male and Female website. It also encourages the Synod to make use of the resources commissioned below, upon completion and publication.
- To commission resources: The task force commends the website it has developed, which will include a list of recommended resources with annotations. More resources are needed, however. It is the task force’s opinion that those needs exist on multiple levels, and we recommend that the Synod commission or continue this work, which includes: o
Practical resources: In light of the survey data, the task force identified a need for practical resources to support church workers in their vocations. It is recommended that the ONM in collaboration with the Office of Pastoral Education develop published resources and continuing education offerings to aid church workers in responding to individual situations pertaining to sexual orientation and gender identity, especially in pastoral care and student/parent relations. It is also recommended that the ONM in collaboration with the CTCR and LCMS Communications develop a lexicon that provides definitions for terminology related to sexual orientation and gender identity, along with a guide for the recommended use of such terms in Synod publications. o
Countercultural resources: There is a need for culturally relevant literature that addresses these issues in plain language. The task force has begun this work by developing publishable resources that would target the temptations, peer pressure, and media subversiveness associated with homosexuality, gay marriage, transgenderism, pornography, and casual sex.
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Apologetic resources: There is a further need for resources that would specifically counter intellectual and theological arguments in support of these sexual errors. The task force has begun working with Dr. Armin Wenz, longtime professor in our German sister church, SELK, to revise his earlier pamphlet exposing the theological errors of homosexuality based upon the New Testament. The task force encourages the completion of this work. It also commends the CTCR’s responses to Reconciling Works (and its document, “Lutheran Introduction to Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Gender Expression”), an organization that has misrepresented Lutheran theological principles and biblical passages to support homosexuality. These are available at resources .lcms.org/reading-study/ctcr-library-individual opinions-for-study-and-consideration.
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Cate cheti cal resources: Finally, the task force believes there is also a need for persuasive, biblically based literature that might be used in congregational settings to help the Church better understand the theological reasons for the positions the Synod has taken on marriage and sexuality, as well as express pastoral concern for those who may be misled by opinions at odds with Scripture. To that end, the task force recommends 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 sexual chastity, vocation and the three estates), biblical anthropology, the vocation of singleness, same-sex attraction, and gender dysphoria.