Res. 4-08 — To Direct the Commission on Theology and Church Relations to Examine Current Political and Social Issues

WHEREAS, Holy Scripture declares that God created all humanity in His image (Gen 1:27) and that all believers are one in Christ Jesus (Gal. 3:28), condemns all forms of racial hatred as sinful (James 2:8– 9), and exhorts us to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matt. 22:36–40); and

WHEREAS, Our Synod has regularly spoken to political and social issues affecting Christ’s Church (2023 Res. 11-8 02A, “To Reject All Forms of Racism and Affirm Our Witness to All People”; 2019 Res. 11-04A, “To Affirm the Common Humanity of All People and Ethnicities”; 2016 Res. 1-06, “To Celebrate Legacy of Rosa J. Young and Encourage Launch of Rosa J. Young International Academies”; 2013 Res. 3-09, “To Continue to Support and Promote Black Ministry of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod”; 1995 Res. 2- 05A, “To Commend for Study the CTCR Document Racism and the Church”; 1992 Res. 3- 03, “To Combat All Racism”; 1983 Res. 1- 20, “To Encourage Bringing the Gospel to Jewish People”; 1983 Res. 3- 09, “To Clarify Position on Anti -Semitism”; 1981 Res. 8 -07, “To Oppose Racism and Violence”; 1979 Res. 4- 11, “To Reaffirm Efforts to Combat Racism” ; 1977 Res. 10- 18A, “To Make Every Effort to Eliminate Racism”; 1973 Res. 9-22, “To Continue Efforts to Combat Racism”; 1971 Res. 9- 32, “To Encourage Christian Action to Combat Racism”); and

WHEREAS, In recent years, certain ideologies and secular distortions have proliferated, leading to widespread confusion and harmful division especially in the church; and

WHEREAS, Current political and social issues such as racism, antisemitism, and specific aberrations associated with “Christian Nationalism,” demonstrate an urgent need for theologically-sound resources to address these concerns, providing faithful care for those harmed by these ideologies and secular distortions; therefore be it

Resolved, That Synod in convention condemn all forms of racial hatred as sinful (James 2:8– 9); and be it further

Resolved, That Synod in convention direct the Commission on Theology and Church Relations to examine such political and social issues, especially racism, antisemitism, and Christian Nationalism, and prepare documents as it deems appropriate for the edification of the Synod; and be it finally

Resolved, That pastors and congregations make use of these resources to foster repentance, reconciliation, and Christ-27 centered unity proclaiming that for those who belong to Christ by faith, “There is neither Jew nor Greek … for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:28).