LCMS Task Force on Sexuality and Gender Identity Ends Work, Submits Final Report to Synod Convention

The national convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) asked the Synod’s national offices in 2019 to address the cultural challenges surrounding sexual orientation and gender identity. The LCMS Office of National Mission (ONM) responded by creating what became known as the Created Male and Female Task Force. The 2023 convention urged the task force to continue its work and report back to the Synod in 2026.

The task force’s 12 members met four times during the triennium, most recently on Nov. 4–5, 2025, at the LCMS International Center in St. Louis. Its membership included parish pastors, seminary and university professors, and representatives of the LCMS Commission on Theology and Church Relations, Concordia Publishing House, LCMS Communications and LCMS Life Ministry.

The Rev. Christopher Esget, LCMS fifth vice-president and pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Alexandria, Va., chaired the task force. “As a parish pastor serving our nation’s capital region, I see daily how demonic ideologies have captured our cultural and political institutions and caused great suffering and confusion,” he said. “Our pastors and people need clear teaching and encouragement to face these challenges.”

A primary objective this triennium was field research, including surveys coordinated by LCMS Research Services. The surveys asked Synod workers, including ordained ministers, commissioned ministers and other educators, about their views on sexual orientation and gender identity and about their readiness to minister to those struggling with these matters. The surveys found near-complete agreement among church workers on biblical sexual ethics, but uncertainty about how to care for those struggling with temptations regarding sexual orientation or gender identity. Task force members believe this gap between theological knowledge and ministry preparedness is an area the Synod must address, a call to serve with truth spoken in love (Ephesians 4:15).

“We have a wealth of substantial theological materials explaining what Scripture has to say about human sexuality,” said the Rev. Dr. Jacob Corzine, CPH vice-president of publishing and a task force member. “But we need to listen to what our frontline workers are saying as they seek to care for people who are genuinely struggling with these temptations and lies. We must provide them what they need for faithful Law and Gospel ministry in a deceived world.”

Deaconess Dr. Tiffany Manor, ONM managing director, said the collaboration between the task force and the office “has been fruitful in the efforts to provide resources to further the faithful confession of God’s creation.” She said ONM’s Family Ministry “will continue to take up this work so that congregations, schools and families are able to respond to societal pressures and challenges while sharing Christ’s mercy and forgiveness.”

Individual task force members have also organized and facilitated retreats for Synod families affected by homosexuality and transgenderism, produced, recorded and published materials on these issues, and spoken at events such as the LCMS Youth Gathering in New Orleans this past summer.

The task force will submit its final report to the Synod convention. It has made several recommendations for the convention to consider, including the continuation and expansion of the family retreats, counseling resources for Synod leaders to consult, Synodwide study of its survey data, and the publication of more theological and practical resources. The members acknowledged that these challenges will remain and that the church must provide its workers and members with what they need to meet them.

“It has been a privilege to chair this group. We were blessed with members deeply committed to the truth of God’s Word and filled with compassion for those damaged by the culture,” Esget said. “The task force has concluded its work, but the work of our pastors and congregations moves forward. We pray the Holy Spirit will bless the work we have done and cause the church’s witness to flourish.”

Source: Read the original report