Court issues ruling in Concordia University Texas case

Statement from LCMS Board of Directors

June 5, 2026

Yesterday, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued an Opinion in the case involving Concordia University Texas. The Fifth Circuit reversed the District Court’s dismissal and remanded the case back to the Texas Federal District Court. We believe this is the correct outcome and are grateful for the Court of Appeals’ recognition of the First Amendment protections that safeguard the church’s freedom to order its life according to its confession of faith, free from secular intrusion into the governance structures that the Synod has elected for itself and its agencies. A link to a press statement from the Becket Fund, which represents the LCMS in this matter, is available here. For further background on the case, see this Reporter article.

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) Board of Directors

Posted June 5, 2026/Updated June 5, 2026