Created Male and Female Task Force wraps up work

(LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford)

In 2019, amid significant cultural challenges surrounding the issues of sexual orientation and gender identity, the national convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) asked the national Synod offices to speak to those challenges.

The LCMS Office of National Mission (ONM) responded, creating what became known as the Created Male and Female Task Force. The 2023 convention urged that task force to continue its work and report back to the Synod in 2026.

The Created Male and Female Task Force complied with that mandate. The task force’s 12 members met four times this triennium, most recently 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 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 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. Our pastors and people need clear teaching and encouragement to face these challenges,” he said.

A primary objective this triennium was to conduct field research, which included surveys coordinated by LCMS Research Services. Those surveys asked Synod workers — ordained ministers, commissioned ministers and other educators — about their views on sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as their readiness to minister to those struggling with these matters.

The surveys found near complete agreement on biblical sexual ethics among church workers, yet uncertainty about how to care for those struggling with temptations regarding sexual orientation or gender identity.

Members of the task force believe this gap between theological knowledge and ministry preparedness is an area the Synod must address.

“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.”

“The collaboration between the task force and the Office of National Mission has been fruitful in the efforts to provide resources to further the faithful confession of God’s creation,” said Deaconess Dr. Tiffany Manor, ONM managing director. “The Office of National Mission’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.”

In addition to its collaborative work as a task force, individual task force members have organized and facilitated retreats for Synod families affected by homosexuality and transgenderism; produced, recorded and published materials addressing these issues; and spoken at events such as the LCMS Youth Gathering in New Orleans this past summer.

As the task force winds down its work and submits its final report to the Synod convention, however, it knows more work is yet to be done. It has made many recommendations for the convention to consider, including the continuation and expansion of these retreats for families, counseling resources for Synod leaders to consult, Synodwide study of its survey data, and the publication of more theological and practical resources.

While the task force may have fulfilled its purpose, the members acknowledged that these challenges will remain with us. The church must rise to the occasion to provide her workers and members with what they need to fend off those challenges.

“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,” said Esget. “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.”

Posted Jan. 14, 2026