Resolution 12-07B

At the LCMS 67th Regular Convention, resolution 12-07BA was passed. The title of this resolution is: "To
Strengthen the Family as the Center for Discipleship". I found the research noted in this resolution to be
enlightening.

This resolution cited findings from sociological studies and research surveys. The eleventh whereas states: "Faith formation has been misunderstood as primarily the responsibility of the church, while the above Scriptures as well as sociological studies, show that parents are the primary influence on faith formation. When the father and mother attend church regularly, 33 percent of their children end up as regular church attenders; when the mother attends regularly but the father is non-practicing, only two percent of their children become regular churchgoers; when the father attends regularly but the mother is non-practicing, forty-four percent of the children become regular churchgoers, (Haug and Warner, Vol. 2 of Population Studies No 31, [Strasbuourg, 200]); and the church's responsibility lies in equipping parents."

The next 'whereas' states: "Another study, focused on Sunday School, found similar results on the
impact of parents: when both parents attend Bible study in addition to the Sunday service, 72 percent
attend Sunday School when grown; when only the father attends Sunday school, 55 percent attend
when grown; when only the mother attends Sunday school, 15 percent attend when grown; when
neither parent attends Sunday school, only six percent attend when grown (Nick Cady, The Impact on Kids of Dad's Faith and Church Attendance, June 20, 2016, www.nickcady.org).

The next 'whereas' states: "Additionally, the survey found that: if a child is the first person to become a Christian, there is a 3.5 percent probability everyone else in the household will follow; if the mother is the first to become a Christian, there is a 17 percent probability everyone else in the household will follow; when the father is first, there is a 93 percent probability everyone in the household will follow."

The goal of this resolution is to train parents to teach the faith in the home. The church should focus and teaching parents to teach their children about Christ. It is interesting that the survey shows that fathers should be the spiritual head of the house. 

The problem we have as a church is the retention of our members. Children come to confirmation and then tend to drift away from the church. The LCMS has developed a website to help parents with their children's faith development. The website is; www.makingdisciples-resources.lcms.org. The new edition of Luther's Small Catechism published by  Concordia Publishing House was designed as a family devotional resource. There are other resources  available.

Children follow the examples set by their parents. The children watch their parents and observe what
they value. Proverbs 22:6, says that we should train up a child in the way that they should go.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7, tells us we should teach God's Words diligently to our children. Your children are a precious gift from God. God has entrusted them to you to nurture. As parents, the goal is to give our children good things. There is nothing better to share with our children then the value of an eternal relationship with God through saving faith in Christ.