Title: ELCA Presiding Bishop's Statement on War with Iraq
ELCA NEWS SERVICE
ELCA PRESIDING BISHOP'S STATEMENT ON WAR WITH IRAQ
March 20, 2003
In the midst of the anguish of today's events, and aware of the
continuing unfolding and unknown consequences of war, we in the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America share with all Christians the
call to be peacemakers. This call is grounded in the belief that God in
Christ reconciles the whole creation and sends us forth in a ministry of
peace and reconciliation. In our liturgies we pray "for the peace of the
whole world," uniting our faith in the Triune God with our world's
suffering and hopes.
The decision of the United States to attack Iraq with a pre-emptive
military strike without the support of the United Nations marks a
sobering moment for this nation and world. I express my profound concern
that the United States has chosen to take this step. Our country,
especially because of its wealth and might, has a particular
responsibility to pursue policies of cooperation and to seek to resolve
conflicts peacefully. In my view, neither has the United States
responsibly exercised its leadership role within the United Nations and
in related diplomatic efforts to avert war, nor have our national
leaders sufficiently made the case that they have pursued all reasonable
avenues other than war. I am particularly troubled that this decision
has been made without broad consensus and support within the
international community.
As a church our task of engaging in moral deliberation about this war,
and its wider implications, does not and will not end now that war has
begun. We will continue to press the ongoing moral and ethical
questions, which include-but are not limited to-the conduct of war or
the leadership of Saddam Hussein. We must continue to ask questions
about the humanitarian effects of the decision to go to war, especially
protection for noncombatants and the scale of military force used. We
must be prepared to respond to the needs of displaced persons and
refugees, address the regional destabilization which the war will cause,
and demonstrate a readiness to assist with rebuilding after the war. We
must ensure that the human rights of all, both within and outside of the
United States, are respected and protected. Our searching questions
include how our nation addresses the poverty and sense of hopelessness
that pervade the Middle East.
As citizens of a country of immense power, influence, and wealth, and as
members of the ELCA, we are compelled, I believe, to grapple with
questions of how to use our power and wealth responsibly to disarm Iraq,
to alleviate human suffering in the region, and to exercise leadership
within the international community. The ELCA grounds its position on
these matters in its social statement, "For Peace in God's World:"
We also affirm that governments should vigorously pursue less
coercive measures over more coercive ones: consent over
compulsion, nonviolence over violence, diplomacy over military
engagement, and deterrence over war.
With its significant economic, political, cultural, and military
power, the United States plays a vital leadership role in world
affairs. It cannot and should not withdraw or isolate itself from
the rest of the world. Neither should it seek to control or police
the world. Global challenges cannot be addressed by the United
States alone; yet few can be met without the United States'
participation.
In pursuing their interests, all nations, including the United
States, have an obligation to respect the interests of other
states and international actors and to comply with international
law. Nations should seek their own common good in the context of
the global common good. International bodies should work for the
welfare of all nations.
In the days and weeks ahead I call on all ELCA members to pray fervently
for peace, for the members of our military, and for all who come in
harm's way because of this war. I continue to encourage all ELCA members
to engage in moral deliberation and to live out their baptismal
vocations striving for justice and peace in all the earth.
The Rev. Mark S. Hanson
Presiding Bishop
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Chicago
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html
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