ELCA NEWS SERVICE

March 3, 2008

ELCA Task Force Considers Topics for a Study Guide on Genetics
08-022-MRC

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- From discussing the latest in molecular
biology to the use of genetically modified organisms, 18 members
of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Task Force
on Genetics met here Feb. 22-23 to share scientific and
theological information as they work toward creating a study on
genetics for the church. The study is expected to be available
Nov. 1.
     The purpose of the meeting was "to continue information-
gathering and provide a basic framework for what we think should
be included in a study on genetics," said Janet Williams, genetic
counselor, Clinical Genetics Institute, Intermountain Healthcare,
Salt Lake City, Utah, in an interview. Williams co-chairs the
task force with Dr. Per Anderson, professor of religion,
Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn. Concordia is one of 28
colleges and universities of the ELCA.
     Members of the task force heard from one another about their
respective areas of expertise in agriculture and land-based
research, advocacy and public policy, ethics and theology,
genetic and pastoral counseling, medical and behavioral science,
race and cultural traditions.
     "One of our challenges is to try to find a way to bring
together concerns with human genetic issues and genetic issues
related to plants and animals. We're in that process of trying
to find overlapping issues and distinctive concerns that have to
be addressed if we're going to do right by both topics, which
we're committed to doing," said Anderson.
     There's "a lot of commitment to moving the church's work on
moral deliberation forward. This is hopefully a piece that will
serve the larger goal of creating a community of moral
deliberation" around genetics, said Anderson.
     "We believe we're dealing with a vast topic, a new topic and
a very complex topic. I think our main task is to allow the
church to engage in that, overcome the fear that people (may)
have with things they don't know, learn to respect the amazing
uncertainty and complexity of (genetic) issues as they are
experienced by scientists, and think about how we responsibly
respond as a society. Everyone agrees that science is moving
very quickly, and we have to participate as people of faith,"
Anderson said.
     The 2005 ELCA Churchwide Assembly called for a social
statement that speaks to "significant theological, ethical,
public and pastoral challenges arising from developments in
genetics." A task force was appointed in spring 2007 to develop
a study guide on genetics for the church, and it has been
instructed to develop a proposed social statement on genetics.
The proposed social statement is expected to be presented to the
2011 ELCA Churchwide Assembly.
- - -
     Information about the ELCA Task Force on Genetics is at
http://www.ELCA.org/socialstatements/genetics on the ELCA Web
site.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://www.elca.org/news
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