Lutherans Condemn Murder of Matthew Shepard

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- "Our church repudiates all words and acts of hatred toward gay and lesbian persons," said the Rev. H. George Anderson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). "I personally deplore this act of violence." Anderson responded to reports that Matthew Shepard died Oct. 12 of injuries received in a beating Oct. 7 outside Laramie, Wyo.
Laramie police say robbery was the main motive for the attack and that Shepard was apparently selected for robbery in part because he was gay. Shepard of Casper, Wyo., was a student at the University of Wyoming in Laramie.
"This senseless act has deeply shocked us all," said the Rev. Allan C. Bjornberg, bishop of the ELCA's Rocky Mountain Synod. "It has broken the hearts of all who believe in the worth of every human being. Such terrorism against gay and lesbian persons is to be abhorred," he said.
"I earnestly invite prayers for the family and friends of Matthew Shepard, for the perpetrators of this gruesome act, and their families. May God guide us all to increased compassion and understanding," said Bjornberg.
"As a church that welcomes all people, we are deeply grieved that anyone would be singled out as a target of hatred," said the Rev. Paul K. Erbes, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Gillette, Wyo., dean of the Wyoming conference of ELCA congregations. "In the midst of this hatred, however, the church has been called to give witness to the power of Christ's love for all people as well as Christ's power for forgiveness of all sins."
Two Laramie men were charged with Shepard's murder. Two women were charged as accessories.
"ELCA congregations in Wyoming, especially those in Laramie and Casper, are deeply involved in ministering to families and individuals on all sides of the horrible act which took the life of Matthew Shepard," said Erbes. "I am heavily saddened for the Shepard family and I also grieve for the families of the perpetrators. These are all our brothers and sisters."
Erbes said he was praying for his colleagues in the Episcopal church of Wyoming, "who have been called into direct ministry in this difficult situation." Shepard was an Episcopalian, and a funeral service will be held Oct. 16 at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Casper. St. Matthew's Episcopal Cathedral in Laramie will hold a memorial service that day.
"We call on all Lutheran churches to pray for an end to hate crimes," said Bob Gibeling, program executive for Lutherans Concerned/North America, a society of gay, lesbian, bisexual and "non-gay" Christians dedicated to fostering understanding, justice and reconciliation. "We cannot remain silent in the face of such a hideous hate crime."
Gibeling stressed that Lutherans "preach the gospel of God's unconditional love and amazing grace," and he blamed such violence in part on preachers "with biblical interpretations that view gay men and lesbians as sub-human. This is not the message of the gospel."
In March 1996 the ELCA Conference of Bishops issued a letter that said, "We repudiate all words and acts of hatred toward gay and lesbian persons in our congregations and in our communities, and extend a caring welcome for gay and lesbian persons and their families. We call upon all our pastors, as they exercise pastoral care, to be sensitive to the gifts and needs of gay and lesbian members."
Several churchwide assemblies of the ELCA, the church's chief legislative bodies, have resolved to welcome gay and lesbian people into ELCA congregations. The 1993 assembly extended that message to express "strong opposition to all forms of verbal or physical harassment or assault of persons because of their sexual orientation" and support for the civil rights of all people, regardless of sexual orientation.

For information contact:
Frank Imhoff, Assoc. Director (773) 380-2955 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html