ELCA Presiding Bishop: U.S. War with Iraq Would Be 'Wrong'

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) said it would be wrong for the United States to seek to overthrow the regime of Saddam Hussein of Iraq with military action.
"I do not believe such a war can be justified under the historic principles of 'just war,'" said the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, in an Aug. 30 statement.
Hanson's remarks were in response to this week's statements of Bush Administration officials, suggesting the possibility of a unilateral, pre-emptive U.S. military campaign to strike at Hussein's military capabilities, especially weapons of mass destruction under his control.
Citing the 1995 ELCA social statement, "For Peace in God's World," Hanson said the church is obligated to prevent wars and seek alternatives to them. "This is a time to stop the use of hostile rhetoric and verbal threats, and to focus again on diplomacy," he said.
Saying he is "fully aware" of the potential threat posed by the government of Iraq and Hussein, Hanson said he "morally" opposes a war with Iraq at this time.
"I oppose it because we know a war with Iraq will have great consequences for the people of Iraq, who have already suffered through years of war and economic sanctions," Hanson said. It is also detrimental to U.S. interests to take unilateral military action against Iraq because there is already strong international support for weapons inspections, and most world governments oppose military action, he said. Military action will further destabilize the Middle East region, Hanson said.
The U.S. government should continue its cooperation with international efforts through the United Nations to control Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, Hanson said.
"The ELCA has consistently called for diplomatic efforts toward a cease-fire and a just and lasting peace in the Middle East," the ELCA presiding bishop said. "I would encourage the U.S. government to formulate its response to Iraq toward a similar end."
"As the attention of this nation increasingly focuses on the anniversary of Sept. 11, we are reminded of the devastating impact of war," Hanson said. "So, we continue to reject violent action and are renewed in our resolve to find peaceful, nonviolent solutions. I call upon members of our congregations to be fervent in prayer, engaged in conversation with one another and with our leaders.
The ELCA encourages all people of faith to participate in the affairs of government through moral deliberation that respects the "views of everyone," he said. "We must oppose racist and enemy images that dehumanize, deny the love of God for all people and do not help in resolving conflict," Hanson said.
"In the final analysis, we must stand unequivocally for peace," Hanson said in conclusion. "We extend our prayers for peace to all who must decide and to all who are affected, here, in the Persian Gulf region and around the world. We remember our President and his administration, members of Congress, military personnel and their families, and all who may be affected during this critical time in global history."
The statement echoes a similar statement issued Aug. 30 by 37 Christian leaders from Britain, Canada and the United States, who gathered in Geneva, Switzerland, for a meeting of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Central Committee. They issued an urgent call to the American government to pull back from its unilateral movement toward pre-emptive military action against Iraq, according to a WCC news release. Three representatives of the ELCA -- Jennifer Nagel, Arthur Norman and E. Louise Williams -- signed the statement. --- The text of ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson's Iraq statement can be found at http://www.elca.org/bishop/iraq.html on the ELCA's Web site.

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