CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The executive board of Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) -- the women's organization of the church -- called for "earnest prayer and moral deliberation" on a possible war between the United States and Iraq. The board also attended to other business when it met here Oct. 17-20.
The executive board requested that the ELCA Church Council -- the ELCA's board of directors and legislative authority between ELCA churchwide assemblies -- invite members, congregations and the 65 synods of the church to "pray for peace, the people of Iraq, leaders of the United States and our military personnel and their families." It also moved to invite synodical women's organizations, congregational units and "all women of the ELCA to be in earnest prayer."
The board cited the public witness and support for peace by the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the ELCA. "We must stand unequivocally for peace. 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," Hanson said in an August 30 statement.
The board also noted the ELCA's social statement, "For Peace in God's World." In particular, the board affirmed: "While we support the use of non-violent measures, there may be no other way to offer protection in some circumstances than by restraining forcibly those harming the innocent. We do not, then -- for the sake of neighbor -- rule out possible support for the use of military force. We must determine in particular circumstances whether or not military action is the lesser evil."
The board's resolution was accepted on Oct. 20. The day before, it defeated a proposal to support the ELCA Commission for Women's resolution on "Potential War and Military Action on Iraq," and it examined the National Council of Churches "A Call to Action by the Justice for Women Working Group" statement against a possible war with Iraq.
Shortly after the defeat, the board asked Mary Ellen Kiesner, Menomonee Falls, Wis., Women of the ELCA president and board chair, to call together an "ad hoc committee" charged with crafting an "appropriate response" on the possibility of war with Iraq for the board's consideration. The board accepted the committee's proposal unanimously.
In the board's discussion on the topic of war with Iraq, Denise Smith, Eagle River, Alaska, board member, cautioned the board "not to be anti-war. War is an option. It is not a new concept. It is in the Bible."
"War can be a solution, but it is not the only solution," said Desiree Cole, Waukegan, Ill., board member. "I'm not against the military, but we have to look at the reasons for and consequences of war," she said.
The board devoted much of its meeting to addressing several resolutions referred to them by Women of the ELCA's 2002 Fifth Triennial Convention, July 8-14, Philadelphia. The convention is the chief legislative authority of Women of the ELCA. The board referred to Women of the ELCA's executive director actions that:
+ call for study and review of "budgetary implications" to establish "The Day Full of Light" -- a Sunday set aside to educate "individuals and congregations about the grip the sex industry has on society"
+ "encourage wise stewardship of water." The action calls for the reduction of personal, household and workplace consumption of water and other non-renewable resources by 10 percent
+ provide materials that help synodical women's organizations and congregational units carry out "projects that assure youth are nurtured in their faith and practice it in daily life"
+ support an appeal to the U.S. Congress "to repeal mandatory minimum sentences to allow for judicial flexibility and treatment of addicted individuals." Speaking in favor of the resolution, Joyce Opjorden, Ventura, Calif., board member, said, addicted individuals "need treatment, not jail"
The board also committed time to receiving reports from program directors of the women's organization and to reviewing draft materials on the ELCA's comprehensive strategic planning process and its evangelism strategy. -- -- --
Women of the ELCA's home page is at http://www.elca.org/wo/ on the ELCA Web site. The August 30 statement of Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson on Iraq is at http://www.elca.org/bishop/iraq.html on the Web.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
