U.S. Military Strike 'Sobering,' Says ELCA Presiding Bishop

GENEVA, Switzerland (ELCA) -- The U.S. government's decision to attack Iraq in a pre-emptive military strike without U.N. support "marks a sobering moment for this nation and world," said the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), in a public statement released here March 20.
Hanson, who has spoken numerous times publicly against a war with Iraq, released his statement shortly after the U.S.-led military forces began air strikes in Iraq in what is being called "Operation Iraqi Freedom." He expressed "profound concern" that the United States took this step, and said he was "particularly troubled that this decision has been made without broad consensus and support within the international community."
Hanson called on all members of the church to pray for peace, to pray for members of the military and for all who may be harmed, to engage in moral deliberation about the war and to "live out" their baptisms, striving for justice and peace in all the earth.
"We in the ELCA share with all Christians the call to be peacemakers," Hanson said. "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."
Because of U.S. wealth and power, Hanson said the government has a responsibility to pursue policies of cooperation and to seek ways to resolve conflict peacefully. The U.S. government has not "responsibly exercised" its leadership role in the United Nations, nor in related diplomatic efforts to avoid war, he said. National leaders have not made a case that they have pursued all reasonable avenues other than war, Hanson said.
"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," he said. "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."
Questions must be asked about the humanitarian effects of the decision to go to war, especially protection for noncombatants and the scale of military force used. Americans must be prepared to respond to the needs of people displaced by the war and refugees, to address the regional destabilization the war causes and to assist with rebuilding after the conflict, Hanson said. Human rights for all people, inside and outside the United States, must be protected and respected.
"Our searching questions include how our nation addresses the poverty and sense of hopelessness that pervade the Middle East," he said.
The United States is "a country of immense power, influence and wealth," and its citizens, including ELCA members, should continue toill fo grapple with questions of how to use that power and wealth "responsibly to disarm Iraq," Hanson said. The presiding bishop also said citizens and church members must consider how to alleviate human suffering in the world and exercise leadership in the international community. Hanson said his comments are "grounded" in the ELCA social statement, "For Peace in God's World," adopted in 1995 by the ELCA Churchwide Assembly, and provided several examples.

MESSAGE TO ELCA CLERGY AND LAY LEADERS
In addition to his public statement, Hanson sent an accompanying e-mail message to ELCA clergy and professional lay leaders for whom he has e-mail addresses. "I write to you out of our shared call to radical discipleship and responsible leadership," Hanson's March 20 message began.
"How do we as leaders and members of the ELCA continue to address our differing and sometimes stridently opposing views of the war without losing faith that the deeper unity we share in Christ will not be severed?" Hanson said in the message. "No matter how grave our differences, let us be united in the affirmation that it is through the gospel that the Holy Spirit calls and gathers people from all nations to worship and witness to the God of peace."
Quoting from "For Peace in God's World," Hanson said that "the most valuable mission for peace for the church 'is to keep alive the news of God's resolve for peace, declaring that all are responsible to God for earthly peace and announcing forgiveness, healing and hope in the name of Jesus Christ.'"
Hanson said he is aware that many ELCA members, including professional church leaders, are directly involved in the war. "Please know that we pray for all families so directly impacted. We also pray for the people of Iraq," he said.
Because the ELCA is based in the United States, Hanson said its members bear a "special responsibility" to support humanitarian relief and assistance to the thousands of refugees who will be fleeing the war.
In addition to worship and pastoral care, the church's professional leaders are called to speak publicly and encourage "moral deliberation" about war. "As people of faith, the language of peace and reconciliation and of liberation and justice must be spoken and heard within the context of the biblical story and our confession of faith, and not the rhetoric of battle," Hanson said. "We must reclaim for ourselves any language of faith that has been used to wage war and ensure that it is used for the sake of peace and reconciliation."
Hanson is here with an 18-member ELCA delegation including bishops, pastors, members and staff who are involved in an "ecumenical journey," which was scheduled months before war with Iraq became a possibility.
The group will continue the journey in Europe this weekend to meet with other world church leaders. In addition to discussing church relationships, Hanson said he will use the opportunity to thank the leaders for their efforts to seek peace. -- -- --
ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson's statement in response to U.S. pre-emptive military strike on Iraq is at http://www.elca.org/bishop/iraq_031903.html and his pastoral letter to ELCA leaders on war with Iraq is at http://www.elca.org/bishop/iraqletter.html on the ELCA Web site. Information about other resources the ELCA has prepared for times of conflict is available at http://www.elca.org/peaceandwar/ on the Internet.

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