PITTSBURGH (ELCA) -- Voting members of the 2013 Churchwide Assembly
of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) adopted “The Church
and Criminal Justice: Hearing the Cries” -- a social statement on
criminal justice -- Aug. 16 with a 882 to 25 vote.
The 952 voting members and others of the 4-million-member ELCA are
gathering Aug. 12-17 in assembly at the David L. Lawrence Convention
Center here under the theme, “Always being made new.” The churchwide
assembly is the highest legislative authority of the ELCA. The
denomination is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
The call for a statement on criminal justice emerged from concern
among ELCA members over the “massive levels of incarceration in the
United States,” said Cynthia Osbourne, chair of the ELCA task force
charged with leading this church in a study about criminal justice and
the development of a proposed social statement for the 2013 ELCA
Churchwide Assembly to consider. She introduced the social statement to
the assembly earlier this week.
While commending positive aspects of the system, the statement
conveys dissatisfaction with many areas about the criminal justice system
that urgently need reform.
“The task force was formed in response to concerns expressed from
ELCA synods about the alarmingly high incarceration rates in the United
States,” said Osborne.
She said the United States ranks among the top two or three
countries in the world in percentage of people under control of a
criminal justice system -- one out of 31 adults and, for people of color,
as high as one out of 11.
The statement affirms the fundamental principles of the U.S.
criminal justice system, such as due process of law and the presumption
of legal innocence, and it also recognizes serious deficiencies -- overly
harsh sentencing and persistent inequalities based on race and class. It
calls ELCA members to ministry and compassion through some practices:
hearing the cries of those affected, accompaniment, hospitality and
advocacy. It asks members of this church to recommit themselves to
visiting the prisoner; correct the flawed criminal justice system;
participate in God's work with hands and hearts and to hear the cries of
people affected.
In its deliberation, the assembly made two amendments to the
statement -- the first was to substitute a paragraph that now
begins: “Confession is one 'mark of the church'“ and the second amendment
was designed to provide an editorial comment.
ELCA social statements are teaching documents that assist members in
forming judgments on social issues. They set policy for this church and
guide its advocacy and work as a public church.
The 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly authorized the development of a
social statement on criminal justice. The task force has been studying
the issues and providing resource material for members since 2008.
The social statement on criminal justice is available at
www.ELCA.org/criminaljustice.
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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
