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ELCA Conference of Bishops issues statement of support

ELCA Conference of Bishops issues statement of support

March 6, 2018

ITASCA – The ELCAConference of Bishops has approved the following statement of support for theMarch for Our Liveson March 24.

STATEMENTIN SOLIDARITY WITH OUR CHILDREN AND YOUTH

Our children andyouth are like a young Jeremiah prophesying to the people: “For I know theplans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper youand not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).

Recently, thestudents, faculty and staff at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School inParkland, Fla., experienced tragedy. Seventeen people - students and teachers -were killed by a 19-year-old shooter. In response, students have invitedtheir teachers, families and allies around the nation to join withthem for a March for Our Lives on March 24, 2018, in Washington, D.C.; callingour country into a deeper conversation about school safety and Second Amendmentrights and responsibilities.

We recognizethis incident is the latest in a long list of tragic shootings in ourcountry and young people have been calling for protest and change for manyyears. Some of those young voices have been ignored or silenced because ofracial and economic injustice. We cannot let that reality keep us from actingnow.

Adopted in 1994, the ELCA social message on “Community Violence” remains sadly relevant today. Themessage speaks about the causes of violence as complex and pervasive, and ofhow violence breeds violence. In proclaiming the forgiveness and love of thegospel of Jesus Christ, the church addresses the root of violence while beingcommitted to social actions that respond directly to violence and the people itaffects.

From the socialmessage: In the face of violence, God’s resolve for peace in humancommunities is unshakable. Deliberate acts to harm or kill innocent peopleviolate God’s intention for human community. God’s commandment is “You shallnot murder” (Ex. 20:13). In proclaiming God’s law, we declare that all peopleare accountable before God and the community to honor and respect the life Godhas given. Christians, as salt of the earth (Mt. 5:13) and light of the world(Mt. 5:14), are called to respond to violent crime in the restorative waystaught by Jesus (Mt. 5:38-39) and shown by his actions (Jn. 8:3-11). We areempowered to take up the challenge to prevent violence and to attack thecomplex causes that make violence so pervasive.

According toLutheran theology, society is to be ruled by the civil use of the Law.Government is responsible under God for the protection of its citizens and themaintenance of justice and public order. As citizens in a democracy, we havethe responsibility to join with others to hold government accountable forprotecting society and ensuring justice for all, and to seek changes inpolicies and practices toward these ends.

That socialmessage was amplified by a social statement, “For Peace in God’s World” (1995), which, as part of itsadoption, offered concrete implementation actions, including: To callupon the members and leaders of this church to support our youth in theirstruggle to define their identity and vocation as present and futurepeacemakers....

The Conference ofBishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, in solidarity withour children and youth, and in response to our common baptismal vocation - livingamong God’s faithful people, hearing the word of God and sharing in the Lord’sSupper, proclaiming the good news of God in Christ through word and deed,serving all people following the example of Jesus, and striving for justice andpeace in all the earth - offer our support, partnership and prayers for theMarch for Our Lives, its satellite city events, and our children and youth whoare leading us forward as peacemakers.

The undersignedmembers have given their names in public and personal support of the statement.


The Rev. Thomas M. Aitken, Bishop

Northeastern Minnesota Synod, ELCA

The Rev. Abraham D. Allende, Bishop

Northeastern Ohio Synod, ELCA

The Rev. Jon Anderson, Bishop

Southwestern Minnesota Synod, ELCA

The Rev. Jim Arends, Bishop

La Crosse Area Synod, ELCA

The Rev. Tracie L. Bartholomew, Bishop

New Jersey Synod, ELCA

The Rev. Daniel G. Beaudoin, Bishop

Northwestern Ohio Synod, ELCA

The Rev. Wm. Chris Boerger,Secretary

Evangelical Lutheran Church inAmerica

TheRev. Terry A. Brandt, Bishop

NorthDakota Synod, ELCA

TheRev. David H. Brauer-Rieke, Bishop

OregonSynod, ELCA

The Rev. Claire Schenot Burkat, Bishop

Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod,ELCA

The Rev. Michael Burk, Bishop

Southeastern Iowa Synod, ELCA

The Rev. Jeffrey Clements, Bishop

Northern Illinois Synod, ELCA

TheRev. Barbara J. Collins, Bishop

Upper Susquehanna Synod, ELCA

The Rev. Jessica Crist, Bishop

Montana Synod, ELCA

The Rev. Steven H. Delzer, Bishop

Southeastern Minnesota Synod, ELCA

The Rev. Suzanne Darcy Dillahunt,Bishop

Southern Ohio Synod, ELCA

The Rev. James Dunlop, Bishop

Lower Susquehanna Synod, ELCA

The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, Presiding Bishop

Evangelical Lutheran Church inAmerica

The Rev. Paul D. Erickson, Bishop

Greater Milwaukee Synod, ELCA

TheRev. R. Guy Erwin, Bishop

Southwest California Synod, ELCA

The Rev. Katherine Finegan, Bishop

Northern Great Lakes Synod, ELCA

The Rev. Mary Froiland, Bishop

South-Central Synod of Wisconsin,ELCA

The Rev. William O. Gafkjen, Bishop

Indiana-Kentucky Synod, ELCA

The Rev. Mike Girlinghouse, Bishop

Arkansas-Oklahoma Synod, ELCA

The Rev. William Gohl Jr., Bishop

Delaware-Maryland Synod, ELCA

TheRev. Jim Gonia, Bishop

Rocky Mountain Synod, ELCA

The Rev. H. Julian Gordy, Bishop

Southeastern Synod, ELCA

The Rev. Richard H. Graham, Bishop

Metropolitan Washington, DC Synod,ELCA

The Rev. Erik K. J. Gronberg,Bishop

Northern Texas-Northern LouisianaSynod, ELCA

The Rev. Roger Gustafson, Bishop

Central States Synod, ELCA

The Rev. James Hazelwood, Bishop

New England Synod, ELCA

The Rev. Mark W. Holmerud, Bishop

Sierra Pacific Synod, ELCA

The Rev. Rick Hoyme, Bishop

Northwest Synod of Wisconsin, ELCA

The Rev. Robert F. Humphrey, Bishop

Virginia Synod, ELCA

The Rev. Rick Jaech, Bishop

Southwestern Washington Synod, ELCA

The Rev. Ralph E. Jones, Bishop

Northwestern Pennsylvania Synod,ELCA

The Rev. Donald Kreiss, Bishop

Southeast Michigan Synod, ELCA

The Rev. Kristen E.M. Kuempel,Bishop

Eastern Washington-Idaho Synod,ELCA

The Rev. Wilma Kucharek, Bishop

Slovak Zion Synod, ELCA

The Rev. Kurt F. Kusserow, Bishop

Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod,ELCA

The Rev. Felipe Lozada-Montanez,Bishop

Caribbean Synod, ELCA

The Rev. Patricia Lull, Bishop

St. Paul Area Synod, ELCA

The Rev. Brian Maas, Bishop

Nebraska Synod, ELCA

The Rev. John S. Macholz, Bishop

Upstate New York Synod, ELCA

The Rev. Gerald L. Mansholt

East Central Synod of Wisconsin

The Rev. Donald. J. McCoid, InterimBishop

Metropolitan New York Synod, ELCA

The Rev. Wayne N. Miller, Bishop

Metropolitan Chicago Synod, ELCA

The Rev. Rodger G. Prois, Bishop

Western Iowa Synod, ELCA

The Rev. Michael Rinehart, Bishop

Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod,ELCA

The Rev. Michael L. Rhyne, Bishop

Allegheny Synod, ELCA

The Rev. S. John Roth, Bishop

Central/Southern Illinois Synod,ELCA

The Rev. Craig Alan Satterlee, Bishop

North/West Lower Michigan Synod, ELCA

The Rev. Timothy M. Smith, Bishop

North Carolina Synod, ELCA

The Rev. Pedro Suarez, Bishop

Florida-Bahamas Synod, ELCA

TheRev. Ann Svennungsen, Bishop

Minneapolis Area Synod, ELCA

The Rev. Andrew A. Taylor, Bishop

Pacifica Synod, ELCA

The Rev. Ray Tiemann, Bishop

Southwestern Texas Synod, ELCA

The Rev. Kirby Unti, Bishop

Northwest Washington Synod, ELCA

The Rev. Steven L. Ullestad, Bishop

Northeastern Iowa Synod, ELCA

The Rev. Shelley R. Wickstrom,Bishop

Alaska Synod, ELCA

The Rev. Lawrence R. Wohlrabe,Bishop

Northwestern Minnesota Synod, ELCA

The Rev. Herman Yoos, Bishop

South Carolina Synod, ELCA

The Rev. Samuel R. Zeiser, Bishop

Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod,ELCA

TheRev. David B. Zellmer, Bishop

SouthDakota Synod, ELCA

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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

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