March 20, 2003
(Released with a Statement in response to U.S.
pre-emptive military strike on Iraq)
Dear Sisters and Brothers in
Christ,
Amid the flood of emotions we
experience as the tragic realities of war unfold, I write to you
out of our shared call to radical discipleship and responsible
leadership. This call, heard in Sunday's Gospel, continues to
echo throughout the church. "If any want to become my
followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and
follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it
and those who lose their life for my sake and, for the sake of
the gospel, will save it" (Mark 8:34-35).
How do we as leaders and members
of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America 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? 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. As we say in
the ELCA social statement, "For Peace in God's World,"
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."
I am aware of how many members of
ELCA congregations, including you, are experiencing war's
reality as family members are sent into battle. Please know that
we pray for all families so directly impacted. We also pray for
the people of Iraq. As a church based in the United States, we
bear a special responsibility financially to support
humanitarian relief and assistance to the thousands of refugees
who will be fleeing the extensive U.S. bombing of Iraq.
Our call to leadership includes
proclaiming Christ in Word and sacrament, offering pastoral care
to all affected, and exercising our role as public leaders
engaged in prophetic speech and moral deliberation. Let us also
be attentive to language, both our own and that of our political
leaders who speak of peace and 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. 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.
I want you to know that I, as
Presiding Bishop of this church, today have released the
attached public statement expressing my profound concern that
the United States has chosen to take the step of a pre-emptive
military strike. In the statement I express my understanding
that our country, especially because of its wealth and might,
has a particular responsibility to pursue policies of
cooperation and to seek to resolve conflicts peacefully. I
indicate that we cannot limit our response to the specific
matter of this war, but need to continue to raise broader
questions. I call on all members of our church to pray for
peace, for the members of our military, and for all who come in
harm's way because of this war.
"The peace of God, which
surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your
minds in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:7).
In God's grace,
The Rev. Mark S. Hanson
Presiding Bishop
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
