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
