wfn.org | LCMS establishes Sanctity of Life Standing Committee affirms strong

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@wfn.org>]

pro life position

The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
Board for Communication Services
1333 S. Kirkwood Road St. Louis, MO 63122-7295

News Release

61st Regular Convention St. Louis, Mo. July 14-20, 2001

July 16, 2001 #12

Contact: Bruce Kueck (314) 342-5715

LCMS establishes Sanctity of Life Standing Committee, affirms strong 
pro-life position

ST. LOUIS -- Resolutions dealing with the sanctity of life and abortion 
were approved Monday, July 16, by 90 percent majorities at the 61st Regular 
Convention of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS).

The church body is meeting in convention at the America s Center in St. 
Louis through July 20.

The first resolution presented by the Human Care floor committee commended 
the LCMS President s Commission on the Sanctity of Life, which has stated 
in its documents that human life "has measureless value, because every 
individual, at every stage of development and every state of consciousness 
is known and loved by God. & No one is worthless whom God has created and 
for whom Christ has died."

With the passage of the resolution, delegates approved replacing the 
Commission with a standing committee on the sanctity of life under the 
auspices of the Board for Human Care Ministries. By convention action, this 
standing committee will be responsible for providing resources, programs 
and "encouragement" to LCMS members on "all appropriate applications of the 
principle of the sanctity of every human life from conception to natural 
death."

This new standing committee will be allowed to pursue and obtain additional 
funding to meet its responsibilities, following policies of the Synod s 
Board of Directors.

Delegates also reaffirmed the Missouri Synod s strong stance against 
abortion and directed its president to write to President George W. Bush to 
request a "thorough review and reversal" of the FDA s decision regarding 
RU-486 and "its use in the killing of unborn children."

Professional and lay members of the Missouri Synod and those "in positions 
of public responsibility" are encouraged to work to end abortion in the 
United States "in every way possible," with adoption, legislation, public 
preaching and teaching among the means specified. LCMS pastors and national 
officials are further encouraged to "deal evangelically" with those in 
favor of abortion, and in a "loving spirit actively proclaim the 
forgiveness that Christ has won" to those who had previously supported or 
experienced abortion.

PHOTOGRAPHS: Photos of convention coverage are available at 
www.lcms.org/convention/

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