wfn.org | ELCA Council Hears Presiding Bishop's Concerns about Iraq War

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

April 9, 2003

ELCA COUNCIL HEARS PRESIDING BISHOP'S CONCERNS ABOUT IRAQ WAR
03-074-JB

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The church must ask moral questions about the
"rightness" of a U.S. government decision that the Pentagon -- and not
the United Nations or non-governmental organizations -- be in control of
service to people, institutions and the infrastructure of Iraq after the
war ends.
     The comment was made by the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop
of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), in his report here
April 5 to the ELCA Church Council.  The council is the ELCA's board of
directors and serves as the legislative authority of the church between
churchwide assemblies.	It met here April 4-6.	Assemblies are held
every other year; the next is Aug. 11-17 in Milwaukee.
     Hanson, who has publicly opposed war with Iraq for months, has
been supported by ELCA boards, the ELCA Conference of Bishops and the
council.
     Hanson also said that historic principles of "just war," which
have guided Christians for generations, must be reconsidered in light of
modern war techniques and technology.  The historic principles -- cited
in the ELCA's 1995 social statement, "For Peace in God's World,"  -- are
"right intention, justifiable cause, legitimate authority, last resort,
declaration of war aims, proportionality and reasonable chance of
success.  "We need to gather ethicists from our [church] traditions and
ask what are the principles of	'just peace,'" he said.  "Lutherans can
contribute to this."
     Noting that members of the church have many different points of
view about the war, Hanson called for "public conversation" about war
issues.  The challenge for professional leaders of the church is to
speak with what Hanson termed "prophetic voices" and not become isolated
from those who called them to office.  To aid the church, two
conferences are planned this year to examine the ELCA's role in public
affairs, he said.
     Hanson pointed out the importance of the church's social
statements in addressing matters of public concern.  For Peace in God's
World  has "grounded" what he has said publicly about war with Iraq.
     The presiding bishop addressed several other topics in his report
to council members:
     + News reports of war have dominated the headlines, leaving other
important matters of public concern forgotten, he said.  "In Africa,
famine rages, and it is not in our consciousness," he said.
     + He just returned from a 17-day European trip in which he and an
ELCA delegation met with international church leaders, including Pope
John Paul II and the Most Rev. Rowan Williams, archbishop of Canterbury.
"The ELCA is seen as a significant partner in the emerging new reality
of the unity in the Body of Christ in the world," he said in his
comments on the trip.
     + Hanson said he would not support possible attempts at this
year's churchwide assembly to rescind a bylaw adopted by the 2001
Churchwide Assembly related to the full communion agreement of the ELCA
and the Episcopal Church, "Called to Common Mission (CCM)." Under terms
of CCM, a bishop must preside at all Lutheran ordinations. Though
bishops often presided at ordinations, that wasn't always the case
before CCM.  Because of internal controversy about the new requirement,
the 2001 assembly adopted a bylaw that made it possible for a pastor
other than a bishop to preside at Lutheran ordinations, provided the
candidate's synod bishop approved after consulting with the synod
council and ELCA presiding bishop.  Some in the church believe the bylaw
was a mistake, and that the action may have compromised the ELCA's
integrity.
     "I would not support that action [to rescind the bylaw]," Hanson
said.  "I think the bylaw has served us well."	Since the bylaw was
adopted, there have been four Lutheran ordinations at which pastors
other than bishops presided, and at least 574 at which a bishop
presided, he said.
     + The church faces "huge economic challenges," Hanson said.  The
churchwide organization reduced its budget one year ago, and a second
reduction was planned.	The church should be challenged to increase
financial gifts above the average of 1 to 2 percent of their income that
most members give, he said.
     + Hanson had a positive meeting recently with presidents of ELCA
colleges and universities, he said.  The college and university leaders
expressed a deep desire that their schools "be institutions of the
church rather than church-related colleges," he said.  He pledged to
build stronger church relationships with seminary presidents, with whom
he will meet soon, and with social ministry organizations.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html