wfn.org | VELKD General Synod Reserved about Use of Embryos for Research

["Frank Imhoff" <FRANKI@elca.org>]

Political Action, Dialogue Have Priority over Military Action

BUECKEBURG, Germany/GENEVA, 29 October 2001 (LWI) - The General Synod
of the United Evangelical Lutheran Church of Germany (VELKD),
concluding its meeting in Bueckeburg, Germany affirmed in a statement
on bio-ethics the principle that "human dignity applies even to a
human embryo."

The synod condemned the destruction of embryos for research, cloning
of human beings and genetic manipulation. Because of the "strong
possibilities of abuse," the synod also disapproved "at this time,
the legislation of pre-implantation diagnosis (PID)."

The synod's deliberations during its 20-23 October meeting centered
around the theme "The Protestant Image as an Expression of Freedom
and Commitment." Discussions took place against the background of the
VELKD's draft "Guidelines for Church Life," which will be discussed
by its member churches in the coming months before being returned to
the October 2002 General Synod in Bamberg, Germany for a final
consultation.

The synod said it takes seriously society's expectations of guidance
from the churches. The "Guidelines" are intended to offer "guidance
for a Christian way of life in a pluralist society, and clarity as
well as agreement on principles of Christian faith and action." Many
points in the "Guidelines" are loosely formulated, since the
Evangelical-Lutheran understanding of guidance is that it should be
put into context.

The synod members challenged the Christian churches to celebrate
Pentecost Monday as an ecumenical holiday, holding more joint
'services of the Word' and praying for the gift of the Holy Spirit. A
request was directed to the Roman Catholic German Bishops'
Conference, since Pentecost Monday "is not a world-wide Catholic
holiday, to open up the possibility for the parishes of their
dioceses to participate in these joint worship services with the
concurrence of their church."

The General Synod encouraged Protestant and Roman Catholic Christians
"to strengthen the sense of community that they have already
experienced or else develop opportunities to be together at all
levels, through mutual consultations, visits, discussions and
letter-writing, through prayer for one another, joint worship and
jointly celebrated acts of consecration and blessing."

As long as there is no complete church fellowship, said the statement
adopted by the synod, the churches must continue to give one another
public signs of appreciation and of fellow-feeling. They could do
this, for instance, by inviting one another to be represented at
ordinations, installations or consecrations of clergy. The
differences which exist between Christian churches, said the synod,
must not prevent them from working closely together in certain areas.

In another statement, the 62 members of the VELKD said they were
"alarmed" at the news received from the Lutheran congregations in
Palestine, especially in Bethlehem. On October 19, the patriarchs and
heads of churches in Jerusalem appealed to world church leaders and
the international community to press the Israeli government to remove
its forces from several towns in Palestinian-controlled areas after
their occupation following the assassination of an Israeli cabinet
minister.

The General Synod President was asked to convey to the bishop of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan, Munib A. Younan, the VELKD's
solidarity with the Lutherans in the region.

The General Synod further adopted a motion that had been accepted by
vote of the VELKD's Bishops' Conference on 20 October 2001,
concerning the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the USA, titled
"Protect People, Overcome Violence." Among other concerns, it
underlined the need to denounce all terrorist actions, and reaffirmed
the priority which political action, dialogue and humanitarian aid
should have over every form of military action.

The VELKD is a union of eight churches. It represents about 11
million Lutherans in Bavaria, Brunswick, Hanover, Mecklenburg, North
Elbia, Saxony, Schaumburg-Lippe and Thuringia. Its Presiding Bishop
is Dr. Hans Christian Knuth of Schleswig. Bishop Hermann Beste of
Schwerin serves as vice president.

(Article by Udo Hahn, VELKD Press Officer, Hanover, Germany)

(The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran
tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund (Sweden), the LWF now has 133
member churches in 73 countries representing over 60.5 million of the
64.3 million Lutherans worldwide. The LWF acts on behalf of its
member churches in areas of common interest such as ecumenical
relations, theology, humanitarian assistance, human rights,
communication, and the various aspects of mission and development
work. Its secretariat is located in Geneva, Switzerland.)

[Lutheran World Information (LWI) is the information service of the
Lutheran World Federation (LWF). Unless specifically noted, material
presented does not represent positions or opinions of the LWF or of
its various units. Where the dateline of an article contains the
notation (LWI), the material may be freely reproduced with
acknowledgment.]

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