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ELCA Task Force on Genetics Considers Scientific, Theological Input


From <NEWS@ELCA.ORG>
Date Tue, 6 Nov 2007 13:35:48 -0600

Title: ELCA Task Force on Genetics Considers Scientific, Theological Input ELCA NEWS SERVICE

November 6, 2007

ELCA Task Force on Genetics Considers Scientific, Theological Input 07-186-MRC

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Task Force on Genetics received scientific and theological input to advance its discussions on genetics when it met here Oct. 19-21. The task force is charged with developing a social statement on genetics for the church.

"Members of the task force met for the second time to continue to collect facts from experts regarding human genetics, biotechnology and genetic modification," said Janet Williams, genetic counselor, Clinical Genetics Institute, Intermountain Healthcare, Salt Lake City, Utah, in an interview. Williams co-chairs the task force with Dr. Per Anderson, professor of religion, Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn.

"We discussed the papers presented at the August meeting of the Association of Teaching Theologians regarding ethical and theological frameworks for thinking about genetics information," said Williams. "We grappled with acknowledging what is known within science and intertwining, weaving that with what we believe as Lutherans. We continued to review the existing ELCA social statements to inform our approach and provide theological consistency in our deliberations. Finally, we outlined other topics about which we need more information to understand current use and future potential of genetics information," she said.

The 2005 ELCA Churchwide Assembly called for a statement that speaks to "significant theological, ethical, public and pastoral challenges arising from developments in genetics." A task force was appointed in spring 2007 to develop the social statement, and it met for the first time here June 1-3. A proposed social statement is slated for presentation at the 2011 ELCA Churchwide Assembly.

Williams said genetics is an important topic for church and society because "genetics information is accumulating in research involving all aspects of God's creation. Some of this research has led to application of the information in very diverse ways.

From increasing crop yield to developing specific drug therapies

for cancer, genetic information and technologies are already a part of lives. Many suggest that there is great promise in the potential use of genetics and genomics in the future."

"We're now in the age of biological manipulation," said the Rev. Roger A. Willer, director of studies, ELCA Church in Society, in an interview. For the past 10,000 years or more, humans have been breeding plants and animals, but it hasn't been until the past 25 to 30 years that "we're able to get inside the genetic code, the blueprint, and fiddle around with things," he said. "This changes the ethical condition for decisions. The field of human manipulation of life forms puts us now on a whole new playing field."

"Science follows its curiosity, while technology tries to determine things that are beneficial. But there are questions about how we make decisions based on our unprecedented power over biological life. How do we think about the technological imperative -- the belief that if we can do it, we should -- theologically and morally? This is the kind of discernment that social statements are all about," said Willer.

"Genetics is a window on every aspect of human life. It includes public policy, prenatal implantation, genes, food supply, economic development, care of creation and more," said Willer.

Based on small group discussions and reading materials, the task force articulated some initial "common ideas" for how it will approach a study guide on the topic of genetics for the 4.8 million-member ELCA.

One idea was to consider the questions "What does it mean to be human and how do humans act in the world, exercise their power -- their human agency?" Another idea was to identify "middle- level principles" to guide decision-making -- middle-level principles like "sufficiency" for assessing economic activities or "solidarity" for determining practices to protect and enhance the capacity of natural and social systems. The idea is to determine theologically the principles to best guide human relationships with nature under God.

Other ideas included observing how Lutherans use the Bible to get at genetics; the proper sphere of human creativity in response to God's agency; and the Lutheran moral vision -- what is going on in the world and what is God up to.

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Information about the ELCA Task Force on Genetics is at http://www.ELCA.org/socialstatements/genetics on the ELCA Web site.

For information contact:

John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog


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