Why We Lift Our Voices
Recent incidents in Minneapolis and other places around the country involving US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security have prompted leaders in our church to speak out.
Our (Lutheran) theology confirms that each person, regardless of humanly-determined distinction, is a child of God, created in God’s image and therefore with dignity and inherent worth. Therefore, we are called to advocate for responses in ways that respect and protect each individual from harm, whether physical or psychological. This is part of how we fulfill our call to love our neighbor (Luke 10:25-37).
Guided by the social statements of this church and our theological understanding that God is at work in the world, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) uses its prophetic voice boldly to address important political, social and economic issues that affect local and global communities.
The very first social statement adopted by the ELCA describes our shared commitment to this work:
“As a community of moral deliberation, the Church seeks to ‘discern what is the
will of God — what is good and acceptable and perfect’ (Romans 12:2). Christians
struggle together on social questions in order to know better how to live faithfully
and responsibly in their callings.”
Read the entire statement here.
We deliberate together with the whole, global church:
We are church together
Just as God has joined us to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ in baptism, we are also joined to others, not only in the ELCA and The Lutheran World Federation (LWF), but in all communities of Christian faith around the world. In Christ none of us lives in isolation from others. Jesus is our peace and has broken down the walls that divide us – walls of judgment, hatred, condemnation and violence – and has made us into one, new human community (Ephesians 2:14-15). This spiritual communion depends only on God’s mercy that comes to us in the word and sacraments. That alone is enough for unity, and so we yearn for this communion with all Christians at the Lord’s table. (https://www.elca.org/about)
Because we are church together, we listen deeply to one another, we prayerfully deliberate together, and we strive to live faithfully in this time and place. With regard to our current circumstance, I wish to share ELCA Presiding Bishop Curry’s statement on the ICE shooting in Minneapolis and the statement of Minneapolis Area Synod Bishop Jen Nagle. These were followed last week by a statement from all six Minnesota synod bishops. Also note the Lutheran World Federation’s statement.
I ask you to continue to join me in our affirming the covenant God made with us in Holy Baptism:
to live among God's faithful people,
to hear his Word and share in his supper,
to proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed,
to serve all people, following the example of our Lord Jesus, and
to strive for justice and peace in all the earth.
Yours in Christ,
The Rev. Lee Miller II
Bishop, Upstate New York Synod
