April 9, 2003

CHICAGO - 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.

ELCA News Service