Against the background of the war in Iraq, officials of the United Evangelical Lutheran Church of Germany (VELKD), meeting in Hanover, Germany, March 27-28, expressed their gratitude for the many prayers for peace. The churches have offered many people a place where it is possible to express concerns and fears and to experience a sense of hope. The prayers also expressed global sympathy with the suffering of the victims. The VELKD church leaders clearly welcomed and supported the commitment of congregations and requested them not to be weary in their prayers for peace and justice. A unification of Evangelical Lutheran churches into one church body, the VELKD comprises eight churches with a combined membership of over 10.6 million people.

In Wuerzburg, Germany, the regional synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria said that the "war against Iraq shatters us just as much as the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks in the USA. But Saddam Hussein's regime with its contempt for humanity still does not justify this war of aggression either ethically or under international law." Like many other Christian churches - also in the USA - the Bavarian church denounced the notion of a "war willed by God." The use of religion for political ends was unacceptable whether it be for terrorist attacks or for so-called preventive wars. The way to peace with justice could only be through a political solution within the United Nations' framework, the Bavarian church synod stated on April 5.

The synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Thuringia has called for an immediate end to the fighting in Iraq. "We see suffering and death, we see people fearing for their lives and the impotent rage of the humiliated. In the name of God, the creator of all humanity, we are called to make our voices heard. In our responsibility as Christians, we object to reference to God being used as a religious justification for the war," synod members stated on April 4. They called for prayers for peace "because our prayer does not go unheard. It is the seed from which the future grows. It encourages and accompanies all who are making efforts for peace."

The bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hanover, Dr Margot Kaessmann, has criticized the use of religious language by US President George W. Bush. She said Bush was misusing his prayers to justify war. She also

The bishops of the North Elbian Evangelical Lutheran Church have warned about possible disastrous consequences of the war in Iraq. For Hamburg's Bishop Maria Jepsen, the war "cannot be justified in any way at all." The idea that the conflict could lead to a reduction in tension was "erroneous and dangerously outrageous." Bishop Baerbel Wartenberg-Potter of Luebeck, expressed concern that hatred and terrorism would spread as a result of the events so far. If the institutions that represent international law are not safeguarded, then there is a danger to return to barbarism. The bishop of Schleswig, Dr Hans Christian Knuth, appealed for special attention to the war victims among the Iraqi population as well as for the soldiers involved and their families on both sides of the front.

In a declaration on March 20, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Italy (ELKI), expressed deep regret about the start of the war in Iraq. The ELKI described the US-led military strike as a "war of aggression" which contravened international law and could not be reconciled with Christian conscience. The church hoped "that the forces waging war would not abandon their responsibility for reconstruction after this indescribable warfare but ensure that their impressive pronouncements were put into practice." The ELKI referred to the joint responsibility of many Western countries, who had originally supplied Iraqi President Saddam Hussein with the means to enhance his regime until it became a threat to others. The ELKI has 7,000 members, and joined the LWF in 1949.

In view of the conflict between the USA and Iraq, Argentina's Evangelical Church of the River Plate (IERP) has declared its solidarity with all those who seek peace. The IERP regretted that despite the warnings from the governments of many nations, regional and international organizations, and despite numerous mass demonstrations worldwide, the USA had stuck to its plan to resolve the problem in Iraq by military force. The Argentine church stated its "resolute rejection" of all forms of violence and oppression. The IERP has 47,000 members and joined the LWF in 1991.

Lutheran World Information