February 24, 2011

CHICAGO – The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) today released Genetics, Faith and Responsibility, a proposed social statement on genetics, the result of more than five years of study, consultation and deliberation throughout the church. After review by the ELCA Conference of Bishops in March and the ELCA Church Council in April, the 2011 ELCA Churchwide Assembly is expected to consider the proposed social statement when it meets in August in Orlando, Fla.

Genetics, Faith and Responsibility was developed by an 18-member task force with broad experience in science and ethics. The task force created an initial draft of the social statement which it released in March 2010 for comment and review by ELCA members and congregations.

The proposed social statement affirms that human beings are "innovative stewards," called to dedicate themselves to the flourishing of life. It emphasizes that the moral imperative "to respect and promote the community of life with justice and wisdom" should guide the use of genetic knowledge in medicine, agriculture and other areas.

Genetics, Faith and Responsibility is believed to be one of the first such statements by an American church that develops a comprehensive ethical framework for addressing human power and issues such as medical, agricultural and cultural concerns.

The full text of Genetics, Faith and Responsibility is at http://www.ELCA.org/genetics on the ELCA website.

Janet L. Williams, task force co-chair and genetics counselor, Intermountain Healthcare, Murray, Utah, said the document is significant for the ELCA because it lays out an ethical framework for scientists, theologians, ELCA members and pastors to engage in respectful dialogue regarding the application of genetic technologies.

"It provides recognition of the rapidly changing science in genetics and acknowledges that the application of the science presents challenges and opportunities that would benefit from broad consideration of impact across the interconnected mesh of life," she said

The statement recognizes and affirms that ELCA members have differing views about the appropriate use of such technologies, she said. "The statement is a call to leadership and responsibility by lay and clergy with respect to the good use of the science," Williams said. She added that congregations should seek out conversations with people who work with such technologies and provide forums for "compassionate and respectful dialogue."

"Beyond the comprehensive scope of the document, it is significant because it teaches our church and society to see the call to love others to include the community of all living creatures, both today and in the future," said Dr. Per Anderson, task force co-chair, religion professor and associate dean for global learning, Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn. Concordia is one of 26 ELCA colleges and universities.

He suggested that ELCA members could use Genetics, Faith and Responsibility to understand new challenges and see "opportunities (for) loving others through genetic science and technology."

"They can use its moral vision and values to deliberate as individuals or with others about God's will for ever-expanding powers to understand and manipulate the basic structures of life. They can use this statement to engage a topic that matters to all people and that can seem too complex to comprehend and respond," Anderson said.

Genetics, Faith and Responsibility calls on individuals, agencies, organizations, corporations and governments to establish practices that advocate for genetic research and discovery for the good of all, and it affirms the good of genetic technologies and economic enterprises that enable the community of life to flourish. It calls for research to improve human health, and encourages dialogue and greater understanding regarding uses of genetic technology.

Genetics, Faith and Responsibility rejects human reproductive cloning; uses of genetic technology for economic reasons without moral deliberation; policies that encourage "genetic determinism" or create unsustainable practices; uses of genetic information without consent, or uses that result in discrimination in employment or insurance coverage; and expansion of genetic research or technology that endangers humans.

The document proposes nine implementing resolutions, including maintaining a database of ELCA member experts in genetic science and technology for consultation purposes. It asks the ELCA churchwide organization to assess the feasibility of developing a social message on embryonic human stem cell research, and it asks the Office of the Presiding Bishop to establish and oversee a process for implementation and accountability for the social statement.

ELCA News Service