One of the joys of Life Together is the opportunity to dialogue and discuss what it means to be Lutheran in this day and age, how we live as Christians in this world and the best way in which to serve our neighbor.

Sometimes those discussions can be difficult, and the ones that deal with ethics — such as this thread — can be especially thorny. In such situations, our Lord calls all of us to repentance, that we would seek to put the best construction on what others have to say and to continue this robust discussion in a way that furthers understanding of the topic to helpful and constructive ends.

In that regard, please know that we have many additional resources on our LCMS.org Life Library, documents that will be fodder for still more discussion and for reflection. We also encourage you to read Resolution 6-02 from the 2007 Regular Convention of the LCMS (found below), which outlines the Synod’s position on stem cell research and our church’s explanation of why we “give public witness against the destruction of human life in embryonic stem cell research” (Res. 6-02).

Please also keep your eye out for more reporting on the upcoming Infertility Ethics Symposium (see https://reporter.lcms.org/2014/infertility-ethics) sponsored by LCMS Life Ministry and the Concordia Seminary Life Team, which is open to ordained pastors, commissioned ministers and seminarians, and will be held Saturday, Nov. 8, at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. Undoubtedly, similar discussions will occur throughout the course of the conference, and we’re eager to share them with you so that you can digest and contemplate the same information as those attending.

Helpful dialogue and discussion among Christians — among Lutherans — are wonderful gifts from our heavenly Father. They provide us with an opportunity to better understand the gift of faith given us in our Baptism and to rejoice in each person’s inherent value and worth, given by the One who created us. In the days ahead, as we continue to speak about life, ethics and God’s love for all, may we think distinctively, learn joyfully, pray heartily and rest in Christ’s promises more strongly still.

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To State LCMS Position on Stem Cell Research
Resolution 6-02
Overture 6-03 (CW, pp. 227-228)

Whereas, Medical research continues to generate new advances that create ethical questions which prior generations did not have to face; and

Whereas, Stem cell research in particular, offers the promise of delivering cures to debilitating diseases; and

Whereas, The LCMS is not opposed to all stem cell research as a means of seeking alleviation for disease; and

Whereas, The pro-life position support adult stem cell research, which does not involve the destruction of human life and has been utilized in treatment of maladies such as multiple sclerosis, Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, sickle cell anemia, stroke, limb gangrene, corneal regeneration, heart damage, Parkinson's disease, and spinal cord injury; and

Whereas, The pro-life position opposes embryonic stem cell research (ESCR), which destroys human life in order to obtain embryonic stem cells for research and has so far shown no success for treatment in humans even though touted in the media as the source of great cures in the future; and

Whereas, There are calls across the nation by many for state and federal funding of ESCR; and

Whereas, Voters in the state of Missouri faced such a campaign in the November 2006 election, which passed by a narrow margin in support of ESCR, now allowing this type of research in that state; and

Whereas, The Scriptures are replete with references showing that God cares for and defends the weak and the fatherless (Deut. 10:18; Ps. 68:5; Ps. 10:14) and, furthermore, that we are to "speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves" (Prov. 31:8-9 NIV); and

Whereas, Christians are to let their light shine in this dark world regarding this type of ethical dilemma, and since the LCMS takes a strong and clear pro-life position; therefore be it

Resolved, That in our preaching and teaching we emphasize that it is God alone who gives life and who is to take human life; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod urge its members to give public witness against the destruction of human life in embryonic stem cell research; and be it finally

Resolved, That the 2007 LCMS convention make known its support of adult stem cell research and its opposition to ESCR, which involved the taking of a human life.

ACTION: Adopted (4)

*(During discussion, an amendment to add "embryonic" before "stem cell research" in the second-last resolve was agreed to by the committee. An amendment to delete "and has so far shown no success for treatment in humans even though touted in the media as the source of great cures in the future" from the fifth whereas paragraph failed. After further discussion, the resolution was adopted as changed [Yes: 1,165; No: 41].)