Dear People of the LCMS,
We live in disturbing times. Jesus’ words on the night of His betrayal are ever true: “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
The resources that follow this note are mostly self-explanatory, but I want to make a few somewhat personal remarks to you before you read on. This COVID-19 pandemic has challenged the world, as well as us as Christians individually and corporately as a Synod. Attitudes and approaches to the challenge by LCMS individuals, congregations and districts vary. This is due to a variety of factors: the intensity of the disease; cultural and political contexts; and our own varying views on the medicinal, social, political and — to some extent — religious issues involved. Government intrusion into churches through various regulations — attempted by states and municipalities across the nation — have even sought to regulate our sacred practice of Holy Communion (the holy of holies where government has no place), which has been troubling. In many cases, we have seen governments treating churches unfairly, even closing churches while leaving theaters or clubs open. Local and state governments have taken advantage of COVID-19 to push regulations into our parochial schools, where such state regulation has not existed before. I, for one, am deeply concerned about increasing government overreach into areas of the First Amendment. “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). And I aim to resist this increasing encroachment wherever and whenever I can.
The vaccine issue is challenging from a legal perspective. Those most interested have deep personal, medical and religious concerns about government mandates. Unfortunately, constitutional case law has for a century upheld the government’s ability to mandate vaccinations. Some legal experts have not wanted to challenge this because of what appears to be an impossibility of legal success. Expected presidential mandates that force employees of companies and nonprofits to release or terminate unvaccinated employees will be challenged legally from various directions. I believe — and so do others — that such mandates for churches violate the “free exercise” clause of the First Amendment, because they would force the termination of pastors and called workers in larger church institutions who refuse vaccination. Our military chaplains are increasingly pressured by the LGBTQ agenda of the U.S. military. In addition, those chaplains who have conscientious objections to the vaccine mandate are now faced with the question of continuing to serve or leaving the military. Thus far, free speech protections still remain, thank God.
The LCMS has no official position on vaccines in general or the COVID-19 vaccines in particular. We are not “anti-vaxxers.” I’d venture that the majority of LCMS clergy are vaccinated. I am. I’ve been saddened many times at the loss of personal friends, including a number of pastors. I know that the majority of those hospitalized are unvaccinated. I know that the death rate for COVID-19 increases dramatically for those unvaccinated. But still, death occurs mainly among those with other health conditions. I also know that the risk of death overall is very small. I know that healthy young people rarely die, and that for the vast majority the symptoms are fairly insignificant. My two sons and their spouses have all had COVID-19. Thankfully, they recovered well. Many have not been so fortunate.
As the other resources note, the vaccines, in various ways (development or testing), made use of stem cells from aborted babies. This is limited to two lines from two babies from 36 and 48 years ago. I was able to obtain the vaccine that is less morally problematic, but it is still problematic. I was present in the White House when President George W. Bush limited research to such lines and ensured that no others would be taken from later or current abortions. We gave thanks for that. But this remains an ethical quandary that has to be judged by each Christian conscience. I respect that. So does your church. And we want to be as helpful as we can. Please give charitable attention to the message below and the other related documents.
“Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess. 5:23).
Pastor Matthew C. Harrison
President
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Information about COVID-19 vaccines and mandate
Visit lcms.org/vaccinemandate for these resources:
- LCMS President Harrison’s update following the White House vaccine mandate announcement
- Facts and considerations about COVID-19 vaccines
- Q&A about vaccines and the government mandate
- LCMS Life Ministry video and articles
- Information from Alliance Defending Freedom
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We should not be fearful of things in this life so that we make use of evil: vaccines made with or tested using aborted baby material.
How can we show we are not if this world if we partake in these evils? Among other things, Christians going to Disney parks – when today’s Disney pushes the homosexual and transgender ideologies! Where do we draw the line on participating in this culture of death and destruction?
I am afraid that your message, President Harrison, is sadly lacking.
You said, “We live in disturbing times.” What’s disturbing to me is that you seem to be more concerned about temporary restrictions on worship during a deadly pandemic than you do about whether people get sick or die. How is that “pro-life”?
You admit COVID vaccines greatly reduce hospitalizations and deaths. Yet you refuse to even recommend Lutherans get vaccinated! You refer to concerns about a (remote) link between vaccines and abortion, but you say you personally got vaccinated. Why not share with us your reasoning as to why you did that? That might sway people on the fence and eventually save their lives!
Do people realize how many commonly-prescribed and OTC medications are tested on HEK cell lines? Where are the Christian scientists taking kidney cells from a donated miscarriage and replicating the HEK lines in a more pro-life way if this is such a concern?
I cannot understand why you said death from COVID occurs mostly in those with other health issues. Over 750,000 Americans have died in less than two years! Is the fact that those who died often had other issues supposed to make their grieving loved ones feel better? Plenty of young, healthy people have been killed by COVID, too.
Why did you say it’s unfortunate the government has the power to mandate vaccinations? Do you realize how many lives have been saved over the last century by mandatory vaccines? Undermining the right of government to mandate vaccines would be acclaimed a wonderful victory by the anti-vaxx movement!
If pastors and chaplains don’t want to get vaccinated, they should be fired! Every unvaccinated person needlessly increases the burden on our health-care system if they get sick, and increases the chance of an even deadlier variant to evolve. And, frankly, I don’t want an anti-vaxxer as my pastor. What other lunatic ideas does he harbor?
I have seen LCMS pastors online say things like masking profanes God’s image, social distancing is Gnosticism, worshipping online is not really worship, pre-packaged Communion bread and wine looks like Dunkaroos, they are proud of not taking any COVID precautions, the COVID vaccine is not really a vaccine, COVID is a plandemic, etc. This is scary.
I am afraid in my own congregation to express concerns about a lack of COVID precautions because of the politics of today. That isn’t good!
Dr. Harrison, if there are ethical issues with the vaccines, why did you take one anyway? Please tell us your reasoning, so that other people can be reassured and get vaccinated, too. Every unvaccinated person who gets infected, whether or not they get sick, is helping to accelerate the evolution of more dangerous variants and is a threat to the public health. I can’t believe you said “unfortunately” the government can mandate vaccinations. If that power gets undermined by the GOP and anti-vaxxers, a century of progress against disease will be rolled back, and many will get sick and die needlessly. How is that pro-life? I am more concerned about the over 1,000 Americans dying every day from COVID (the overwhelming majority of whom would have lived had they been vaccinated) than I am about an embryo from Europe from 30 or 40 years ago that MAY have died because of an elective (rather than a therapeutic) abortion.