Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
This is an update to my Jan. 21 letter. As OSHA prepares to announce the vaccine mandate that President Biden called for on Sept. 9, we have received many inquiries about what this mandate means for Christians. As before, these questions come from deep personal convictions about the sanctity of life and concern for religious freedoms. After consulting with our district presidents, many competent theologians and our own legal counsel, we are providing the following resources to help you navigate these complex issues.
As I said in January, this is neither legal nor medical advice, and it should not be treated as such. This is pastoral counsel to help you make the personal decisions that align with your conscience. In addition to this letter, please read the updated COVID-19 fact sheet (produced in collaboration with the staff of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations), the FAQ document produced in consultation with Synod legal counsel, the essays and video provided by the LCMS Office of National Mission’s Life Ministry, and the link to the resources provided by our friends at Alliance Defending Freedom. (Visit lcms.org/vaccinemandate for these resources.)
The questions you were asking in January are similar to those we are hearing today.
1. Are COVID-19 vaccines related to abortion? The science regarding this is complex. All three of the vaccines currently available in the United States have used fetal stem cells derived from abortion in some way. The Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccine used the PER.C6 line of embryonic stem cells in development and production. Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna developed and produced their vaccines without using cell lines derived from aborted human fetal tissue, but they used the HEK293T line of embryonic stem cells derived from a 1972 abortion to confirm the final vaccine quality (perhaps surprisingly, so do many other commonly used medications and vaccines). For more information on how the COVID-19 vaccines relate to abortion, I encourage you to consult the website of the pro-life bioethicists at the Charlotte Lozier Institute and the list they maintain there: lozierinstitute.org/update-covid-19-vaccine-candidates-and-abortion-derived-cell-lines. Neither the Pfizer/BioNTech nor Moderna vaccine contains any substance derived from aborted human fetal cells.
2. Does the Synod have a position on the reception of vaccines developed using human fetal tissue? The Synod does not have an official position on such vaccines at this time. Official decisions of this nature come through the Synod acting in convention, and no convention action has yet been taken. However, our church body remains firmly committed to the sanctity of life, and we continually advocate for pro-life positions in the public square.
3. Can I obtain a religious exemption for the COVID-19 vaccine? Religious or personal belief exemptions are based on conscientious objection and do not require official support from the denomination. The absence of an official Synod stance does not impact your ability to seek an exemption. In fact, most requests for religious exemption must be for personal, deeply held religious convictions, and not for the position of a church body or church official. Please consult your employer, local lawmakers or public health officials for more information on how to proceed should the need arise.
4. Should I take the COVID-19 vaccine? This is a question only you can answer. Some may choose not to receive the vaccine because of concerns over its relation to abortion or because of other health complications. Others may be vaccinated despite such reservations out of concern for their own health or that of their neighbor. Since neither Scripture nor the Synod has explicitly addressed this issue, it remains a matter of Christian freedom, which you must decide according to your individual conscience.
5. How should I talk about the vaccine with others who disagree with my view? In a sensitive issue of this nature, we remember the words of St. James: “Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger” (James 1:19). Listen carefully and openly to others’ points. Consider them. Share your positions patiently and objectively. Reflect upon your own penchant for error. Forgive others where they sin against you and ask for forgiveness where you wrong them.
In this contentious issue, we must respect the consciences of fellow believers who share our same commitment to Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions, as well as our life together as a Synod. As St. Paul urges regarding matters of conscience, “Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor” (1 Cor. 10:24), and “let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother” (Rom. 14:13). At a time of cultural upheaval, I would encourage you not to allow disagreement even over undoubtedly important matters such as this to take precedence over the faith that unites us in Christ. In all things, we should heed the call to “maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3).
Please study this collection of resources, which provides a summary of what we know about the COVID-19 vaccines, their relation to the issue of abortion, and what we can (and cannot) say about these matters from the Synod’s perspective. I hope it proves useful to you as you wrestle with how to bear Christian witness in this world through your love of both God and neighbor.
“May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen” (Rom. 15:5–6).
In Christ,
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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I’m disappointed that you did not point out that concern and love for our neighbors is a very compelling a reason to be vaccinated. You mentioned that the connection to stem cells could be a reason to be anti-vaccine but you mentioned that Pfizer vaccine’s connection is distant. Therefore I think you could have encouraged people to be vaccinated out of love for one another. Your statement came across as hedging the issue and made you sound like you’re more interested in getting reelected than encouraging people to take care of themselves and their neighbors.
I completely agree.
These Phase 3 Trials disguised as Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) are not safe or effective.
There are no long term peer reviewed studies.
The VAERS report just showing the reported reactions and death rates is shocking and would have shut down any other Vax.
Zero test animals survived any of these trials.
The Inventor of mRNA Dr Robert Malone himself states these are not safe or effective.
The expedited approval by the FDA of the Pfizer Vax is a bait and switch. The FDA approved the drug “Comiranty” and NOT the current drug Pfizer has on the market for EUA only.
The reported breakthrough variants is the Vax itself!
I will answer #2 since the church leaders are cowards and only speak up when it’s time to raise money. Yes. Aborted fetal tissue amd cells were used in the testing and development of these drugs and if you believe Big Pharma telling you well maybe just a little bit but not in the current drugs on the market, well then you probably believe wearing a mask especially alone in a car actually works.
Thank you for this detailed and TRUTHFUL rundown on the jabs. It’s about time someone tell the truth. I’m tired of people who claim to be spiritual leaders skirting all of the issues, and trying to stay on the fence. We need leaders who will tell the full truth and just admit it if they don’t care about the aborted babies used not only in the cell lines, but the brutal process that their cells, hearts and brains are obtained while they are still ALIVE for testing. Unbelievable that anyone could write such a long explanation as Matthew Harrison did, and say absolutely nothing except what he thinks both sides would like to hear. Sickening… I’m so disheartened for his spineless response.
The EUA is over. The vaccines were studied and trials conducted with larger numbers and greater rigor than many drugs approved and in use for years.
If you object to fetal cell research and will not take the vaccine for that reason, then you must foreswear Tylenol, Advil, Tums, and most other modern medicines.
The fetal stem cell lines used in research are from two abortions decades ago; we do not know the reason for the abortions. “Elective” means, in medical terms, “not an emergency”. However, heart surgery, lung transplants, knee replacements, and other very serious surgeries are considered “elective” but are in fact life saving – case in point, heart valve replacement, coronary artery bypass grafts, cancer surgery.
Therefore, the abortions that gave rise to these cell lines were “elective” but we don’t know why the mothers made that election: their lives may have been in danger and they had to choose whether to die with the baby or live. Some cases of anencephaly (no brain at all) in the baby can cause severe complications for the mom. Should she be forced to carry to term that baby, who will not survive the birth?
And no, mRNA vaccines are not dangerous. However, there are medical doctors who can advise scared or skeptical patients on what to do about vaccination.
So – ask a physician for advice, listen with an open mind and in silence, then ask questions. After all, your doctor has sworn to “first, do no harm”. Respect that, for pity’s sake.
And get vaccinated. As Luther said (using many more words than this): God gave you a brain. Use it. And follow advice from medical professionals who are in charge of public health measures.
Additional comment / FACT CHECK: This is no longer EUA for Pfizer, Moderna, or J and J. They are fully authorized and approved already, are effective, safe, and necessary.
When a drug or vaccine shows a statistically overwhelming result in double-blind placebo controlled studies, the trials stop and approval process can start. The fact that we have three fully approved vaccines against a deadly virus is an amazing gift from God, who gave us our minds and talents.
Mandating an action to “share” one’s own body with institutional third-parties by means of experimental testing and vaccination seems to reach beyond the traditional understanding of the call to love thy neighbor. In fact, it is NOT loving when the vaccination does not prevent transmission of Covid-19 disease. The mandate is a bullying tactic and like the Catholic Church demanding Martin Luther go against his conscience. And FYI, it just came out that Pfizer lied about not using fetal stem cell lines in their vaccines. Makes you wonder what else the ‘powers that be’ are lying about.
Additional comment / FACT CHECK: This is no longer EUA for Pfizer, Moderna, or J and J. They are fully authorized and approved already, are effective, safe, and necessary.
When a drug or vaccine shows a statistically overwhelming result in double-blind placebo controlled studies, the trials stop and approval process can start. The fact that we have three fully approved vaccines against a deadly virus is an amazing gift from God, who gave us our minds and talents.
The vaccines are not sterilizing vaccines – that is, they are 90% or more effective for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.
They prevent serious illness. As of December 2021, the overwhelming majority of people in the ICU for Covid are not vaccinated. Vaccinated patients are not sick enough to need anything near that care, for the most part.
Worse yet are the pregnant unvaccinated moms who get Covid and die, requiring emergency C-sections to save their fragile babies (most are not full term at that point).
These vaccines save lives, prevent spread (unvaccinated spread the virus more effectively and for a longer time), and protect innocent kids who cannot protect themselves.
Please follow public health advice and help prevent the spread to the vulnerable among us.