LCMS President’s statement regarding gubernatorial actions expanding abortion in New York, Illinois

Contact: Pamela Nielsen
Media Relations, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
314-996-1215
pamela.nielsen@lcms.org
www.lcms.org

A statement from the Rev. Dr. Matthew Harrison, president of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, in response to recent gubernatorial actions expanding abortion in New York and Illinois.

“In him was life, and the life was the light of men” (John 1:4).

On Jan. 22, 2019, the 46th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion on demand, the governors of both New York and Illinois signed laws to extend and promote abortion.

As he signed the Reproductive Health Act into law, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo described it as the “evolution” of humankind in America. In Illinois, Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed an executive order to ensure taxpayer funding of abortions, saying that it would make his state “the most progressive … in terms of women’s reproductive rights.”

Life, not death, is the goal of humanity. History testifies that death is never the means through which justice and human rights prevail. We do not advance on the graves of our children. Germany, which sought eugenics as the solution to problems, now has strict abortion laws. To defend and support life is the goal of every just government, and the right to life is the hallmark of a good society.

Yet abortion laws have allowed the abortion of more than 61,000,000 children since Roe v. Wade. That’s nearly 50 times the number of American soldiers killed in all wars. The abortion industry and its proponents take great lengths to avoid facing the fact that abortion dismembers a living child in a horrid pool of its own blood. This is barbaric.

Abortion is a lie. Science is on the side of life. We shall stand against the barbarism of abortion until our dying breath. Abortion is illogical, as we slaughter babies in the womb while developing ever-better care for other unborn children. Abortion contradicts the natural law written on human hearts that teaches us it is wrong to kill.

Lawmakers and bureaucrats in our country have become emboldened to force citizens to go against their conscience. People publicly celebrate laws that lead to the deaths of children.

How long, O Lord, how long?

Our Christian faith teaches us to value life and to love each and every person as our neighbor. Love is life, and life is the great gift of love. Death is our natural enemy. This can be seen in our lives and in our world each day. Even the birds that seek food in winter testify that life is the goal of their movements and their work. The flowers that grow toward the sun seek the light that enlivens them. We all live under God, who grants life to His whole creation.

And in the giving of His Son to be the Savior, God shows that He is the Lord of life. Jesus came to love. He taught us to love all people, including those whom we consider our enemies. He taught us to unconditionally love every person, even those whom this world considers unworthy of love.

Jesus not only taught us to love. He brought healing and wholeness to the broken. He proclaimed peace to those who were troubled. He sat with those who were excluded. He lifted up those who were beaten down. But most of all, He loved through the sacrifice of His own life on the cross. He died to forgive the sins of all humanity. His forgiveness is a free gift for all who trust in Him, including those who suffer from guilt for aborting their child. He rose on the third day.

The resurrection of Jesus is God’s grand statement that life is the goal of this creation. The resurrection of Jesus proclaims that all creatures find the goal of their existence in life. Just as God raised Jesus from the dead, so we learn that God treasures life over death.

We live as citizens in this world, and we seek to be obedient to our nation’s laws. We thank God for our leaders and for this great land He has given to us and for its precious freedoms and opportunities. The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod advocates strong citizenship and active participation in government. We obey the laws of our land and encourage those around us to do so.

We are, however, bound by our conscience to speak against those laws that are unjust and, especially, those laws that violate God’s law and the natural law that binds all mankind. Abortion and other means through which humans kill humans violate these natural and moral laws that form the foundation of society.

Therefore, we stand against these actions and against all laws that sanction abortion or the taking of innocent life. We cannot stand silent when people elected to positions in which they are to protect citizens continue to pass laws and advocate for legislation that undermines the sanctity of human life. Our conscience is bound by both the Word of God and reason to speak for life as a precious gift of God and to speak against any and all who promote the killing of unborn children. We cannot hide the evil of these laws under the banner of “rights” or “privilege.” Children’s lives are at stake. They cannot speak for themselves. We will speak for them, and we will work to protect their lives.

And we will continue to work to love and support the women who face difficult choices or suffer from the consequences of abortion. We support young mothers who have chosen life for their children. We work to provide adoption and other opportunities to care for children in need. And we continue to show God’s mercy to all, just as He, in Jesus, has mercy on all.

We will work, love and pray that all might know the love of Jesus and trust in Him for salvation. “In him was life, and the life was the light of men” (John 1:4).

Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison, President
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

Updated Feb. 12, 2019

At its meeting on Feb. 7, the LCMS Council of Presidents and the LCMS Praesidium unanimously voted to sign their names to President Harrison’s statement. The names and districts/regions are listed below.

Council of Presidents

Rev. Derek G. Lecakes
Atlantic District

Rev. Dr. Anthony J. Steinbronn
New Jersey District

Rev. Michael R. Lange
California/Nevada/Hawaii District

Rev. Arie Bertsch
North Dakota District

Rev. Mark A. Miller
Central Illinois District

Rev. Dwayne M. Lueck
North Wisconsin District

Rev. Dr. Chris C. Wicher
Eastern District

Rev. Dr. Allan R. Buss
Northern Illinois District

Rev. Dr. Jamison J. Hardy
English District

Rev. Dr. Paul A. Linnemann
Northwest District

Rev. Dr. Gregory S. Walton
Florida-Georgia District

Rev. Dr. Kevin A. Wilson
Ohio District

Rev. Dr. Daniel J. Brege
Indiana District

Rev. Barrie E. Henke
Oklahoma District

Rev. Dr. Brian S. Saunders
Iowa District East

Rev. Dr. Michael E. Gibson
Pacific Southwest District

Rev. Dr. Steven D. Turner
Iowa District West

Rev. Roger E. Schlechte
Rocky Mountain District

Rev. Peter K. Lange
Kansas District

Rev. Waldemar R. Vinovskis
SELC District

Rev. Dr. David P. E. Maier
Michigan District

Rev. Scott C. Sailer
South Dakota District

Rev. Dr. Roger C. Paavola

Mid-South District

Rev. Dr. John C. Wille
South Wisconsin District

Rev. Donald J. Fondow
Minnesota North District

Rev. Dr. John R. Denninger
Southeastern District

Rev. Dr. Lucas V. Woodford
Minnesota South District

Rev. Eric C. Johnson
Southern District

Rev. Dr. Robert Lee Hagan
Missouri District

Rev. Timothy J. Scharr
Southern Illinois District

Rev. Terry R. Forke
Montana District

Rev. Michael W. Newman
Texas District

Rev. Richard L. Snow
Nebraska District

Rev. John E. Hill
Wyoming District

Rev. Timothy Yeadon
New England District

Praesidium

Rev. Dr. Herbert C. Mueller
First Vice-President

Rev. Dr. John C. Wohlrabe, Jr.
Fourth Vice-President
Great Lakes Region

Rev. Dr. Scott R. Murray
Second Vice-President
West-Southwest Region

Rev. Dr. Daniel Preus
Fifth Vice-President
Central Region

Rev. Nabil S. Nour
Third Vice-President
Great Plains Region

Rev. Christopher Esget
Sixth Vice-President
East–Southeast Region