Convention delegates overwhelmingly adopt resolutions
HOUSTON—Delegates to the 64th Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) endorsed Thursday resolutions to support efforts to end human trafficking/slavery and to uphold the sanctity of life.
More
than 98 percent of voting delegates supported a resolution that upholds
efforts to end human trafficking/slavery. The resolution also directs
the LCMS president to write a letter to the United Nations Office on
Drugs and Crime expressing support for that office’s efforts to end
trafficking/slave trade. It also directs the LCMS Board for National
Mission to provide LCMS pastors and congregations with information
about this practice in order to educate them and encourage them to
become proactive in their response.
The United Nations
reports that human trafficking is a thriving business, with a market
value of $32 billion, and that at any given time, between 2.5 and 2.7
million people throughout the world are recruited, entrapped,
transported and exploited through the human trafficking process.
“I
am grateful that our LCMS in convention passed this resolution,
standing up to this sinful injustice of human trafficking that so
demeans God’s precious creation,’’ said Rev. Carlos Hernandez, director
of congregations and districts for LCMS World Relief and Human Care,
the LCMS’ mercy ministry.
“It
challenges and calls us, as Christ’s people, to demonstrate His mercy
by alerting our congregations to ways in which they can, as Christian
citizens, combat human trafficking with raised voices and united action
against this insidious evil that enslaves humans so valued and precious
to our Creator,’’ said Hernandez, who also is a board member of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS), a cooperative agency of the LCMS that welcomes vulnerable newcomers to the United States.
“The
LCMS has always been committed to ministering to and walking with the
most vulnerable,’’ said LIRS President and CEO Linda Hartke in a
release. The “vote stands as yet another example of the Synod’s concern
about human care. We are thankful that the LCMS shares not only our
ministry of welcome in broad strokes, but shares our specific concern
for people who are victims of modern-day slavery.’’
In
other action, the convention by a vote of more than 94 percent of
voting delegates agreed to denounce any legislation or action that
supports or funds abortions, to work with local crisis pregnancy
centers and to encourage more LCMS members to become involved in the
governmental process.
“With
the passage of this resolution, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has
once again defined itself as unique among the many mainline U.S.
religious denominations by maintaining a steadfast and unwavering
witness to the sanctity of life,’’ said Maggie Karner, director of life
and health ministries for LCMS World Relief and Human Care. “What makes
this resolution different is its call for definitive action — in
addition to talk and education. By specifically calling for our
congregations to get involved in grassroots efforts such as supporting
and volunteering at local pro-life pregnancy resource centers, and
educating our members to become active in the governmental process of
our country, this resolution clarifies that our role is to spread the
love of Christ to those in crisis in very tangible ways.
“We hope, by serving others with progressive solutions, it will eventually make abortion unthinkable.”
The
convention is meeting under the theme “ONE People–Forgiven” in Houston
through Saturday, July 17. Among the approximately 3,000 participants
are some 1,200 clergy and lay voting delegates. The convention serves
as the principal legislative assembly for the LCMS and includes
opportunities for worship, inspiration and fellowship. LCMS conventions
are held every three years.
About The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
The St. Louis-based Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod,
founded in 1847, has nearly 2.4 million baptized members in some 6,200
congregations and more than 9,000 pastors. The church body, which
ranks as one of the largest Christian denominations in the United
States, owns and perates KFUO radio, two seminaries, and 10 colleges
and universities. Its congregations operate the largest Protestant
parochial school system in America. The LCMS has relationships and
active mission work in 88 countries around the world and, in the last
five years, has awarded more than $35 million through more than 900
domestic and international grants for emergency response and disaster
relief. Today, the LCMS is in full doctrinal fellowship with 32 other
confessional Lutheran church bodies worldwide and is a founding partner
of Lutheran Services in America, a social ministry organization serving
one in every 50 Americans. For more information, visit www.lcms.org.
About LCMS World Relief and Human Care
LCMS
World Relief and Human Care (LCMS WR-HC) is the mercy arm of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. LCMS WR-HC supports human care and
disaster relief work worldwide. Its Life Ministries arm is devoted to
upholding the sanctity of human life, both in our church body and the
culture at large. Over the past five years, LCMS WR-HC has awarded more
than $35 million through more than 900 domestic and international
grants to help those who are homeless, persecuted, sick and hungry, in
conjunction with proclamation of the Gospel. To learn more about LCMS
WR-HC, visit www.lcms.org/worldrelief.
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