LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2010, Page 4

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SYNOD REPORTS
We recognize that many brothers and sisters within the ELCA, both
clergy and lay, are committed to remaining faithful to the Gospel of our
Lord Jesus Christ, are committed to the authority of Holy Scripture, and
strongly oppose these actions. To them we offer our assurance of loving encouragement together with our willingness to provide appropriate
support in their efforts to remain faithful to the Word of God and the historic teachings of the Lutheran church and all other Christian churches
for the past 2,000 years.

Dr. Gerald B. Kieschnick, President
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Theological Implications of 2009 ELCA Decisions
To assist our Synod in addressing the practical matters of what
effect the ELCA decisions and actions might have on ongoing working
relationships between the LCMS and ELCA in areas of inter-Lutheran
cooperation, I appointed a special task force to develop a theological
statement regarding these matters. The members of this task force,
appointed on Epiphany Day, Jan. 6, 2010, are Dr. Joel Lehenbauer,
Dr. Dale Meyer, Dr. Dean Nadasdy, Dr. Samuel Nafzger, Rev. Larry
Vogel, Dr. Dean Wenthe, and Rev. John Wohlrabe.
The letter of appointment is included as Appendix II and the
Theological Statement itself is included as Appendix III to this report.
I commend this statement for your careful consideration and study
and believe it will provide helpful guidance to pastors, congregations,
and inter-Lutheran agencies.
Sanctity of Life
Every year on Jan. 22, the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme
Court decision legalizing abortion in the United States, a March for
Life is held in Washington, D.C., the nation’s capital. In 2009, it was
my humbling privilege to participate in person by preaching at a preMarch service at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Alexandria, Virginia,
by offering the opening prayer at the pre-March kickoff event in the
presence of a crowd estimated at between 200,000 and 300,000 people, and by walking in the March itself.
In 2009 and 2010 I issued the following statements:
LCMS President’s Statement on Sanctity of Human Life Observance
as LCMS Participates in 36th Annual “March for Life”
January 16, 2009
Our recent national, state, and local elections have heightened concern among many Americans regarding issues surrounding the sanctity
of human life. As they have done for the last 36 years, thousands of
Americans in Washington, D.C., and millions more around the country will gather together this January 22 to participate in the March for
Life. They do this in remembrance of an estimated 50 million unborn
American children who have died since Roe vs. Wade tragically legalized abortion in America through all nine months of a pregnancy.
It is especially crucial this year that Americans speak loudly and
clearly to our new federal administration to demonstrate that respect for
life is a primary concern for millions of Americans. This year, involvement in the March for Life is expected to top 200,000 participants.
This would represent the highest attendance ever of concerned citizens
who value the morals and human rights upon which this country was
founded.
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS), since its inception,
has steadfastly proclaimed the miracle of human life from conception
until natural death. As we march with other concerned Americans, we
underscore our belief that Christ Jesus sanctified all human life by His
birth, life, death, and resurrection for all mankind.
Our Synod is actively involved in a variety of domestic and international programs to support and encourage life “in the image of God,”
through the LCMS Board for Human Care Ministries, the LCMS
Sanctity of Human Life Committee, Lutherans For Life, and the local

ministries of LCMS congregations across the country. Both in our
church body and in society at large, the LCMS remains devoted to
upholding the sanctity of human life and caring for those who are the
most vulnerable and helpless among us.

Gerald B. Kieschnick, President
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Statement Issued for 37th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade
January 20, 2010
Friday, January 22, marks the 37th anniversary of the Supreme
Court decision that altered how our nation had valued life for the previous 200 years. Abortion has caused nearly 51 million deaths since 1973,
when medically assisted termination of a pregnancy was declared legal.
Yet this solemn anniversary also gives us reason to hope as throngs
of people will converge on our nation’s capital—as they have each of
the past 37 years—to call for repeal of the Roe v. Wade decision.
We thank the LCMS Lutherans who will join an anticipated crowd
of more than 200,000 pro-life marchers on this day to worship, to pray,
and to share with the nation the truth of God’s Word that life begins
at conception. This year, their presence in Washington, D.C., is more
important than ever as Congress considers health care legislation that
could allow the use of taxpayer money to fund abortions.
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has consistently affirmed
and given thanks to God for the miracle of human life from conception
until natural death and fought for its preservation. We have also taken
action through international and domestic programs to demonstrate our
care and compassion for those who live on the other side of the world,
for our neighbor down the street, and for the unborn in the womb.
As we reflect on the significance of this day, we boldly profess our
belief that Christ Jesus sanctified all human life by His birth, life, death,
and resurrection for all mankind. Both in our church body and in society at large, the LCMS remains committed to upholding the sanctity of
human life and devoted to caring for those who are the most vulnerable
and helpless among us.

Gerald B. Kieschnick, President
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

Resources for Assisting Parents, Pastors, Teachers, and Congregations

We live today in a world where biblical and traditional Christian
values are threatened all around us. Some of the topics I’ve already
addressed in this report deal with intrinsically sinful behavior that has
become not only tolerated, but also accepted and condoned by society. Children and adults are exposed to temptations and troubles of
many kinds. To speak and act in favor of living lives in accord with
God’s holy and revealed will and against sinful activity of all kinds
requires courage. It also is our godly responsibility.
To assist in doing so, we have available today many resources
produced both by agencies within and outside our beloved Synod.
While providing an exhaustive listing of such resources is beyond
the scope and purpose of this report, I do not hesitate to encourage
our parents, pastors, teachers, and congregations to utilize the plethora of resources available on dating, marriage, divorce, depression,
abuse, addiction, homosexual behavior, pornography, and a host of
other subjects.
Materials and resources on these and other topics are available
from sources that include but are not limited to Concordia Publishing
House; the LCMS Commission on Theology and Church Relations;
family, school, stewardship, and youth ministries of the LCMS Board
for District and Congregational Services; the LCMS Board for Human
Care Ministries; Lutherans For Life; Ambassadors of Reconciliation;
the National Coalition for the Protection of Children and Families;
and the Religious Alliance Against Pornography.
These agencies and organizations are dedicated to providing helpful information, many resources, and much material for addressing

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