LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 186

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186 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

3-111

To Request CTCR Study Document on Issues Raised
by Cloning
WuereasS, Reports of cloning sheep, monkeys, and other ani-
mals are increasingly prevalent in the media; and

WHEREAS, The possibility of human cloning is reportedly im-
minent; and

WHEREAS, The Holy Scriptures speak of God alone as the Au-
thor and Sustainer of life; and

WHEREAS, The issues raised by cloning are still emerging; there-
fore be it

Resolved, That the Missouri District in convention forward an
overture to the Synod at its 1998 convention to direct the CTCR to
produce a study document addressing the theological issues raised
by cloning.

Missouri District

3-112

To Have CTCR Study Cloning
and Harvesting of Human Organs
WHEREAS, The cloning of animals has now become a fact; and

WuEREAS, Cloning appears to be an attack on the First Com-
mandment, the Sixth Commandment, and on God’s work of cre-
ation (Robert W. Weise, “Begotten, Not Made,” The Lutheran Wit-
ness, vol. 116, no. 6 [June 1997], pp. 6-9); and

WHEREAS, The cloning of human beings is seriously being con-
templated (“‘Cloning’s Kevorkian,” Time [Jan. 19, 1998], p. 58;
“Seed of Destruction,” World, (Jan. 17, 1998], p. 9); and

WHEREAS, Plans have already been laid to clone “human bodies
without a forebrain” who “would not be considered persons” to be
kept alive “as a future source of organs” (“Of Headless Mice ... and
Men,” Time (Jan. 19, 1998], p. 76); and

WHEREAS, Cloning raises serious ethical and moral issues con-
cerning the understanding of marriage, reproduction, and human
life; and '

WHEREAS, There is need for a biblical study of this issue to be
given to the church; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention request that the CTCR
issue a report giving the biblical perspective on the cloning of ani-
mals and human beings; and be it further

Resolved, That the report also include a biblical response to
cloning for the purpose of producing and harvesting human organs;
and be it finally

Resolved, That this report be prepared quickly for the benefit of
the church.

St. Paul
Waseca, MN

3-113

To Commend “That They May Have Life”

WHEREAS, The President’s Commission on the Sanctity of Life,
in its document “That They May Have Life,” has stated: “Human
life is not an achievement. It is an endowment. It has measureless
value, because every individual, at every stage of development and
every state of consciousness, is known and loved by God. This is
the source of human dignity and the basis for human equality. It
must therefore be asserted without exception or qualification: No
one is worthless whom God has created and for whom Christ died”;
and

WHEREAS, The commission further stated: “This principle calls
upon every individual and society to rightly define the human com-
munity. Will all be counted as neighbors, or will some be regarded
and treated as strangers and cast beyond protection? In a democ-
racy, men and women of every walk and station of life have a role

and responsibility in answering these great and significant ques-
tions”; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention commend the Presi-
dent’s Commission on the Sanctity of Life for the document “That
They May Have Life” and encourage all congregations within the
Synod to support all efforts to uphold and underscore the Chris-
tian concern for the sanctity of life; and be it further

Resolved, That our President, Dr. A. L. Barry, be commended
for the leadership he is providing our Synod in affirming the sanc-
tity of life.

Circuit 16 Forum
South Wisconsin District

3-114

To Oppose Abortion and Commend Lutherans for Life

WuereaS, The Bible regards unborn children as real persons
(Luke 1:41; Ps. 51:5; Ps. 139:13; Jer. 1:5); and

Wuereas, The U.S. Supreme Court in 1973 allowed for the
killing of unborn infants; and

WHEREAS, Some of our nation’s leaders now are promoting or
allowing for partial-birth abortions; and

Wuereas, Almost all major Protestant denominations now sup-
port abortion; and

WHEREAS, The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America at its
1997 convention again supported abortion, including the payment
of the abortion of any of its pastors seeking an abortion. (Some
ELCA conservatives are questioning whether ELCA is still “in the
Christian Church” because of its pro-abortion policy. “The Evan-
gelical Lutheran Church in America’s church council decision to
direct the health plan to pay for any and all abortions raises the
question whether that churchwide body is included in the One Holy
Catholic and Apostolic Church confessed in the creed. The answer
would seem that it is not” says the Pentecost 1996 Lutheran
Forum ); and

Wuereas, Lutherans for Life ably promotes life and opposes
abortion; therefore be it

Resolved, That the 1998 convention of the LCMS declare

1. the child in the mother’s womb is human life created by God;

2. abortion, in the sense of artificial or induced termination of
pregnancy except where the mother’s life is clearly involved, is
murder and not justified;

3. members of the LCMS, including any state or U.S. senator
or representative who is a member of an LCMS congregation, who
recommend abortion upon demand, particularly partial-birth abor-
tion, should be disciplined in an evangelical manner if they refuse
to retract their defense of abortion;

4. the LCMS will not remain in fellowship with any church
body which supports abortion upon demand; and be it finally

Resolved, That the 1998 convention of the LCMS commend
Lutherans for Life and encourage Lutherans for Life to continue
making efforts to show the more than five million members of
ELCA that their church is pro-abortion and pays for abortions in-
volving its pastors.

Trinity, New Haven, MO; Immanuel, Clovis, NM;
Washington Circuit, Missouri District; Trinity, Denver, CO

3-115

To Request Opinion of CTCR re LCMS Membership
and Public Abortion Policy Stance

WHEREAS, The Word of God clearly prohibits the taking of in-
nocent life (Fifth Commandment); and

WHEREAS, The LCMS has repeatedly affirmed and asserted its
public position against legalized abortion; and