Note: This is part of a series on the Social Statements adopted by the ELCA in Assembly. Previous reflections are available at www.montanasynod.org, archived.
Lutherans have always been strong advocates of education. One of the hallmarks of the Reformation was a renewed emphasis on education-from the literacy of the clergy to the catechesis of the laity. We have the Small and Large Catechism as a result of this concern of Martin Luther. Over the years, Lutherans have had high standards for an educated clergy, and have established schools, colleges and seminaries as part of our legacy. In 2007, the Churchwide Assembly adopted "Our Calling in Education" as a social statement of the church. You can find a copy at www.elca.org. The statement begins with a discussion of the Lutheran understanding of vocation. "Lutherans understand vocation as a calling from God that encompasses all of life for all the faithful." The statement goes on: "Our particular calling in education is two-fold: to educate people in the Christian faith for their vocation and to strive with others to ensure that all have access to high-quality education that develops personal gifts and abilities and serves the common good." Education is not just for us. "Education is not a means to secure our personal salvation but a way to benefit the neighbor." The statement addresses faith formation for children and emphasizes the importance of lifelong learning all. It acknowledges the responsibilities of both parents and congregations in this area. Next, it addresses faith formation for students in the formative years, acknowledging that both children and older students are not simply preparing for a future vocation, they are living out a current vocation-as child, as student. The statement suggests some guidelines for a ministry of faith formation. The statement moves to questions of education in the public sphere and the question of access to high-quality education for all. There is a section on public schools, affirming ELCA commitment to them, and outlining some expectations for them, including: being communities of learning and teaching. The statement affirms teaching students to live morally in society, and also states that we expect the schools to teach about religion, not to teach religion. The ELCA does not consider science and religion to be mutually exclusive. The statement expects congregations to support with and work with public schools in a variety of ways. In addition, the statement urges the ELCA to work for equitable access to high quality education for all students. The statement then shifts to addressing Lutheran educational institutions, from pre-schools through colleges. Many congregations sponsor preschools. Some have elementary schools associate with them, and there are also Lutheran high schools. ELCA colleges and universities have different levels of commitment to Lutheran identity, and different styles. Since the statement was adopted, these higher education institutions have formed an organization for closer communication with one another and with the wider church. Many of the Lutheran colleges and universities have been recipients of Lilly grants to strengthen students' understanding of vocation. The statement nods briefly to seminaries, to the 2005 Study of Theological Education and its recommendation for lifelong learning. "We urge the churchwide organization to continue to provide leadership and support to the institutions and agencies of the church...to encourage them to deepen their interdependent partnership in a network that educates for vocation." The statement then circles back to public higher education, particularly public institutions, proclaiming a long-standing commitment to public higher education. It notes the Lutheran church's presence on public campuses through campus ministry. Noting funding challenges for campus ministry, the statement goes on: "Let us be fully aware of the growing crisis in this church's ministry to a large, influential segment of your adults living and studying at public and private universities and colleges." The statement concludes: "May we faithfully and boldly be a teaching and learning church, educating in the faith for vocation and striving with others so that all people have equitable access to a high-quality education." The statement was adopted 9 years ago. Since then many of the issues brought up in the statement have intensified: equal access to high quality education; funding issues for campus ministry; skyrocketing cost of college. In a time when these issues can become political hot potatoes it is good to know that our church has done thoughtful and thorough (54 pages) reflection on them, and encourages us to be in civil conversations in our congregations and communities. Jessica Crist, Bishop
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The US has been embroiled in debate about health care coverage and cost for several decades, and the ELCA has been part of the conversation. In 2003 the Churchwide Assembly adopted a Social Statement on health, healing and health care, called “Caring for Health: Our Shared Endeavor.” In the first paragraph we read: “As a personal and social responsibility, health care is a shared endeavor.” Beginning with a brief statement of the health care crisis the statement quickly moves to the role of the church. “The Christian Church is called to be an active participant in fashioning a just and effective health care system.” “We of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in American have an enduring commitment to work for and support health care for all people as a shared endeavor.”
The statement lists what we support as a church: + comprehensive approach as shared endeavor + individual, church and social responsibilities + a vision of a system with a coherent set of services + equitable access for all +moral discernment in public policymaking The statement provides biblical and theological perspectives on health, illness, healing and health care. As it addresses health care and healing as shared endeavor, the statement describes personal responsibilities, the church’s ministry (including congregations, social ministry organizations, and advocacy), public health services and whole patient care (including curing and caring, healing and chronic conditions, palliative care, alternative healing, caregiver support, research and development, and peaceful dying. Acknowledging that our health care system is not adequate for all, the statement explores love and justice, and moving towards just access. “We urge all people to advocate for access to basic health care for all and to participate vigorously and responsibly in the public discussion on how best to fulfill this obligation.” Addressing how congregations can expand their health ministry, the statement includes numerous suggestions including: +education on health issues +removing structural barriers to accessibility +collaborating with social ministry organizations +providing and advocating for transportation to health care +attending to spiritual needs +attending to staff health, including access to health care +learning about global health issues The statement concludes with a section on Ethical Guidance for Individuals and Families, listing 5 principles for decision-making about health: +Health and finitude +Love +Stewardship +Justice +Self-determination “As Christians we discern our moral responsibilities through consulting Scripture, the experience of the community of faith, and the exercise of reason. We deliberate about our decisions not merely as patients or caregivers, but as seekers of God’s will. We recognize that the broader dimensions of health and healing compel us to consider our neighbor and our love for them as we make decisions. Above all, we ask God for guidance, mercy, and forgiveness in all our decision-making.” Health care continues to be a hot political issue, particularly this election season. I commend this statement as a starting point for conversation in our churches about how we love God and serve our neighbor. Jessica Crist, Bishop Note: This is part of a series on the Social Statements adopted by the ELCA in Assembly. Previous reflections are available at www.montanasynod.org, archived.
The 1999 ELCA Churchwide Assembly considered and adopted the social statement on economic life, "Sufficient, Sustainable Livelihood for All." A wide-ranging document, the statement concludes: "Pursuing policies and practices that will lead to 'sufficient, sustainable livelihood for all' is such a formidable challenge that to many it seems unrealistic or not worth the effort. The Church as an employer, property owner, consumer, investor, and community of believers can be as caught up in the reigning economic assumptions as the rest of society....Empowered by God, we continue to act, pray, and hope that through economic life there truly will be sufficient, sustainable livelihood for all." The statement was written with an acute awareness of globalization and its effect on the world's economy. Remember, this was before 9/11, and before Thomas Friedman's book on globalization, "The World is Flat." (2005) The social statement expresses a deep concern about the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer, using numerous biblical references to society's obligation to provide justice to the poor. The fundamental question for people of faith considering economic life is: "In what or in whom shall we place out trust and hope?" And of course the response is: "To place our trust in something other than God is the essence of sin. It disrupts our relationships with God, one another, and the rest of creation, resulting in injustices and exploitation." Among the issues addressed by the statement are the tension between the values arising from a market economy and Christian values of dependence on God, love of neighbor, reconciliation and cooperation. The statement addresses poverty, both domestic and global, calling the church to assess economic activities in terms of how they affect "all," especially people living in poverty. The statement's adoption in 1999 coincided with efforts by the United Nations to establish Millennium Goals to eradicate poverty. In addition, many religious groups worked to establish a millennium Jubilee, to free impoverished nations from the crippling burden of global debt. The statement also addresses vocation, work and human dignity for all, reminding us that we are all made in God's image. The statement addresses wealth inequality and asks members to work for economic justice in the market place, in tax structures, and in daily life. It also addresses environmental sustainability, and justice for farmers. You can find the entire statement at www.elca.org/socialstatements. Jessica Crist, Bishop Note: This is part of a series on the Social Statements adopted by the ELCA in Assembly. Previous reflections are available at www.montanasynod.org, archived.
In 1995, the ELCA Churchwide Assembly adopted the Social Statement, "For Peace in God's World." (If you are wondering when we went from short statements to long, this is it.). The statement was written after the Cold War and before 9/11. "At the end of a tumultuous and violent century, we share with people everywhere hope for a more peaceful and just world....As our world discards the mind-set of the Cold War and faces the new threats and opportunities of a changing time, we join with others in searching for what makes for peace." Indeed, in 2016, we are acutely aware of threats to and opportunities for peace. The statement is not limited to a Christian take on foreign relations. It describes the Christian vocation of healing broken relationships on all levels-personal, family, church, community, national, global. Terming it a "Divine Calling," it outlines some of the ways that the Church can be a community of peacemakers: +In publicly gathering to proclaim and celebrate God's Gospel of peace +In living the oneness we have received +By equipping the faithful to act for peace in all their communities Referring to Jesus as the ultimate incarnation of peace, the statement reminds us: +Jesus taught love for one's enemies +He reached out to oppressed, downtrodden and rejected people's +He prayed for his enemies while being rejected on the cross himself +God redeemed the world through Jesus' violent death (Romans 5:10) The statement urges the church to be both a reconciling presence and a disturbing presence, denouncing beliefs and actions that: +Elevate any nation or people ( including our own) to the role of God + Find ultimate security in weapons and warfare + Claim the right of one people, race or civilization to rule over others + Despair the possibility of peace The statement reminds us that earthly peace is not the same as the promised peace of God's present and future eternal reign. As Christians we work and we pray for both. "Trust in God's promise of final peace freely given in Jesus Christ alone drives us to engage fully in the quest to build earthly peace." "Through the cross of Christ, God calls us to serve the needs of our neighbor, especially those groups and individuals who,suffer and are vulnerable." "Sharing a common humanity with all people, we are called to work for peace throughout the globe." The last half of the statement is about the Christian responsibility to be engaged in the world, advocating and working for peace and justice. We are not a pacifist church. We do not refuse participation in the political order or in military service, and we do not automatically condemn all involvement in military engagement. The statement outlines "Just War" criteria, including: right intention, justifiable cause, legitimate authority, last resort, declaration of war aims, proportionality, and reasonable chance of success. Twenty years later, there is much conversation among theologians as to whether there can be a "Just War" in an age of non-state terrorism, nuclear weapons and drones. The statement encourages Christians to stay engaged in conversation, prayer and advocacy. And the statement urges Christians to work for a culture of peace, to strive for an economy with justice, and to move towards a politics of cooperation. Included in these are: respect for human rights; discouraging the glorification of violence; foreign aid; controlling the arms trade; NGOs working for peace; care for refugees and migrants. In the final section the statement declares: "Living in a time when hate, injustice , war and suffering seem often to have the upper hand, we call on God to fulfill the divine promise of final peace." To read the statement, go to www.elca.org/social statements. Jessica Crist, Bishop |
Bishop Jessica Crist
Bishop of the Montana Synod of the ELCA Archives
August 2019
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