ELCA Bishops, the Second Amendment and the March for Our Lives

Guns. They are a hot topic of conversation and debate these days. The ELCA Conference of Bishops jumped into the fray with a news release stating their support of the gun focused March for Our Lives. The Bishop’s statement was clear:

“The Conference of Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, in solidarity with our children and youth…offer our support, partnership and prayers for the March for Our Lives, its satellite city events, and our children and youth who are leading us forward as peacemakers.” (see here)

The ELCA's presiding bishop and 62 synod bishops signed the statement.

The March for Our Lives calls for

- "​A law to ban the sale of assault weapons..."

- "Prohibiting the sale of high-capacity magazines..."

- "Closing the loophole in our background check law that allows dangerous people...(to) buy guns online or at gun shows." (see here)

Some of you may agree with that stance, some of you may not. I present this information for those ELCA members who disagree with the March for Our Lives' demands. They have a right to know what their denomination is supporting.   

An recent email by ELCA Advocacy gives further details of what the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America wants to happen regarding guns, at least for the time being:

"We have resolved as a church to work for the passage and strict enforcement of laws that control the manufacture and sale of weapons not used for hunting and sport, or for use other than law enforcement and military purposes." (See here)

Below are some more gun related thoughts of ELCA leaders and entities,

-  ELCA Pastor Sue Seiffert writes this about the NRA, 

-  The tweet below is from the ELCA's Southeastern Minnesota Synod,

Statement released today by National Council of Churches: https://t.co/ckJRL7b0Vq pic.twitter.com/dF6UYss9CE

— SEMN Synod, ELCA (@semnsynod) February 15, 2018

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​-  Clergy and faith leaders in Oklahoma, including 5 from the ELCA, signed a letter that said, 

"we raise our voices again today, to call once more for change and to make the moral claim that our dedication to guns and to violence is, in religious terms, idolatry. We appear to be willing to sacrifice even our own children to this warped ideology, wrapped in the second amendment as if it were Holy Scripture."

These "Christian" pastors even say prayers are "...meaningless if they do not change us and our actions." Seriously? They should be defrocked if they think prayers are meaningless. (see here) 

-  WELCA wades into the gun debate,

- The Rocky Mountain Synod posted this on their Facebook page,

- And here is Rocky Mountain Synod ELCA Bishop Jim Gonia marching, 

The Three Bishops #umc #elca #episcopal #marchforourlives pic.twitter.com/Nh8CVLER7t

— Bishop Karen Oliveto (@BishopOliveto) March 24, 2018

-  Finally, ELCA Advocacy and the ELCA's Metro D.C. synod will participate in the March For Our Lives - 

Read more about the ELCA's stance on guns here (scroll to the bottom of the page).