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Dear
Mark Pries,
In response to the current financial crisis, the
Conference of Bishops of the ELCA recently issued a Pastoral Letter. The letter
calls on all people in our own communities of faith to join in
conversation and prayer about our collective economic life, our financial
behaviors, and the interconnectedness of all life and creation that cries
out to be reclaimed. It also outlines the importance of the theological
and biblical principles addressed in the ELCA social statement, Sufficient,
Sustainable Livelihood for All. The text of the letter is
available below, or at the following link: www.elca.org/advocacy .
As you may recall the ELCA Advocacy Staff
sent out an alert on the current financial situation last week. The alert
included a reference document “Background on the Mortgage-Financial
Crisis” from the ELCA Advocacy Staff which may also be helpful in your
prayerful reflections and discussions. The pdf
document can be downloaded at www.elca.org/advocacy . The ELCA Advocacy Staff will continue to monitor
the financial situation.
For
questions, please contact Robert Francis at 202-626-7936 or robert.francis@elca.org .
A Pastoral Letter from the
Conference of Bishops of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America
Almighty God, . . .
teach us how to govern the ways of business to the harm of none and for
the sake of the common good; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Evangelical Lutheran
Worship, p. 78
Grace and peace to you.
As bishops of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, we are deeply concerned about the
current financial crisis, which is affecting not only our nation but the
entire global economy. This crisis is causing fear and loss in our
country as thousands of families face unemployment, foreclosure, and
uncertainty about savings and pensions. Meanwhile, they struggle to
put food on the table and gas into their cars. The future is
uncertain for all of us, but it is especially frightening for those who
are already vulnerable and struggling to survive. We offer our
prayers for those whose lives are being affected and for our national
leaders as they seek to address this complex matter.
We call on all people in our
own communities of faith and those from every segment of our society who
seek the health of our nation to join in conversation and prayer about
our collective economic life, our financial behaviors, and the
interconnectedness of all life and creation that cries out to be
reclaimed.
This church has addressed
the issues surrounding economic life in its social statement,
“Sufficient, Sustainable Livelihood for All,” (www.elca.org/What-We-Believe/Social-Issues/Social-Statements/Economic-Life.aspx),
and we encourage the use of this statement as a way to understand more
fully how the following theological and biblical principles are central
as we respond to this situation.
Concern for People in Poverty
The
constitution of the ELCA calls this church to serve by “standing with the
poor and powerless and committing itself to their needs.” (ELCA
4.02.c.). We are grateful for the pastors and leaders in our
congregations who already have stepped forward to care for those who are
suffering, and we encourage them to continue this response and to provide
leadership in the task of turning our attention to the causes and effects
of this crisis. We are called to work toward an economic system
that truly serves the common good and especially the needs of the poor.
We look for partnership with all those who seek to address this financial
crisis in a way that also recognizes the humanitarian issues involved.
Personal and Corporate Responsibility
The ELCA social statement on economic life calls for individuals to live
responsibly and within their means and to
beware of the dangers of over-consumption and unnecessary accumulation,
which draw us beyond authentic need into excess and destructive
indebtedness. We call on businesses and corporations of all sizes
to consider the social implications of company policies and to practice
good stewardship of creation (Genesis 1:26).
The Need for Good Government
We
hold and teach that government has an instrumental and constructive role
to play in our shared life. This role includes “limiting or
countering narrow economic interests and promoting the common good”
(“Sufficient, Sustainable Livelihood for All,” p. 11). We call on
government to hold corporations and other powerful economic actors accountable
for the effects of their practices on workers, communities, and the
environment.
The Benefits and Limits of Free Markets
For
many people, the current market-based economy has proven to be effective
as a system to meet material need, generate wealth, and create
opportunity. However, we hold and teach that any economic system
should be measured by the degree to which it serves God’s purposes for
humankind and creation. Those who have been blessed by the fruits
of our economy are called to be generous in giving to those who have lost
much and to advocate for accountability and appropriate regulation in
this system.
As people of the God who
calls us out of fear into hope and community, we welcome all people into
widespread and respectful discussion about this current crisis. In
this way we can create partnerships that will help those whose lives are
being shattered and encourage responsibility and integrity in our
national economic life.
As people of faith, we pray:
Almighty God, your Son
Jesus Christ dignified our labor by sharing our toil. Guide us with
your justice in the workplace, so that we may never value things above
people, or surrender honor to love of gain or lust for power.
Prosper all efforts to put an end to work that brings no joy, and teach
us how to govern the ways of business to the harm of none and for the
sake of the common good; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Conference of Bishops
Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America
October 7, 2008
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