[m-m-online] October 27th, 2006

[Minister to Minister online]

Minister to Minister Online
October 27, 2006

IN OUR PRAYERS...

DOUG ROBBINS (Trinity, Dime Box) is currently recovering from hernia 
surgery.

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MINISTRY CALLS

PASTORS

DECLINED
Nathan Kuhlmann, Prince of Peace, Carrollton to Grace, Winter Haven, 
Florida

UNDECIDED
Robert Sweet, Candidate, to Associate, Mount Olive, Houston

Edwin Harkey, Lutheran Church of the Way, Raynham, Massachusetts, to 
First, Lufkin

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Announcement!

Please join us in welcoming Lori Martin to the Texas District office. Lori
joined us this week and will be serving as secretary for President 
Hennings.

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***MEMO FROM LCMS PRESIDENT KIESCHNICK***

TO:        Congregations and Pastors of
          The Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod
FROM:      Gerald B. Kieschnick, President
SUBJECT:   "Missouri Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative"
DATE:      October 20, 2006

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As you may know, on November 7th voters in the state of Missouri
will be asked to consider a proposed amendment to the Missouri
Constitution known as the "Missouri Stem Cell Research and Cures
Initiative" (Amendment Two ballot referendum). Because of the
importance of this issue and its relevance beyond the state of
Missouri, I am herewith sharing with you a statement from my
office regarding this matter.  This statement is based on the
official position of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod on
embryonic stem cell research and is rooted in its conviction
that human life at every stage of its development should be
protected by the laws of our land.

At its 2001 convention, the LCMS adopted a resolution that
affirms its historic position that life begins at conception
and rejects "the destruction of embryos for stem cell research"
(2001 Res. 6-13).  In this resolution the Synod states that:

* "Embryos are not, as some claim, 'potential human
beings' but are totally and fully human in every way although
in the early process of physical development (Jer. 1:5)."

* "The Christian is called to defend life at all stages of
development and in all conditions because it is a gift from
God (Luke 1:41, 44; Psalm 139:16; Is. 49:1, 5)."   
* "Embryonic stem cell research necessarily involves the
intentional destruction of human beings," and therefore
must be rejected as "morally objectionable."

* Governmental leaders should be urged "to reject using
public funds for research that deliberately and
intentionally kills human beings."

Importantly, this resolution also emphasizes that "the
LCMS is not opposed to all stem cell research as a means
of seeking alleviation for disease."  In fact, the LCMS
strongly supports and encourages research on "other
sources of stem cells that do not involve the destruction
of life, such as umbilical cord blood and adult stem cells
from various sources."  Such research has already shown
great promise and involves no compromise of "the principle
of the sanctity of every human life from conception to
natural death."

It is my hope and prayer that that the information contained
in this letter and in the attached news release will be
helpful as you reflect on this issue on the basis of God's
Word, and as you respond to it in necessary and appropriate
ways both in the church and in the public square.  I would
also encourage you to make use of the various resources that
are available for further study regarding this issue, such as:

* The recent report of the Commission on Theology and Church
Relations on Christian Faith and Human Beginnings: Christian
Care and Pre-Implantation Human Life (www.lcms.org/ctcr);

* The many excellent resources available from Lutherans For
Life (www.lutheransforlife.org);

* The helpful materials available through "Life Ministries"
of LCMS World Relief/Human Care (www.lcms.org?891);

* Recent articles on life issues in The Lutheran Witness and
the Reporter, including the commentary published in the October
2006 issue of the Reporter on "Clearing the confusion: The
issue of stem-cell research" by Maggie Karner, director of
Life Ministries for LCMS World Relief/Human Care
(www.lcms.org?10677);

God's richest blessings in Christ as you bear witness in word
and deed to the Word who became flesh (John 1:14), so that
we might "have life and have it abundantly" (John 10:10).

Sincerely, in Brotherly and Christian Love,

Jerry Kieschnick

Dr. Gerald B. Kieschnick, President
The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
e-mail: president at lcms.org
Web page: www.lcms.org/president

"Transforming lives through Christ's love ... in time ...
for eternity..." John 3:16-17


----------[Attachment]------------
Statement on the Proposed Missouri
Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative

On November 7 voters in the State of Missouri are being
asked to cast their ballots for or against an amendment
to the state constitution titled "Proposed Missouri
Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative." This amendment,
if passed, will legalize a form of stem cell research
which necessarily involves the killing of a pre-implanted,
living embryo created through a process of cloning called
somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT).

The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod holds, as our Commission
on Theology states in its report Christian Faith and Human
Beginnings, that the Biblically based principle "always to
care, never to kill" applies to human life at all stages of
its development including pre-implantation human life. While
our church supports stem cell research which does not involve
the destruction of another human life, we do not believe that
the "end justifies the means." The destruction of a living
human embryo, even for the noble purpose of seeking a medical
remedy for others, is never morally justifiable.

This proposed amendment to the Constitution of the State of
Missouri raises questions of ultimate importance to every
American. The Declaration of Independence of the USA recognizes
the right of every living human being to life. When the state
forfeits its God-given responsibility to protect and defend
the life of any of us, the life of each of us is endangered.
We in The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod are therefore eager
to join together with American citizens of all faiths in
opposing any amendment to the Constitution of the State of
Missouri or any other state which would legalize the killing
of individual human beings from the time of conception to
natural death.

Gerald B. Kieschnick
October 20, 2006

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