To Address Abortion and Use of Fetal Tissue in Vaccines

WHEREAS, Abortion is a sin against God’s Law (Exodus 20; Deuteronomy 5; Luther’s Small Catechism with Explanation, Fifth Commandment, 2017 ed., Ques. 62–63 [88–92]); and

WHEREAS, The methods and means of elective abortion have changed dramatically since the publication of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR) 1984 report Abortion in Perspective; and

WHEREAS, There are some vaccines and medications that are developed utilizing human fetal tissue from aborted children and human fetal cell lines from past abortions (www.lozierinstitute.org/cell-lines-used-for-viral-vaccine- production/); and

WHEREAS, Christians should not be partakers in any evil nor provide any sort of support or justification for evil committed in the past (Eph. 5:11–14; 1 Thess. 5:22); and

WHEREAS, Initial guidance has been provided to the congregations of the Synod by President Matthew C. Harrison’s “LCMS COVID Vaccine Pastoral Letter” dated Jan. 21, 2021 (files.lcms.org/f/1F618D12-7061-4157-9321- A0B870A37B34) and the Sept. 24, 2021 document: “The LCMS and COVID-19 Vaccines: Facts and Considerations” (files.lcms.org/f/169E6F74-5868-40A3-8DCB- 47F075EDEE81); and

WHEREAS, Some Synod congregations have expressed a desire to receive additional guidance about vaccine development and testing in relation to abortion so that their members may make decisions about vaccination and medication in good conscience; therefore be it

Resolved, That the CTCR, in consultation with LCMS Life Ministry and the seminaries and universities of the Synod, address the changing nature of abortion and specifically the topic of vaccines and other medications as it relates to the issue of abortion and the use of fetal tissue