Ad Crucem NewsLCMS 2023 ConventionCommittee 11Registration, Credentials, and Elections
To Defend the Christian Conscience and the Church’s Daughters
- Committee
- 11. Registration, Credentials, and Elections
- Submitted by
- Southern Illinois Districtdistrict
- Workbook page
- 423
Preamble On Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021 the United States House of Representatives passed the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, which included language that would require women at the age of 18 to register for the military draft.
WHEREAS, God has created both male and female in His image, yet made them individually to be complementary but not identical to one another; and
WHEREAS, God specifically commands husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the Church and laid down His life for her (Ephesians 5); and
WHEREAS, All of Scripture and the vast majority of human history testifies that men, not women, are to be required at times to enter combat and risk their lives in defense of their family and country; and
WHEREAS, The House Armed Services Committee in September 2021 voted to recommend that women be required to register for the draft—although this wording did not appear in the final bill; and
WHEREAS, Such entrance into the draft may mean that our wives, mothers, daughters, and sisters are forced to fight in defense of their husbands, fathers, sons, and brothers; and
WHEREAS, Christian consciences are right to be burdened by the thought of men requiring their daughters and wives to risk their lives in carrying out duties of war given to men to reflect Christ’s love for His Church; therefore be it
Resolved, That we as the Southern Illinois District object to the mandatory registration of women into the draft of the United States (U.S.) military; and be it further
Resolved, That we as the Southern Illinois District call on our district president to communicate to Illinois’ U.S. senators and congress people our intent to object on religious grounds to the involuntary service of women in the military; and be it finally
Resolved, That we memorialize the Synod, in its 2023 convention,to publicly confess our conscientious objection,prepare appropriate letters of communication to our nation’s leaders, and prepare template statements of conscientious/religious objection for all pastors and congregations to utilize in the event of a national military draft which would include women.