To Mark Fiftieth Anniversary of Roe v. Wade with More Fervent Teaching, Proclamation, and Efforts to Promote God’s Gift of Life

WHEREAS, On January 22, 1973, the United States Supreme Court issued a 7–2 decision granting a fundamental right for a woman to have an abortion; and

WHEREAS, Abortion is murder, the killing of an innocent living human being, regardless of the stage of human development beginning at conception, and transgresses God’s law in the Fifth Commandment which teaches that we are “not to hurt or harm our neighbor in his body, but help and support him in every physical need” (Small Catechism I 9–10); and

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has identified abortion as a sin and against the Word of God in printed Luther’s Small Catechism with Explanation, most recently the 2017 edition from Concordia Publishing House; and

WHEREAS, A true Christian witness demands fear of God, not man (Matt. 10:28) and not adding to or taking away from God’s Word (Rev. 22:18–19); and

WHEREAS, Since the Roe v. Wade decision, over 61 million abortions have tragically been performed in the United States; and

WHEREAS, The50thanniversaryof the Roev. Wade decision will have occurred during the current triennium of the Synod on Jan. 22, 2023; and

WHEREAS, Two generations of citizens in the United States have grown up and lived only knowing legal abortion; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention mark the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade by reaffirming its opposition to the destructive sin of abortion; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod in convention encourage prayer and good works to overturn, not just curb, the Roe v. Wade decision and to end legal abortion in our nation and throughout the world; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod offer additional youth resources which catalogue the 50-year struggle of faithful Christians standing for life; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod encourage all congregations to take up a special thank offering in 2023 to be given to Lutherans For Life, a crisis pregnancy center, or other life ministry; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod leadership encourage congregational involvement with life ministry in ways such as: forming a life team, participating in sidewalk counseling, and contacting legislators; and be it further

Resolved, That churches provide care for those suffering from the effects of abortion and encourage congregations to take steps and advocate for adoption; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod encourage all pastors and congregations to mark the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade by teaching and proclaiming human life as sacred and by holding out forgiveness and life to the full in Jesus Christ our Savior (John 10:10); and be it finally

Resolved, That the Mid-South District, meeting in convention, submit this as a memorial to the 2023 Synod convention.