Lutheran Leaders Respond to Slaying in Wichita Church

ELCA News Service ^ | 1 June AD 2009 | Staff

[lightman]

Lutheran Leaders Respond to Slaying in Wichita Church

09-126-FI

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), issued a statement in response to the May 31 murder of Dr. George Tiller at Reformation Lutheran Church, an ELCA congregation in Wichita, Kan.

Tiller was serving as an usher for Sunday morning worship when he was shot and killed. A suspect was arrested later in connection with the killing.

"Dr. George Tiller and his wife, Jeanne, were gathering with the people of Reformation Lutheran Church to worship and to celebrate Pentecost -- the coming of the Holy Spirit to God's people," Hanson said. "In the wake of his death we pray that the Holy Spirit will comfort his family and all who mourn."

"We pray for the courage to be peacemakers, rejecting violence as a means of resolving differences. We trust God's promise that neither death nor life nor anything in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord," Hanson said.

The Rev. Lowell R. Michelson and the Rev. Kristin M. Neitzel are pastors of Reformation Lutheran Church. The congregation is part of the ELCA Central States Synod, led by Bishop Gerald L. Mansholt.

Michelson and Neitzel posted a public statement on the congregation's Web site, noting that Tiller had been a longtime member of the congregation.

"In the wake of this tragic event, our deepest concern is for the family of George Tiller. We ask the community to join us in prayer for them as they face the difficult days ahead. Our hearts ache with them. We also ask that the family's privacy be respected," the pastors said.

They added that counselors were helping members of the congregation. "We pray for healing and peace to be restored. We offer our thanks for the many prayers of support from across the country," Michelson and Neitzel wrote.

In a letter to the ELCA Central States Synod, Mansholt wrote: "In this time of tragedy and sorrow we give thanks to God who comforts us in times of need and loss. In the midst of things we are unable to understand or comprehend, we continue to trust in the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, and the resurrection to life eternal. In that promise of God there is healing and hope for the whole world."

-- -- -- Bishop Hanson's full statement is at http://www.elca.org/Who-We-Are/Our-Three-Expressions/Churchwide-Organization/Office-of-the-Presiding-Bishop/Messages-and-Statements/090601.aspx on the ELCA Web site

[lightman]

This Lutheran stands with the Prophet Ezekiel:

"As I live, says the LORD GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn back from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel?"

[lightman]

Lutheran (ELCA) Ping!

Be sure to visit www.lutheransforlife.org

[Mr. Silverback]

bump.

[Uri’el-2012]

The Rev. Lowell R. Michelson and the Rev. Kristin M. Neitzel are pastors of Reformation Lutheran Church. The congregation is part of the ELCA Central States Synod, led by Bishop Gerald L. Mansholt.

Do they think the torture and mass murder of innocent children is just fine ?

shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach

[SandWMan]

This church was obviously unsuccessful (and probably never tried) to turn “doctor” Tiller from his evil ways.

[SeaHawkFan]

ELCA? Explains everything.

[farmer18th]

I kinda like Psalm 58:10 better.

[MEGoody]

I had prayed hard that Tiller’s eyes would be opened and he would turn from the sin of abortion. I am saddened that this man’s life was ended before he repented.

[vpintheak]

As soon as I heard about this I knew it was an ELCA church. No other Lutherean denomination would put up with an unrepentant murderer in their midst. I pray for all those around the man who was murdered, and I pray they repent too.

[nmh]

I can't imagine why they allowed one of the FEW late term abortionists to be an usher, let alone attend church. He was one of the FEW that performed this grisly murder on infants. At some point, churches must step up and require people like that to do some soul searching or NOT ATTEND the CHURCH. It is PERFECTLY BIBLICAL TO DO THIS.

[PhilCollins]

I’m ELCA, and I was disappointed that any Lutheran would chose to disobey the Bible and kill unborn babies.

[In veno, veritas]

ELCA is effectively Lutheran in name only. There are a couple really conservative churches there, mainly staying to be a thorn to the rest. Things like abortion are really wishy-washy. The synod also sort of accepts homosexuality as an acceptable lifestyle, basically surrendered to the Roman Catholics on justification. Unfortunately, usually the worst stuff gets reported.

[Vigilanteman]

Most churches operate like businesses, including this one. As long as the congregants get told what they want to hear, their collections increase. Were they to do their Christian duty and call Tiller to repentance, he simply would have church-shopped elsewhere and probably would have taken a lot of like-minded rich parishioners with him.

Sorry to be cynical, but that's the way I see it. Ever study the career of Rev. Wright? He didn't get anywhere when he tried to preach a traditional brand of Christianity to serve his community. Once he decided to specialize in the "hate whitey liberation theology" shtick, his attendance and contributions skyrocketed.

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

The ELCA’s health-care provider pays for selective abortion.

[murron]

I’m not a Lutheran, so I am only speculating here. Perhaps those who are Lutheran can answer my question. The name of the church, the Reformation Lutheran church, implies to me that they are perhaps some sort of breakaway Lutheran church. Please educate me if I am wrong.

[lightman]

The congregation chose “Reformation” as its name. It is a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) hence this statement from the national church office.

[aberaussie]

Evangelical Lutheran Church in American, the largest Lutheran denomination in the USA. Pro-choice on abortion, sadly.

[vpintheak]

Seriously get out now! Find yourself a Bible believing denomination, or an unaffiliated Bible believing Church. ELCA has lost it’s connection with Christ. Trust me, it was hard to break out of my shell too, but it had to be done, and for you and countless others, it has to be done. Tradition be damned!

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

It came into being through a series of mergers. This merger swallowed up the Biblical Lutheran church into which I was born.

It got so bad that we left about 15 years ago for the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod which is very different from the ELCA

[Brad’s Gramma]

I was raised Missouri Synod.......I am SO thankful for that solid background...