Peace

For Peace in God's World conveys ELCA teaching on matters related to war, domestic and international security, and the Christian call to be peacemakers. The statement is grounded in the scriptural understanding that God desires shalom (the Hebrew word for complete well-being) for all human beings but that such eternal peace is fragile and imperfect within even the best earthly peace human beings may achieve. Because of the sin-filled reality of earthly life, this statement affirms just war teaching in the service of just peace, with attention to what this means for culture, economics, politics, military conduct and international security.

The statement also recognizes the significant witness of conscientious objectors and others who, as a matter of faith, cannot condone war in any circumstances. It calls all disciples to be advocates for Christian peacemaking, one that strives for political alternatives to war, human rights, social justice, control of the arms trade and all means of working for peace in God’s world. This social statement was adopted by the 1995 ELCA Churchwide Assembly.

Follow these links to find supplemental resources for understanding this social statement: