LCMS Elects Another Strongly Pro-Life President

By Jean Garton

In addition to electing another strongly pro-life president, the 1,200 delegates to the 2001 National Convention of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS) affirmed the church's long-held opposition to abortion and, in a separate action on July 20, opposed stem cell research that would require the destruction of human embryos. The LCMS, a church body of 2.6-million members has consistently opposed abortion.

The delegates denounced "the utilitarian values that place the possible healing of medical diseases over the life of defenseless human beings." The LCMS also noted in a separately adopted resolution, that "RU-486, along with other drugs and procedures, has made it easier to take the life of children in the womb while strengthening and perpetuating the myth in our culture that the unborn child is not worthy of life or protection."

The delegates elected The Rev. Dr. Gerald B. Kieschnick to be its new president. Long known for his commitment to the sanctity of human life, Dr. Kieschnick is currently serving as president of the Texas District of the LCMS. He will be installed in September in St. Louis, the site of the church's international headquarters.

Dr. Kieschnick graduated from Texas A&M with a bachelor of science degree. After teaching school for a few years he earned the bachelor of divinity degree from Concordia Seminary in Springfield, Illinois, and the master of divinity degree from Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. He has also received a doctor of laws degree from Concordia University in Austin, Texas.

Dr. Kieschnick noted that both his secular education in science and his theological studies led him to conclude that God's gift of life, from the moment of conception, is a very precious gift that should be cherished, preserved, nurtured, and protected.

While serving as president of the Texas District, Dr. Kieschnick encouraged the development of chapters of Lutherans for Life, featured pro-life speakers at his state conventions, and served as a retreat leader for the national leadership of Lutherans for Life.

Noting the unanimity that exists in the LCMS in opposition to abortion, President Kieschnick said that his recent election to the church's highest national office would give him further opportunity to uphold the sanctity of life and to encourage national political leaders, including fellow Texan George W. Bush, to continue to speak and to act on behalf of the unborn.