LCMS Life Ministry Applauds Supreme Court Dobbs Ruling, Urges State Action on Abortion Laws

The Life Ministry of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) issued a statement applauding the U.S. Supreme Court’s action in *Dobbs v. Jackson*, which it described as correcting an “egregious and mortal error” codified in *Roe v. Wade*. The statement encouraged each state government to pass and administer laws protecting human life, and said LCMS members would continue to pray for the government and all in authority.

The statement says the decision reflected the truth of God’s desire for His creation. It states that God’s Word and natural law teach that life is precious and that killing cannot be sought as a solution or option for individuals. It describes abortion as a “lie” that has caused immeasurable harm to society and to children, and it presents the Christian teaching that Jesus Christ’s birth, life, death and resurrection give eternal life to all who believe.

The statement acknowledges that the ruling does not outlaw abortion nationwide but leaves the question to each state. It urges citizens in states that have protected the unborn to stand firm, and it calls on people in states where abortion is advocated as a right to remain vigilant. It describes protecting the unborn as one of the most important roles of government, while also stating that the issue “has never been primarily focused on laws” and that “laws cannot change people’s hearts and minds.”

The statement calls on Christians to repent of “the evils of abortion” and of “self-centered godless living,” and it argues that the debate in the country has revealed a willingness to put individual rights ahead of children’s lives. It contrasts the view that individuals may decide concerning their own bodies with the Christian call to care for others, and it refers to the account of Cain and Abel to argue that people are placed in community and called to serve one another.

The statement also describes the church’s relationship to civil authority. It says the church does not seek the kingdom or rule of this world, but remains in the world, obeys the authorities God has established, and expects government to protect the innocent and curb evil. It adds that the church “bears witness” to the Creator’s love for every human.

The statement says LCMS congregations and people have long worked with those affected by needs “at the beginning of life, the end of life and all of life in between,” much of it quietly and in private conversations. It adds that congregations and other organizations also serve their communities officially and locally. The LCMS has recently inaugurated the “1 John 3 Million Dollar Life Match” grant program, which will provide matching funds totaling $1 million to LCMS congregations that serve through pregnancy centers, diaper drives, family support, adoption services and other ways of supporting children and families, a practical response to protecting the vulnerable (Proverbs 31:8-9). The statement says the initiative is based on 1 John 3:16–18.

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