We are 13 days removed from when the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments over Mississippi’s Gestational Age Act, passed in 2018. Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization centers on a law that prohibits abortion after the 15th week with narrow exceptions.
The pro-life Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) will host a Prayer Service for Life at the LCMS International Center (IC) in St. Louis on Nov. 30 at 5 p.m., the day before the justices hear the case.
According to Cheryl Madness of The Reporter, “Those who value the preservation of life at all its stages, from conception to natural death, are invited to take part by attending in person, watching via live stream or holding their own prayer service locally. In partnership with Concordia Publishing House, the worship bulletin is available for individual and congregational use” [https://reporter.lcms.org/2021/synod-to-hold-prayer-service-for-life-on-eve-of-supreme-court-abortion-case].
Deaconess Tiffany Manor, director of LCMS Life Ministry, said, “We lament the tragedy of abortion, and we mourn the many lives lost. We pray that those who make carry out and judge our laws would do so according to the will of God.”
In the Fall 2021 issue of the Synod’s Free to be Faithful® newsletter, the Rev. Dr. Gregory Seltz, executive director of the Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty, wrote
“Roe v. Wade claimed that the government’s role, for the first time in American history, was to sanction the taking, not the protecting, of vulnerable, innocent human life. Roe actually argued that the more vulnerable the life, the more it can be aborted out of existence. The Dobbs case rightly challenges that assertion, directing our country back to a basic respect for life for all.”
The service will be livestreamed on LCMS Life Ministry’s Facebook page.
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) is a significant Christian denomination in the United States, placing strong emphasis on traditional theological teachings and practices. The upcoming prayer service event by the LCMS is related to a highly contentious case being heard by the Supreme Court of the United States: “Mississippi’s Gestational Age Act”. This law aims to prohibit abortions after the 15th week of pregnancy unless the life of the mother is in danger or there is a severe fetal anomaly.
The Supreme Court’s decision in this case could have profound implications for abortion legislation in the USA, potentially revising or restricting Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 ruling that legalized abortion rights in the USA. Given the significance of this case to the pro-life movement and the political landscape of the USA, it’s not surprising that religious organizations like the LCMS are taking active measures to demonstrate their faith and beliefs.
The LCMS is known for its strong commitment to the right to life and its rejection of abortion as morally indefensible. Therefore, it is crucial for them to show their support for laws like “Mississippi’s Gestational Age Act” that aim to protect the right to life of unborn children. The prayer service event serves as an expression of this support and as an opportunity for members of the LCMS to come together in prayer, seeking divine guidance and support for the outcome of the case.
For the LCMS, prayer is an essential part of their faith and practice. By hosting a prayer service, the denomination emphasizes their belief that divine intervention and guidance are essential in human affairs. The event also provides an opportunity for believers to discuss their views on the right to life and to encourage one another.
In a time when societal debates on issues of life and ethics are often heated and polarizing, the LCMS is sending a message of unity and faith amidst controversy with this prayer service event. Regardless of the outcome of the case, the LCMS will continue to advocate for its conviction that every human life is valuable and worthy of protection, from conception to natural end.
Chelsea Garcia is a political writer with a special interest in international relations and social issues. Events surrounding the war in Ukraine and the war in Israel are a major focus for political journalists. But as a former local reporter, she is also interested in national politics.
Chelsea Garcia studied media, communication and political science in Texas, USA, and learned the journalistic trade during an internship at a daily newspaper. In addition to her political writing, she is pursuing a master's degree in multimedia and writing at Texas.
