1979-06 Resolution on Membership into the Lutheran Coalition on Southern Africa

79-4 RESOLUTION ON MEMBERSHIP INTO THE LUTHERAN COALITION ON SOUTHERN AFRICA

Background: Status Confessionis

To be confessing Christians means living our lives in response to our faith: our belief in God, our creator, Jesus Christ, our Savior, the Holy Spirit and the Holy Christian Church. As we gather in celebration around bread and wine, under the sign and symbol of baptism, it is humbling and exciting to know that we are a world-wide confessing church, with sisters and brothers of all races. Thus, when our Lutheran co-confessors from Africa cry out in pain to us, the cry is heard in the context of faith in Jesus Christ as Lord which we share with them in our daily and weekly worship.

The continued presence of racism in the United States is exemplified by the increased popularity of the Ku Klux Klan, by the evidence of continuing discrimination in housing, college admissions, and through many other examples. Yet, in repentance, living as confessional Christians and being members of Lutheran Student Movement, we recognize that we have fallen far short of eliminating the sin of racism. With sadness we recognize there has been little increase in clergy and church leadership for blacks and other minorities in our Lutheran Church bodies. Nonetheless, we are not discouraged; rather, we feel challenged and fully committed to the continuing task of struggling for racial justice in church and society.

Through the action of the 1977 Assembly of the Lutheran World Federation in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, we find ourselves equally called to a new level of struggle against racism. The Lutheran World Federation raised the task of resisting apartheid to a matter of status confessionis, which means that opposing apartheid is a necessary part of a Christian’s confession of faith.

Below is the original Lutheran World Federation statement on status confessionis:

“Under normal circumstances, Christians may have different opinions in political questions. However, political and social systems might become corrupted and oppressive so that it is consistent with the (Augsburg) confession to reject them and work for change. We especially appeal to our white member churches in southern Africa to recognize the situation in southern Africa constitutes a status confessionis. This means that, on the basis of faith and in order to manifest the unity of the church, churches would publicly and unequivocally reject the existing apartheid system.”

Resisting injustice has always fully been a part of the life and lifestyle of the Christian community. However, when special needs arise, particular acts of resistance have been necessary as a vital part of a Christian’s confession of faith; a status confessionis (see information above). Dealing with these special needs is one of the marks of the life of discipleship. The sign of faithfulness to Christ in such times is defined as disassociation from and non-cooperation with the evil forces at hand. In these special situations, resistance is not characterized as “just” or “justifiable”; resistance is an “OBLIGATION”.

Opposing apartheid is a matter of status confessionis as declared by the Lutheran World Federation in Dar es Salaam and is the particular calling of the church to an “obligatory” resistance. Responding to the call of our brothers and sisters in the churches of Africa, apartheid has been declared idolatry; and opposition to apartheid is based upon the call of the Gospel. According to the Formula of Concord, if we do not make a particular confession that is called for at a particular time in history – in this case, the opposing of apartheid – we become idolatrous; and making a particular confession – taking a stand against apartheid –

constitutes a witness to the Gospel.

The resisting of apartheid is a matter of status confessionis. Also, disinvestment is an inevitable and necessary part of publicly and unequivocally opposing apartheid as a matter of status confessionis because:

1) The pressing issue in South Africa is the political/economic system of apartheid, not the issue of racial policies in transnational corporations. In the case of South Africa, the issue is not the improvement of the internal practices and policies of these corporations, rather the issue is their continued presence under any circumstance.

Apartheid is not something that can be “improved”. It is a system which must be ended, because it systematically kills people in the same manner as occurred in the Holocaust, only with the more refined methodology and technology of the late twentieth century. The argument that investments can be used to improve conditions in South Africa covers up a far more important reality – the reality that investments from Western nations are profiting from apartheid and helping to keep the apartheid government alive. TO INVEST IN SOUTH AFRICA IS TO INVEST IN APARTHEID.

2) Since it is an act of treason to favor disinvestment, most South Africans have remained silent on the issue. However, a great number of black South Africans favor disinvestment and economic sanctions as a means – perhaps the only remaining non-violent means – of bringing about change.

“Black people in South Africa already suffer without hope. Disinvestment would not change their condition of suffering, but it would increase the possibility of suffering with hope.

With these issues in mind, a Lutheran Coalition on southern Africa has been formed which stands by the following goals:

1) To work for the disinvestment of Lutheran churches in the United States from corporations involved in South Africa;

2) To work for intensified participation by Lutheran churches in the ecumenical withdrawal campaign from banks which loan to the South African government or to corporations involved in South Africa;

3) To work for recognition by the Lutheran churches in the United States that the situation in southern Africa constitutes a status confessionis, which means that, on the basis of faith and in order to manifest the unity of the church, churches in the United States would publicly and unequivocally reject the apartheid system in South Africa.

Resolved

1) LSM-USA affirms the goals of the Lutheran Coalition on Southern Africa.

2) LSM-USA join the Lutheran Coalition on Southern Africa.

3) LSM-USA encourages local groups to also join the Lutheran Coalition on Southern Africa and work with congregations through the resources available from the contact person.

4) LSM-USA, on behalf of the contact person, provide resources for disseminating information to interested groups as organized by the Coalition.

5) LSM-USA address the church bodies with regard to their investment practices in southern Africa. Form letters will be made available through the resource person.

6) Peggy Chandler serve as a coordinator of this action and liaison between LSM and the Coalition.