ELCA's 49-page draft social statement on genetics

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) released March 18 a 49-page draft social statement on genetics, a framework for discussion on a variety of current topics in the field including certain advances in medicine, reproductive cloning, human embryonic stem cells, and animal and plant genetic engineering.

“scientific research aimed at finding alternative sources”

The full text of the Draft Social Statement on Genetics, an executive summary and a question-and-answer document are at http://www.elca.org/geneticsdraft on the ELCA Web site.

The draft was prepared by the ELCA Task Force on Genetics, formed after the social statement was authorized by the 2005 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. Individuals and congregations are invited to study the draft, and provide feedback by Oct. 15. The draft will be revised, and a proposed social statement is to be released in early 2011. The statement is expected to be considered by the 2011 ELCA Churchwide Assembly.

ELCA social statements are theological and teaching documents. Social statements set policy for the ELCA, and guide its advocacy and work as a public church.

The draft said that the word "genetics" never appears in Scripture, but states, "We believe … that God's word in Scripture illuminates the challenges and issues posed by genetic knowledge and its application."

The draft social statement concentrates on broad themes and pastoral guidance versus providing prescriptions for specific issues, however the draft does suggest some ethical boundaries:

• It rejects genetic developments that harm the community of life.
• It rejects the "technological imperative" that humans may use knowledge to create any technological application if the market will support it.
• It rejects reproductive cloning of humans.
• It supports investment in genetic knowledge and its application to heal afflictions, relieve human suffering, improve the human situation and restore the environment.
• It calls for long-term, ecological, social and economic impact assessment for genetic processes and products.
• It rejects the creation of human embryonic life expressly for research purposes, but welcomes "scientific research aimed at finding alternative sources" of stem cells that doesn't involve uses of embryonic human life. It also accepts the use of surplus frozen embryos created for infertility treatment that are no longer needed.
• It calls for increased education about and labeling of genetically engineered food.