Dear Partners in Mission:

Last Thursday it was announced that the execution by firing squad of Nidal Hasan would not be livestreamed. Since the announcement that this event would be made publicly available for viewing I had been in communication with our ELCA leadership including Bishop Curry. The execution of a soldier by the US Military is a federal issue. However, as it is scheduled to take place at Fort Hood it impacts us in NT-NL as we have a congregation in Killeen and many of our members in central Texas relate to Fort Hood.

The ELCA in our social teachings has a clear statement about the death penalty. Bishop Curry affirmed that statement in his letter to the church last week. We are opposed to this form of retributive violence because violence does not bring justice. Instead it perpetuates violence and encourages us to believe that anger and wrath can bring about healing. As ones who worship a crucified Lord, executed by the Roman Empire, we are called to be people of another way. We know all too well the reality of violence, perpetrated by ourselves and our neighbors. Yet we are called to another way, a way of healing, hope, and reconciliation.

The US Military has its codes and laws. Hasan will be executed for his grievous crimes ending the lives of 14 people including an unborn child. We are grateful that thus far the plan to livestream this act, to make of this violence a spectacle, has been for now called off. Broadcasting his death would be an act of political violence and further his own goals to be a witness to those who support his cause.

What grieves me the most in this situation is the pastors and leaders in our community who immediately justified this public display of violence. Those who came to the defense of this decision and used scripture wrongly to justify themselves. In so doing they have shown themselves to be beholden to their political allegiances. To be willing to find ways to justify whatever actions are taken to maintain their access to temporal power.

Jesus Christ was nailed to a cross as an act of imperial power and authority. Done publicly to inspire terror and suppress revolt. I pray that as people of Law and Gospel we can call a thing what it is. Violence is real. Retributive violence does not bring justice. God’s peace comes through the power of the Resurrection.

#Juntosenmision,

Bishop Gronberg