ReEngaging ELCA Social Teaching on Peace
- Ethics, Culture & Social Issues
- Publisher: Augsburg Fortress
- Published: 2026
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Publisher's Description
God desires shalom for all people, but peace is difficult to come by amid the sin-filled reality of our life here on Earth. Lutheran ethicist William Rodríguez provides a clear path through the complexities of philosophical, theological, and historical context to help readers grapple with the enduring vision for peace offered in this 1995 social statement. How do Lutherans approach peace and justice? What does the ELCA teach about peace? If we are to follow our Lutheran call to work for peace in God’s world, we must understand how and why humans have justified war. Rodríguez’s straightforward explanations of such thorny concepts as “just war” and “just peace” provide an interpretive grounding that will help educators and students engage in critical reflection upon contemporary conflicts. By drawing upon the deeper history of the ELCA’s predecessor synods, Rodríguez demonstrates how Lutheran social teaching has evolved, addressed the signal issues of the times, and continues to inform our call to be Christian peacemakers. Educators and students in contexts ranging from seminary and Lutheran undergraduate settings to congregational forums will find this book to be a deeply helpful resource. This volume includes study questions and recommended readings.
Endorsements (3)
“Praise for ReEngaging ELCA Social Teaching on Peace What a fine resource for reengaging ELCA social teaching on peace! I plan to use it for an adult forum and a reading group in our congregation. Rodríguez provides a helpful survey of the history of Lutheran teaching on just war theory and pacifism, but his focus on just peacemaking is particularly valuable. I appreciated his candid, insightful assessment in the final chapter of the strengths and limitations of the 1995 ELCA social statement “For Peace in God’s World.”
Rev. Dr. Mark S. Brocker
“parameters of the ELCA’s social statement on the matter. Readers are given the tools for their own moral discernment through questions for discussion and contemplation at the end of each chapter. This is a helpful resource for anyone interested in understanding the ELCA’s position on the use and limits of force as a tool of moral authority and in doing their own theological study of the issue.”
“This is an accessible and usable book on a very timely subject. Using the social teaching of the ELCA and its predecessor church bodies, Rodríguez guides the reader in an exploration of the relationships among war, peace, and justice, including a holistic understanding of economic justice. The author presents the case for the necessity of just war theory, but also of just peace theory, in a balanced and fair way. In the process he explains the logic of pacifism, its difference from situation-based conscientious objection, and how all these apparently incompatible positions can, and do, coexist in the life and practice of the church. The questions and resources at the end of each chapter and the appendices make this book a good resource for a wide range of audiences, from the church adult forum to the college or seminary classroom.”
Rev. Dr. Carmelo Santos
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