DEATH PENALTY STATEMENT

The following was adopted by the Standing High council April 20, 1995 as a statement reflecting its thoughts on the death penalty and is offered to the church for study, discussion, and guidance.

Whereas, society is increasingly alarmed about violent crime and available means to reduce it thus focusing attention on the death penalty as an acceptable legal remedy, and

Whereas, representatives of the church are sometimes called on to state a position on this issue and to join with interfaith groups attempting to offer moral guidance to the public, and

Whereas, data on the effectiveness of the death penalty as a means to deter violent crime is inconclusive, and

Whereas, application of the death penalty too often has appeared to discriminate against the poor, the minorities, and the undereducated, and

Whereas, faith groups of the Catholic, Orthodox, and Jewish traditions, as well as numerous Protestant denominations (Episcopal, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Methodist, Baptist, Brethren, Mennonite, Friends, Disciples, etc.) have rejected or urged extreme caution in adopting the death penalty as a punishment or deterrent for violent crime, and

Whereas, we share the belief of many of these faiths that the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on the cross canceled the Old Testament teaching of an eye for an eye, and

Whereas, we share the belief that capital punishment of a person convicted of a crime is an unsatisfactory response which demeans and brutalizes society, therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the Standing High Council affirms that it is a faithful reflection of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, whom we proclaim, to encourage society not to use capital punishment as a penal response to crime.

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