Words from Bishop Miller- Mar 2025

[God] shall judge between many peoples, and shall arbitrate between strong nations far away; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more; […] for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken.

I woke on February 28 to the news that United States and Israeli forces had attacked Iran. This news caused me no little distress, especially as I considered the impact this war would have on so many lives, Iranian, American, Israeli, Palestinian, and so many others, especially in the Arabian Peninsula and the greater Middle East. Once again, American service members have been asked to put their lives on the line, and their families back home to wait and wonder whether and how they will return.

I wonder about the unforeseen consequences that will arise because of this war. I wonder how long it will last. And I wonder who will bear the greatest harm from the bombs and missiles that fly in both directions.

My heart goes out to the innocent lives lost in war—collateral damage with names and faces, loved ones and friends. I hurt for the ones whose suffering will increase because of prejudice that leads to greater persecution—Americans attacked simply because of their citizenship; Iranians and those who look like them living in countries around the world; Muslims targeted for the faith they share with the Iranian regime; and especially Palestinian, members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL), whose lives under occupation are further restricted in times of war.

I commend to you letters written by Bishop Imad Haddad of the ELCJHL and Archbishop Hosam Naoum of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, as well as the statement from Presiding Bishop Yehiel Curry of the ELCA. And then, I ask you to join me in prayer for all those involved in this war: our president and the leaders of the U.S., Israel, and Iran, military leaders and service members, medical personnel who will respond to the wounded, and especially those who suffer because of decisions in which they have no part.