On March 15, 2026 members of Saint Mark Lutheran Church voted overwhelmingly to adopt a statement in opposition to the death penalty. Our Lutheran faith calls us to extend grace and forgiveness and to focus on rehabilitation and restorative justice; the death penalty is antithetical to these beliefs. In adopting this statement Saint Mark was guided by the example of our national church body the ELCA, which issued a statement opposing the death penalty in 1991.

The Saint Mark Lutheran Church statement reads as follows:

Statement in Opposition to the Death Penalty

As people of faith, we follow Christ who came that all might have life, and have it abundantly. Christ teaches us to give and affirm life, not to take it away. Remembering that Christ himself was executed by the state, we, the members of Saint Mark Lutheran Church, declare our opposition to the death penalty in Oregon and elsewhere. This is based on the following conversation:

• The death penalty excludes the possibility, or even the consideration, of forgiveness and healing. “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” Luke 15:4-7

• Mistakes occur in any system, including our justice system, and innocent lives have been ended. We believe there is no acceptable error rate in ending lives. “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:29-31.

• The death penalty is applied unequally. Race and economic status are factors in how the death penalty is applied. As followers of Christ, we do not support systems of inequality. “There is no longer Jew or Greek; there is no longer slave or free; there is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28.

• Our Lutheran faith calls us to extend grace and forgiveness, to focus on rehabilitation and restorative justice, as demonstrated by Christ. The death penalty rests on a desire for punishment and revenge that is antithetical to our beliefs. “Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if my brother or sister sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.” Matthew 18:20-22

• Additionally, studies have shown that the use of the death penalty does not prevent or deter crimes of violence. Moreover, studies have also shown that the death penalty is incredibly costly to Oregonians and is far more costly than life without parole. Replacing the death penalty with life without parole would free up funds that could be redirected to other public needs such as restorative healing, helping families of murder victims, and rehabilitating prisoners through education and development of work skills.