Sanctity of Life

Sanctity of Life Report
ED AZ South Circuit Forum
7 November, AD 2026

From Roni Grad
In the aftermath of this week’s statewide election, we as a church will very likely be facing more intense challenges to the sanctity of life, including the introduction of “Medical Assistance in Dying” (MAiD) in the form of physician-assisted suicide, and increased pressure on life-affirming pregnancy care centers. Additionally, there will likely be a negative impact on school choice, which I consider to be a sanctity of life issue, but which I will leave to our ACSTO/SALSA brothers and sisters to address. On a positive note, Proposition 318 (boys out of girls’ sports and private places) passed by a large margin.

Yet, strengthened through His gifts received in His Divine Services, God’s people have always faced such challenges by reaching out and caring for those whom society at large had abandoned, including the infants, elderly, and terminally ill left to die alone. After all, they are all ones for whom Christ died and whose lives are worth living, as long as He allows them breath. And in the process, God has grown His Church. No matter what happens in the 2027 legislative session, we remain free in Christ to fulfill His vocational call on us, to continue to reach out to our hurting neighbors with acts of mercy, and to proclaim the sanctity of human life from fertilization into eternity in the public square, in the process ultimately pointing all to Him.

Regarding MAiD, as with all sanctity of life issues, education is key. Along with this report, I am sending the Lutherans For Life position statement on the issue, which was adopted this past June. Please feel free to share it widely; it is important that Lutherans are clear on the issue and are equipped to discuss it with their neighbors through the lens of Scripture and the Confessional Symbols of the Church. In addition, this coming Saturday, November 14, attendees at the Catalina Lutheran Church (CLC) Life Team Sanctity of Life into Eternity symposium will have the opportunity to view the documentary film Prescription Poison. Produced by Alex Schadenberg and the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, the film exposes the expansion of assisted suicide in the USA, and the devastating impact left in its wake. The symposium also will include an opening Service of the Word, and talks on geriatric emergencies, estate planning, gift planning, practical aspects of caregiving at home, deciding on hospice, and getting support from a Death and Resurrection Doula. The event will take place from 10 AM – 5 PM at CLC, will include a light lunch and snacks, and will be free of charge. We will gather a completely optional free-will offering for Lutherans For Life. All are welcome, please let us know by Monday, November 9 at the latest, if you plan to attend. Finally, as I hear of other educational offerings, I will pass them along. Once educated and aware, we are then in a position to make others aware, perhaps even including the issue of MAiD at our marches for life. And most importantly, to walk alongside and provide support to those vulnerable to MAiD, as we do with those vulnerable to abortion, praying that God will use us to change their hearts and encourage them to embrace life, both temporal and eternal.

OTHER UPDATES

Local and State:

Tucson March for Life: January 16, from 10 AM – noon; can we meet at 9:30 AM on S. Church Ave., in front of TCC and behind St. Augustine Cathedral for pre-March devotion, then join the March to Holy Hope Cemetery at ~10:15 AM. Will need to split parking between the TCC and the cemetery.
AZ March for Life: awaiting confirmation of a date from the AZ State Capitol; looking at late February or early March (so won’t conflict with Circuit Convocation J).
Spring 2027 40 Days for Life Prayer Vigil: Kickoff on Quinquagesima/Transfiguration Sunday, February 7, at 4 PM across from Planned Parenthood (PP), 2255 N Wyatt, Tucson 85712. The Vigil itself begins Ash Wednesday, February 10, and continues until March 20. Of course, prayer at PP not limited to the spring and fall 40 DFL vigils.
Coalitions: Tucson for Life (second Saturday at 9:30 AM, St. Melany’s Byzantine Catholic Church, 1212 N Sahuara Ave, Tucson 85712); NW Tucson Prolife Coalition (third Tuesday at 6:30 PM, Oro Valley Church of the Nazarene, 500 W Calle Concordia, Building B, Room 14, Oro Valley, 85704); Southern Arizona Pro Life Training Coalition, Sahuarita (https://www.southazprolife.org/).

District: Our Lifeline team continues to meet regularly and post in Servant to Servant. We welcome submissions!

Synod:

New CTCR report, Abortion – A Continuing Crisis, available at https://www.lcms.org/resources/post/ctcr-library-life-issues
Online LCMS Life Ministry Conference, February 26-27, see https://www.lcms.org/events/2027-lcms-life-conference-online
Dying Well in Christ: The Conversation Continues, scheduled April 5-7 at Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne. Registration and further details available from November 16 at https://ctsfw.regfox.com/dying-well-in-christ.

Lutherans For Life (LFL):

Fall Board meeting: Adopted a new preamble to the LFL Position Statements book (the book may be accessed at https://lutheransforlife.org/life-issues/position-statements/), bestowed Dominus Vitae award on Dr. Päivi Räsänen.
Working to develop a statement on AI.
Summer issue of Verba Vitae, which includes a paper by yours truly, has been posted at https://verba-vitae.org/index.php/vvj. Fall issue should be posted soon.
Congregational opportunities: Life Teams, Life Advocates, Congregational House of Refuge
Fundraising: https://lutheransforlife.org/donate/

Finally: Anyone interested in working with me on coordination of sanctity of life activities in our Circuit?

LFLMAiDStatement Download

From Roni Grad:
Just back from several days at the Synodical Convention where I helped staff the Lutherans For Life table in the exhibit hall. It was a joy and a privilege to serve alongside Dr. and Mrs. Aric Fenske and to meet so many brothers and sisters who are passionate about Sanctity of Life issues! Thankful for the support and encouragement from Pastor von Hindenburg, Tom, Pastor Mathers, Bishop Miskus, Pres. Harrison and so many from Synod. Richly blessed!

At Catalina: Save the date! We are in the early stages of planning the AD 2026 Sanctity of Life Into Eternity Symposium, which is scheduled for November 14 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Community:

Thankful to all who marched for life this past winter/spring here in Tucson and/or in Phoenix! Dates for 2027 to be determined.
Ongoing prayer across from Planned Parenthood (2255 N Wyatt Dr in Tucson). The kickoff for the Tucson 40 Days for Life campaign will take place September 20 at 5 p.m. across from Planned Parenthood and the campaign will run September 23 – November 1. See/contact Roni for more details.
The Center for Arizona Policy (https:www.azpolicy.org) has information about the stances of political candidates on life issues, and the status of bills in the AZ legislature. Abortion, assisted suicide, sexual orientation/gender identity, religious liberty, and school choice are hot-button issues.

English District: