How might the United States contribute to the common goal of better global security?  The ELCA’s social statement “For Peace in God’s World", says:

The Church is a disturbing presence when it refuses to be silent and instead speaks the truth in times when people shout out, "'Peace, peace,' when there is no peace" (Jeremiah 6:14). The Church is this presence when it names and resists idols that lead to false security, injustice, and war, and calls for repentance. We therefore denounce beliefs and actions that:

•  elevate our nation or any nation or people to the role of God;
•  find ultimate security in weapons and warfare;
•  ordain the inherent right of one people, race, or civilization to rule over others;
•  promise a perfect, peaceful society through the efforts of a self-sufficient humanity; and
•  despair of any possibility for peace.

In a similar way, another social statement “Sufficient, Sustainable Livelihood for All” stresses the need to address and relieve poverty.  One means called for in that statement is “...shifts throughout the world from military expenditures to purposes that serve the needs of low-income people...”

In 2008 Representatives Jim McGovern (D-MA) and Dan Lungren (R-CA) introduced a Global Security Priorities Resolution to begin to redefine global security.  They were joined by more than 30 Members in sponsoring that measure.  

In this new Congress, Reps. McGovern and Lungren have again introduced this measure, H.Res. 278, which calls for negotiated reductions in nuclear weapons and provides for significant increases in funds to promote child survival. 

UNICEF estimates that 9.2 million children under the age of five die every year, mostly from preventable and treatable causes.  The Global Security Priorities Resolution looks to save as much as $13 billion annually through negotiated arms reductions and fund an additional $5 billion over five years to enhance child survival in the world's most needy countries by scaling up implementation of integrated packages of high-impact and low-cost health and nutrition interventions at the community level. Additional funding would be applied to global school feeding and related programs to combat child hunger.

This initiative would greatly enhance the world’s ability to meet the fourth Millennium Development Goal: a two-thirds reduction in the rate of child mortality by 2015.  The Global Security Priorities Resolution would put Congress on record to secure global child survival and nutrition program funding which also seeking negotiated, targeted reductions in the nuclear arsenals of the US and the Russian Federation.

When the Global Security Priorities Resolution was first introduced in 2008, ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson said “Human security is important for every citizen of the world.  It is as important to the parents of a young girl in Asia who fear that she may not live to the age of five as it is to those who could be targets of a nuclear weapon in the hands of terrorists... When we can provide nutrition and education to the world’s most marginalized citizens, we will all live in a safer world. Meeting someone's basic needs early in life contributes to social justice and builds better societies, both at home and overseas.  With these advantages, we can create the circumstances in which people are less likely to engage in anti-social behavior such as terrorism.”