05644
Dec. 2, 2005

Kirkpatrick restates PC(USA)’s
opposition to capital punishment

Clerk says possibility of redemption
’must be left open for every human being’

by Presbyterian News Service

LOUISVILLE — The Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick, stated clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), issued a statement on capital punishment on Dec. 2, shortly after the death of the 1,000th person executed in the United States since 1976.

        Kirkpatrick, noting that the PC(USA) and its predecessor denominations “have long been opposed to capital punishment,”said: “Capital punishment is wrong because it is impossible to know that a person who has murdered can never be redeemed or restored. As a matter of faith and faithfulness, this possibility must be left open for every human being.”

        The statement was mailed to the governors of all states that still have capital punishment.

        The full text:

        Very early on Friday morning, December 2, 2005, the 1000th person to be executed in the United States since the reinstatement of capital punishment in 1976 was pronounced dead. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and its predecessor bodies have long been opposed to capital punishment.

        In 1959, the 171st General Assembly, “believing that capital punishment cannot be condoned by an interpretation of the Bible based upon the revelation of God's love in Jesus Christ,” called on Christians to “seek the redemption of evil doers and not their death,” and noted that “the use of the death penalty tends to brutalize the society that condones it.”

        In 1985, the 197th General Assembly affirmed that “capital punishment cannot be condoned by an interpretation of the Bible based upon the revelation of God’s love in Jesus Christ.”

        The 212th General Assembly (2000) reaffirmed the positions of previous assemblies, declared its continuing opposition to capital punishment, and called for a “Moratorium on Capital Punishment.”

        As recently as 2002, the General Assembly approved a report that affirms the guiding principles and practices of restorative justice as a Biblically faithful witness to God’s justice and compassion for all people. Restorative justice insists that capital punishment is wrong because it is not necessary to protect society. Anyone from whom society needs protection can be imprisoned for as long as that person poses a threat to others. The typical costs of prosecuting a capital crime to its conclusion in the execution of a convicted prisoner far exceed those of incarcerating that prisoner for life. Capital punishment is wrong because it is impossible to know that a person who has murdered can never be redeemed or restored. As a matter of faith and faithfulness, this possibility must be left open for every human being. The only way to properly honor God’s gift of life is to refuse to deprive anyone of the life that God has given them.

        In short, the Presbyterian church has held a long-standing belief that capital punishment is wrong because it is contrary to God’s plan for humanity, it cheapens the value of human life, and it is not an effective way to reduce crime and violence.

        On behalf of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), I call on all the leaders of state governments to cease the practice of capital punishment in the United States of America.

Clifton Kirkpatrick
Stated Clerk of the General Assembly