Please read below our Congregational statement and related sentiment from President Harrison, LCMS Synod, and a joint letter from President Harrison, President Yeadon and Pastor Morris.  

To our friends, family, and neighbors in Newtown:
 
On December 14th, our church family, along with our entire community, suffered a loss that led to tremendous grief and hardship. Like all of you, we have had to make entirely unfamiliar and unexpected decisions under the pressures of both time constraints and emotional trauma.
 
Some of these decisions have drawn attention and criticism from those outside our community. Some people have criticized us for taking part in the interfaith prayer vigil. Others have criticized us for offering an apology to those who were offended by that decision. And still others have criticized us for proclaiming our faith so clearly.
 
We wish to reassure our community here in Newtown that it has been an honor and a privilege to minister the hope, peace, and love of Jesus Christ at every opportunity in these darkest of days. In love, we have tried to make peace even with those who have criticized us. But we want you to know that we are proud to stand with you and to speak the only comfort we can offer: our certain faith in Christ as taught in the Word of God. Though we will never be perfect in doing so, we will not hesitate to offer our love and care in any way that we can, just as Christ has done for us.
 
We thank you for your prayers and want to assure you that you are in ours,
Pastor Rob Morris and the Congregation of Christ the King

Please read the joint letter from
Rob Morris, Pastor, Christ the King, Newtown
Timothy Yeadon, District President, New England District
Matthew C. Harrison, President, The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod

I, along with New England District President Yeadon, asked Pastor Morris for an apology for participation in the Newtown prayer service, hoping to avoid deeper internal controversy and division in the Missouri Synod, which, in the past, has struggled with this issue to the very breaking point. I naively thought an apology for offense in the church would allow us to move quickly beyond internal controversy and toward a less emotional process of working through our differences, well out of the public spotlight. That plan failed miserably. Pastor Morris graciously apologized where offense was taken as a humble act to help maintain our often fragile unity in the church (1 Corinthians 8). He did not apologize for participating, even as he carefully provided his reasoning for participating due to deep concern for his flock and the people of his horrified community. I immediately accepted his apology, looking forward to continued conversation toward greater unity in the church. I had hoped to veil him and his congregation from unhealthy criticism within the church. I urged and still urge that anyone contemplating action in the church courts not do so. I desire nothing more than to keep our church body from deeper division so we can continue to work through our challenges with less heat and more light. Unfortunately, only a small portion of the two letters that we each provided to the church was picked up by the media, who distorted the facts of an admittedly nuanced situation that is very difficult for most people, even within the Missouri Synod, to understand. I kindly refer you to my letter and Pastor Morris' letter for further clarification.

 I desire nothing more than to keep our church body from deeper division so we can continue to work through our challenges with less heat and more light.

As president of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, I take responsibility for this debacle. I handled it poorly, multiplying the challenges. I increased the pain of a hurting community. I humbly offer my apologies to the congregation, Christ the King Lutheran Church, Newtown, Conn.; to Pastor Morris; and to the Newtown community. I also apologize to the membership of our great church body for embarrassment due to the media coverage. I know that despite my own weakness and failings, God “works all things for good, for those who are called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28). My interaction with Pastor Morris and President Yeadon has never been anything but cordial and appropriate for brothers in Christ. Speculation that has implied anything else is false.
The day I was elected two-and-a-half years ago, I noted that the Synod had kept its perfect record of electing sinners as presidents. I also noted that I would fail at times. I am a sinner. I have failed. To members of the Missouri Synod, I plead for your forgiveness and patience as we try again to work toward resolution, faithful to Christ and His Gospel, in times that challenge us all.
Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison
President, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

Click here to read Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison's response in its entirety