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Pastoral Comment on Kosovo Crisis
Date: April 23, 1999
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: Clifford L. Willis
Email: CWillis@oc.disciples.org
on the Web: http://www.disciples.org

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	INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- In a "pastoral word" to 
the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), 
General Minister and President Richard L. Hamm 
says there are two clear actions committed North 
American Christians can take regarding the 
conflict in Kosovo. 

	"First," Hamm says, "we can speak and pray for 
an early end to the NATO bombing and the Serbian 
abuse of those Kosovars still in Kosovo couple 
with a return to the negotiating table."  He 
encourages prayer that NATO leaders will gain the 
wisdom to speak and act in ways that will 
de-escalate the fighting and contribute to a just 
peace.  The Disciples general pastor also calls 
for prayer for refugees and all who are 
victimized by the fighting, and prayer that the 
war will not spread to adjacent countries. 

	Hamm also encouraged gifts to the Week of 
Compassion, the relief and human development 
ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of 
Christ).  Week of Compassion is supporting the 
work of Church World Service and Action by 
Churches Together, whose partners are bringing 
relief assistance and pastoral care to refugees. 

	In his communique, the GMP said it appears that 
NATO bombing in the region is a strategic 
failure.  It has "served merely to displace many 
hundreds of thousands of refugees and strengthen 
the political hand of Mr. Milosevic. I have added 
my voice to those who are calling for a 
cease-fire, the end of ethnic cleansing and the 
resumption of talks," Hamm said.  

-- end --

	{Editors: the full text of the Rev. Hamm's 
pastoral communication accompanies this 
release.}

April 21, 1999

A Pastoral Word from Richard L. Hamm, General 
Minister and President of the Christian Church 
(Disciples of Christ) in the United States and 
Canada

I have been slow to publish a statement about the 
situation in Kosovo because, like so many others, 
I have been unclear about what is the "right 
thing" for NATO to do. I am always disappointed 
when diplomacy gives way to military action. On 
the other hand, standing by and watching what was 
happening in Kosovo apart from NATO action was 
also difficult.

It now appears that the bombing is a strategic 
failure which has served merely to displace many 
hundreds of thousands of refugees and to 
strengthen the political hand of Mr. Milosevic. I 
have added my voice to those who are calling for 
a cease fire, the end of ethnic cleansing and the 
resumption of talks.

At this point, we have two clear actions that we 
can each take as committed North American 
Christians. First, we can speak and pray for an 
early end to the NATO bombing and the Serbian 
abuse of those Kosovars still in Kosovo coupled 
with a return to the negotiating table. Included 
in these prayers should be intercession for the 
leaders of the NATO pact nations that they may 
receive the wisdom to speak and act in ways that 
will de-escalate the war and contribute to a just 
peace. We ought also to pray that the war will 
not spread to adjacent countries. Obviously, we 
also need to be praying for the refugees and all 
of those who are caught up in this tragic 
conflagration. 

Second, we can contribute money to the Week of 
Compassion, through which we can support relief 
efforts in the several countries around Kosovo 
that are receiving huge numbers of refugees. Week 
of Compassion is supporting the work of Church 
World Service and Action by Churches Together, 
whose partners are not only working tirelessly 
around the clock to bring relief assistance and 
pastoral care to thousands of weary refugees, but 
have already been working in the region for 
several years. Our contributions to Week of 
Compassion will be used promptly, wisely and in 
their entirety to respond to the immense and 
immediate physical, emotional and spiritual needs 
of the refugees. Please send your gifts to Week 
of Compassion, P.O. Box 1986, Indianapolis, IN 
46206.

Shalom, Richard L. Hamm