wfn.org | Church is preparing material on Iraq

[PCUSA NEWS <PCUSA.NEWS@ecunet.org>]

Note #7422 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

12-September-2002
02348

Church is preparing material on Iraq

Booklet already available contains a wealth of information, resources

by Jerry L. Van Marter

LOUISVILLE - With President George W. Bush pondering military action against
Iraq, officials of the Presbyterian Church (USA) are drafting messages about
the crisis to Bush and other government leaders and to members of the church.

A packet of resources - containing some material eerily similar to that
produced more than a decade ago, at the time of "Desert Storm" - is being
assembled under the leadership of the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program (PPP)
and should be available within two weeks. It will be posted on the PC(USA)'s
Web site, www.pcusa.org.

One booklet, titled Iraq: A Resource for Presbyterians, was prepared and
published earlier this summer. It's a cooperative effort of the PPP, the
Presbyterian Washington Office and the divisions of Worldwide Ministries and
National Ministries.

The 12-page booklet contains profiles of the five Presbyterian churches in
Iraq; a timeline of recent Iraqi history; a survey of the geography of the
country; information about the economic sanctions in place since 1991;
stories about individual Iraqis, furnished by the Middle East Council of
Churches; General Assembly (GA) statements on Iraq; suggestions for action;
worship materials; and a bibliography of other resources.

To obtain copies of Iraq: A Resource for Presbyterians (at a cost of 50 cents
each, or three for $1), call Presbyterian Distribution Service at (800)
524-2612 and asking for item 70-270-02-014. It is also available on the
PC(USA) Web site at www.pcusa.org/peacemaking/actnow/iraq.

The Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick, stated clerk of the GA, has joined other U.S.
religious leaders in issuing two "statements of concern" about a possible
attack on Iraq. One of the messages also was signed by the Rev. Fahed
Abu-Akel, the GA moderator.

The possible U.S. action against Iraq also is likely to be on the agenda when
the General Assembly Council meets later this month.
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