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Resolve Iraq Crisis

National Council of the Chuches of Christ in the U.S.A.
Contact: NCC News, 212-870-2252; www.ncccusa.org; news@ncccusa.org
National Council of Churches Annual General Assembly Calls on President Bush,
Congress to "Do All Possible, Without Going to War" to Resolve the Iraq
Crisis

November 16, 2002, TAMPA, Fla. -- "Do all possible, without going to war," to
resolve the Iraq crisis, the National Council of Churches General Assembly
today (Nov. 16) unanimously urged President Bush and the U.S. Congress.

In "After September 11, 2001: Public Policy Considerations for the United
States of America," the delegates from the NCC's 36 Protestant, Orthodox and
Anglican member communions, which comprise 50 million U.S. Christians, also
called for a redoubling of effort to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict.

They called on President Bush and the Congress to recommit the United States
to international institutions like the United Nations and to the development
of common security for the world, and committed themselves to work for peace
and justice worldwide in the wake of September 11, 2001.

In a tandem resolution, adopted overwhelmingly, the General Assembly noted
that its member churches; many state, regional and local ecumenical bodies;
the NCC's Executive Board, and, most recently (Nov. 13), the U.S. Conference
of Catholic Bishops have issued statements expressing concern about proposed
unilateral military action by the United States against Iraq.

The General Assembly expressed particular appreciation for that latter
statement, in which the bishops warn against a rush to war with Iraq.  At the
same time, the Assembly joined the bishops in pressing Iraq to comply fully
with the Nov. 8, 2002, United Nations Security Resolution requiring Iraq to
meet its disarmament obligations under relevant resolutions of the Security
Council.

The General Assembly particularly cited the bishops' declaration that "Iraqi
leadership must cease its internal repression, end its threats to its
neighbors, stop any support for terrorism, abandon its efforts to develop
weapons of mass destruction, and destroy all such existing weapons."

"We recognize that not taking military action could have its own negative
consequences," the bishops resolved and the NCC General Assembly affirmed.
"We are concerned, however, that war against Iraq could have unpredictable
consequences not only for Iraq, but for peace and stability elsewhere in the
Middle East. The use of force might provoke the very kind of attacks that it
is intended to prevent, could impose terrible new burdens on an already
long-suffering civilian population, and could lead to wider conflict and
instability in the region. War against Iraq could also detract from the
responsibility to help build a just and stable order in Afghanistan and could
undermine broader efforts to stop terrorism."

The National Council of Churches General Assembly - which held its Nov. 14-16
annual meeting in Tampa, Fla. - expressed its intention "to work together
with
all peace-loving people of faith, to witness to our statements by appropriate
action including dialogue with our congregations, with our public officials,
visits to the people of Iraq, and consultation with Christian churches
throughout the world, and to pray that the Lord will grant wisdom to our
leaders as they face awesome responsibilities of life and death."

Full texts follow.  See the NCC's Web site, www.ncccusa.org, for additional
information and documentation.

NCC General Assembly Resolution "After September 11, 2001: Public Policy
Considerations for the United States of America"
Adopted Unanimously Nov. 16, 2002

The September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks against the United States brought
far-reaching changes to our country and the world.   Yet the basic principles
on which we, the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA
(NCCCUSA), build our work for peace, justice, and security remain unchanged.
In the 1999 Policy Statement, "Pillars of Peace for the 21st Century," we
affirmed:

"the Christian faith and community are rooted in theological understanding
that is global by its very nature.  The foundation for the church's
involvement in the quest for world peace and justice can be found in the
following Biblically based beliefs:   1) the transcending sovereignty and
love
of God for all creation and the expression of that love in the incarnation of
Jesus Christ, whose mission was to reveal understanding about that divine
presence, to proclaim a message of salvation and to bring justice and peace;
2) the unity of creation and the equality of all races and peoples; 3) the
dignity and worth of each person as a child of God; and 4) the church, the
body of believers, whose global mission of witness, peacemaking and
reconciliation testifies to God's action in history."

Reaffirming these beliefs more than a year after the tragedy of September 11,
2001 we offer the following reflections.

We celebrate and give thanks to God for the courage, selfless service,
sacrifice, commitment, and generosity of our leaders, public service workers,
and countless others who will never be known, who gave their lives, labor,
resources, and compassion in response to this crisis.  We express particular
gratitude to President George W. Bush, First Lady Laura Bush, and other
national, state, and local leaders for their efforts to promote respect for
religious diversity in this country and abroad, and especially the outreach
to
the Muslim community.

The Rise of Militarism and the Escalation of Violence

More than a year later, we are deeply concerned about the rise of militarism
and the escalation of violence.  In particular, we are deeply disturbed about
the possibility of military action against Iraq.  The United Nations Security
Council Resolution on the Disarmament of Iraq, adopted on November 8, 2002,
encourages us even as we remain concerned that the United States government
maintains its threat to go to war with or without the Council's
authorizations.  We are also deeply disturbed by the United States'
reluctance
to use its influence in brokering a lasting peace in the Middle East,
particularly in the continuing conflict between the Israelis and the
Palestinians.

The President and others in the US government rhetorically divide nations and
peoples into camps of "good and evil."	 Demonizing adversaries or enemies
denies their basic humanity and contradicts Christians' beliefs in the
dignity
and worth of each person as a child of God.  Moreover, such approaches to
complex problems and difficult dilemmas risks breeding further insecurity,
fear, hatred, violence among nations and peoples, conditions that could give
rise to further acts of terrorism.

Human Rights Violations

In its pursuit of a "war on terrorism," principles of justice, fairness, and
accountability have been sacrificed.  The NCCCUSA is deeply concerned about
extra-judicial proceedings, and impediments to fundamental civil liberties
promulgated by law enforcement agencies of the government.  Among its many
actions that give rise to such concerns, the Justice Department has refused
to
release the names of detainees, has imposed secret immigration proceedings
and
lengthy detentions, and has given greater surveillance powers to intelligence
agencies.  Organizations that cherish civil rights have expressed deep
concern
that those arbitrarily detained and investigated are selected on the basis of
racial profiling. As people are detained in secret, with no access to counsel
or to trial and often no contact with their families, fundamental
constitutional principles of habeas corpus, the presumption of innocence, and
due process have been undermined.

United States Power and Unilateralism

The United States dominates the world militarily and increasingly attempts to
do so politically.  The NCCCUSA is especially concerned that in its
objectives, the US is increasingly militaristic and unilateral in pursuing
political and economic goals.  The NCCCUSA continues to be distressed over
the
refusal of the US fully to pay its arrears to the United Nations, its
unwillingness to be a signatory party to the International Criminal Court,
its
reluctance to honor missile test ban treaties and other international
agreements that would limit the growth of military arsenals, and its
selective
efforts to ensure implementation of UN Security Council resolutions.  We are
particularly distressed to hear of military responses to global political
concerns.  We call for more intensified efforts to use all possible
diplomatic
and other international channels to seek peace with justice.

Religion and Violence

Those killed on September 11, 2001 came from many different countries and
faith communities. Yet those who attacked the United States on September 11
claimed to do so out of religious motivation.	In the late 20th century and
in the early 21st century, as in earlier eras, religion is used increasingly
to legitimize violence, aggression, war, and terrorism.  Now more than ever,
the world needs for religious communities to work together for peace with
justice.  All religions provide a basis on which to build human communities
where all can thrive, believers and non-believers alike.

Citizenship as Christians

As citizens and residents of the United States of America, we give thanks to
God for the rich blessings of this good and bounteous land and for our noble
heritage of democracy, religious tolerance and freedom, and human rights.  We
hope, dream and work for the day when everyone in our nation will share fully
in this prosperity and freedom.  Our love of and dedication to our country
require that we hold ourselves and our leaders accountable to the highest
standards and ideals of a democratic society where the well-being of each
person is the concern of all.  As Christians, we put our security in the
hands
of Jesus Christ and the biblical witness that says, "perfect love casts out
fear." I John 4:18a.

To these ends, we pray:

O Christ, our God,
author of life and giver of peace,
guide us
so that we may walk in your ways of righteousness
and arrive at the heaven of life and salvation in peace,
through your mercy.

For you are our helper and our deliverer
And to you is fitting glory,
Dominion and honor,
Now and for ever and unto the ages of ages.  Amen.

-- Collect from the Armenian Sunrise Office
In response to the new world circumstances created by the September 11
terrorist attacks and the subsequent "war on terrorism," in order to live out
our faith commitment to peace and justice, we, the General Assembly of the
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, gathered in Tampa,
Florida, November 16, 2002, hereby resolve:
1)   to commend President George W. Bush and Secretary of State Colin Powell
for working through the United Nations towards securing a Security Council
resolution to require Iraq to comply with its disarmament obligations under
relevant resolutions of the Security Council;

2)   to urge President Bush and the Congress of the United States of America
to do all possible, without going to war to ensure Iraqi compliance with the
U.N. Resolution adopted November 8, 2002;

3)   to urge President Bush and the Congress of the United States of America
to insist on Israeli compliance with all relevant U.N. Security Council
resolutions;

4)   to urge President Bush and the Congress of the United States of America
to pay its arrears to the UN and recommit the United States to international
institutions like the United Nations and to the development of systems of
common security for the world as a whole;

5)   to urge the US government to play an active role in working toward a
peaceful and just resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict within the
context of the UN and in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions; and

6)   that this statement be communicated to President George W. Bush and
Members of Congress;

7)   to urge our member communions and churches to work for peace and justice
in our relations with Iraq and Israel and Palestine.

Recommendations to the NCC and Member Communions:

   1.. that the Heads of Communion within the NCCCUSA seek a meeting with the
President and other appropriate leaders in his administration to communicate
the concerns discussed in this statement;
   2.. that the member communions continue to help their congregations
understand and express concerns for peace and justice worldwide in the wake
of
September 11, 2001, using this statement as a resource;
   3.. that the member communions continue to work together to help their
congregations: a) cope with the fear, anxiety, anger, and sense of
vulnerability that  these attacks provoke; b) to help equip local
congregations for public discussions and policy debates on appropriate
responses to threats to national security; and c) to help their congregations
understand the repercussions these attacks have had in many countries around
the world and the effects on the work of Church World Service, especially in
south Asia;
   4.. that the member communions covenant with each other to advocate for
United States public policies that increase genuine international
cooperation,
establish the foundations for appropriate systems of common security, and
promote non-violent means of resolving conflicts, and justice for all people;
in particular, member communions should urge the US government to abide by
established principles of international law and human rights, especially with
regard to immigration procedures and the rights of detainees;
   5.. that member communions participate fully in the World Council of
Churches Decade to Overcome Violence: Churches Seeking Reconciliation and
Peace, 2001-2010, as a means of addressing these issues;
   6.. that the member communions invite people of other faith communities to
work together to engage in such an advocacy; and
   7.. that the member communions invite their overseas partners to help
interpret to US churches and citizens the consequences of the "war on
terrorism" for people and countries around the world.
NCC General Assembly Resolution Expressing Appreciation for the United States
Conference of Catholic Bishops' Statement on Iraq

Adopted Overwhelmingly November 16, 2002

Whereas many of the member communions of the National Council of Churches and
many state, regional, and local ecumenical bodies earlier this year issued
statements expressing concern about proposed unilateral military action by
the
United States against Iraq;

Whereas the Executive Board of the National Council of Churches in October
urged the Bush Administration to step back from the brink of war and to
pursue
a path of consultation and collaboration with other nations and the NCC
General Assembly today has adopted a resolution urging President Bush and the
Congress of the United States to do all possible, without going to war, to
ensure Iraqi compliance with the U.N. Resolution adopted November 8, 2002;

Whereas the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops this week issued a
statement on Iraq that responds to developments that have taken place since
the National Council's October message to President Bush;

Therefore, we the members of the General Assembly of the National Council of
Churches express our appreciation for the statement of the United States
Conference of Catholic Bishops and we affirm its warning against a rush to
war
with Iraq. We would particularly highlight the following sections from the
Bishops' statement:

"Iraqi leadership must cease its internal repression, end its threats to its
neighbors, stop any support for terrorism, abandon its efforts to develop
weapons of mass destruction, and destroy all such existing weapons. . . . We
join others in urging Iraq to comply fully with this latest Security Council
resolution.

"We recognize that not taking military action could have its own negative
consequences. We are concerned, however, that war against Iraq could have
unpredictable consequences not only for Iraq, but for peace and stability
elsewhere in the Middle East. The use of force might provoke the very kind of
attacks that it is intended to prevent, could impose terrible new burdens on
an already long-suffering civilian population, and could lead to wider
conflict and instability in the region. War against Iraq could also detract
from the responsibility to help build a just and stable order in Afghanistan
and could undermine broader efforts to stop terrorism."

Furthermore we express our intention to work together with all peace-loving
people of faith, to witness to our statements by appropriate action including
dialogue with our congregations, with our public officials, visits to the
people of Iraq, and consultation with Christian churches throughout the
world,
and to pray that the Lord will grant wisdom to our leaders as they face
awesome responsibilities of life and death.

-end-