wfn.org | WCC finds inspiration in King's models of peace, justice

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Jan. 14, 2004  News media contact: Linda Bloom7(646) 369-37597New York7
E-mail: newsdesk@umcom.org  7  ALL-AA {011}

NOTE: A photograph is available with this report.

By Linda Bloom*

NEW YORK (UMNS) - The models of peace and justice created by the Rev. Martin
Luther King Jr. are serving as inspiration for the World Council of Churches'
commitment to nonviolence.

According to Jan Love, a United Methodist and leader in the council's
2001-2010 Decade to Overcome Violence, the connection with King became
apparent with the decade's focus on the United States during 2004.

The idea, she explained, is to recapture King's "concept of the beloved
community" and use his models of peace and justice as a way of promoting the
decade to Americans. The theme for this year's U.S.-based focus is "The Power
and Promise of Peace."

Kicking off the U.S. focus near the time of King's birthday allows the
churches to recapture the energy, inspiration and deep commitment that he
brought to his crusade, said Lois Dauway, an executive with the Women's
Division, United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, and member of the
World Council of Churches' Central Committee. King's birthday is Jan. 15, and
the holiday will be celebrated Jan. 19 this year.

"One of the principal connections is that the churches, like Dr. King, have
been engaged in the struggle to overcome violence for centuries," Dauway told
United Methodist News Service. "It's an important legacy to carry on."

King's legacy was recognized during a Jan. 12 ecumenical worship service,
sponsored by the Decade to Overcome Violence, at the Interchurch Center in
New York.

The Rev. Otis Moss Jr., a friend and associate of King's who serves on the
national board of the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Non-Violent Social
Change, spoke of the need to build a foundation for justice and peace through
love, liberation and reconciliation. But, he added, "It's a contradiction of
life to try to put peace ahead of justice."

Following King's model, he urged the churches to work toward "building a new
generation of prophets of justice, disciples of love, apostles of liberation,
teachers of nonviolence and ambassadors of reconciliation."

"These will not come automatically," Moss said. "We have to take
institutional and individual risks for this to take place."

Like King, leaders must have the courage to lead, mold consensus and act at
the risk of being persecuted, he added.

As with the voices of other prophets, the significance of the decade's work
may not be recognized until after it is over. "So may it be said, in years to
come, that a decade against violence was the vision, the voice and the way of
the 21st century," Moss said.

During the worship service, the Rev. Wyatt Tee Walker, former chief of staff
for King, was recognized by both the WCC and National Council of Churches for
his lifetime commitment to seeking reconciliation and peace. Because of
health reasons, Walker was unable to attend the service.

Goals of the Decade to Overcome Violence include:

7	Addressing the types of violence and violent acts, from local to
international settings.
7	Challenging churches to overcome violence, relinquish any theological
justification of violence and affirm anew the spirituality of reconciliation
and nonviolence.
7	Creating a new understanding of security through cooperation and
community rather than domination and competition.
7	Learning from the spirituality and resources for peace-building of
other faiths.
7	Challenging the world's growing militarization, especially the
proliferation of small arms and light weapons.

A committee is preparing a list of U.S.-based events during 2004. Previous
years have focused on the Sudan and Israel and the Palestinian territories.
More information is at the council's www.overcomingviolence.org Web site.

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*Bloom is a United Methodist News Service staff writer based in New York.

 
 

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United Methodist News Service
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