wfn.org | May 11 Ecumenical Pastoral Letter on Iraq

["Carol Fouke" <cfouke@ncccusa.org>]

May 11, 2004, Ecumenical Pastoral Letter on Iraq

May 11, 2004, NEW YORK CITY -- In an ecumenical pastoral letter released
today (May 11), leaders of the National Council of Churches USA and its 36
Protestant and Orthodox member communions call for a change of course in
Iraq.

Their goal, they agree, is peace and a renunciation of violence as contrary
to the will of God.  

"In a sinful world, some of us may hold that there may be times when war is a
necessary evil," they write.  "But Christians should never identify violence
against others with the will of God and should always work to prevent and end
it."

Specifically, they call on the United States bto turn over the transition of
authority and post-war reconstruction to the United Nations - and to
recognize U.S. responsibility to contribute to this effort generously through
security, economic, and humanitarian support - not only to bring
international legitimacy to the effort, but also to foster any chance for
lasting peace.	We would ask that members of our churches, as they feel
appropriate, contact their respective 
congressional delegations to urge the U.S. to change course in Iraq.b

They encourage local churches to read the letter aloud in services during the
coming month.

The full text of the letter follows, along with signatures collected by 5
p.m. May 11.

-----------

May 11, 2004

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ:

Grace to you and peace from God our Creator and the Lord Jesus 
Christ!

We, leaders of the thirty-six member communions of the National 
Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, write this joint 
pastoral letter at a time when the threat of violence hangs over 
the earth and warfare involving United States forces is 
increasing in Iraq.  We write out of a deep love for this 
country, but also out of a profound concern at the direction 
this cycle of violence is taking us. This concern has been 
brought home to all Americans and indeed the world in the 
horrific pictures of prisoner abuse.
 
Two central claims of the Christian faith are crucial in our 
thinking:  that every person, as a child of God, is of infinite 
worth; and that all persons, as participants in God's one 
creation, are related in their humanity and vulnerability.  This 
is why the World Council of Churches has asserted that "war is 
contrary to the will of God" - because it destroys that which 
God has made sacred.  

In a sinful world, some of us may hold that there may be times 
when war is a necessary evil.  But Christians should never 
identify violence against others with the will of God and should 
always work to prevent and end it. 

We believe, with these things in mind, that the guiding 
principle of U.S. foreign policy must be to build up the whole, 
interdependent human family and to promote reconciliation 
whenever possible.  Yes, this means standing firmly against all 
acts of terror, but it also means envisioning a world in which 
war is truly a last resort.

Current U.S. foreign policy, however, is not aligned with this 
principle.  Many people see our policy as one based on 
protection of our country's economic interests narrowly defined, 
rather than on principles of human rights and justice that would 
serve our nation's interests in deep and tangible ways. We are 
convinced that current policy is dangerous for America and the 
world and will only lead to further violence.  

We, therefore, call for a change of course in Iraq, and we 
encourage you to do the same.  Specifically, we are calling upon 
our country to turn over the transition of authority and post-
war reconstruction to the United Nations - and to recognize U.S. 
responsibility to contribute to this effort generously through 
security, economic, and humanitarian support - not only to bring 
international legitimacy to the effort, but also to foster any 
chance for lasting peace.  We would ask that members of our 
churches, as they feel appropriate, contact their respective 
congressional delegations to urge the U.S. to change course in 
Iraq.

We certainly recognize that faithful Christians of good will may 
disagree with one another when it comes to questions of national 
policy.  We trust, however, that all Christians will pray and 
work for peace, remembering the words, "Blessed are the 
peacemakers, for they will be called children of God."

We also urge all of our congregations and parishes to pray not 
only for the soldiers of this nation, as we surely do, but for 
all people, military and civilian, caught in this and other 
cycles of violence.  When possible, join in prayer, discussion, 
and action with ecumenical and interfaith neighbors.  Materials 
to assist in this are available from many of our churches and 
from the National Council of Churches (www.ncccusa.org).
 
As ecumenical partners, we know that it is a scandal that the 
body of Christ remains so visibly divided, often by those things 
that divide the world.	Let us, however, be united as followers 
of Christ in our hope for that day when swords are beaten into 
plowshares and mourning and crying and pain will be no more!  

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the 
communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.

Alliance of Baptists
The Rev. Dr. Stan Hastey
Executive Director

American Baptist Churches in the USA
The Rev. Dr. A. Roy Medley
General Secretary

Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
His Grace Bishop Vicken Aykazian
Diocesan Legate and Ecumenical Officer

Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
The Rev. Wm. Chris Hobgood 
General Minister and President

The Episcopal Church, USA
The Most Rev. Frank T. Griswold
Presiding Bishop and Primate

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios
Primate

International Council of Community Churches
The Rev. Michael E. Livingston
Executive Director

Moravian Church, N.P
David L. Wickmann
President

National Council of Churches USA
The Rev. Dr. Robert Edgar
General Secretary

National Council of Churches USA
Interfaith Relations Commission
The Rev. Dr. Barbara Brown Zikmund
Chair

Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends
Friend Thom Jeavons
General Secretary

Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc.
The Rev. Dr. Major L. Jemison 
President
The Rev. Dr. Tyrone S. Pitts
General Secretary

Swedenborgian Church in North America
The Rev. Ronald P. Brugler
President

United Church of Christ
The Rev. John H. Thomas
General Minister and President

The United Methodist Church
Council of Bishops
Bishop Melvin G. Talbert
Ecumenical Officer