wfn.org | Advocacy for justice has role to play in settling world conflicts

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>]

May 13, 1999	News media contact: Joretta Purdue*(202)546-8722*Washington
10-71B{270}

NOTE TO EDITORS: This story is an advance for Peace with Justice Sunday, May
30.

By Shanta M. Bryant*

WASHINGTON (UMNS) - Peaceful solutions to the world's armed conflicts need
more than emergency relief, says an executive of the United Methodist
Church's social advocacy agency. 

Raising issues of justice for all parties involved in the conflict are
equally important, according to Robin Ringler, Peace with Justice program
director at the denomination's Board of Church and Society. 

"Justice in conflict situations means all parties must be satisfied with the
negotiations and settlements," she said.

"When parties aren't satisfied, hostilities are bound to arise in some form
or another," she explained, citing conflicts in the Middle East and Northern
Ireland as examples.

Although some people feel ordinary citizens cannot create social or
political change, she suggested that advocacy through writing letters to
governmental officials and speaking to elected leaders can be effective.
Calling for an end to military action or urging more active involvement of
the United Nations may bring a just and peaceful settlement to a major
conflict.

Ringler urged United Methodists to work for a just resolution to war and
other conflicts during the observance of this year's Peace with Justice
Sunday on May 30. 

"This is the only scheduled Sunday in the life of the United Methodist
Church where peace with justice issues are highlighted and the biblical
vision of shalom (peace) is brought into the worship setting," said Ringler.
It is one of the six churchwide special Sundays with offering.

Half of the Peace with Justice offering remains in the annual (regional)
conference to fund peace and justice ministries there. The churchwide
portion supports national and international ministries of reconciliation,
justice and advocacy.  
 
Recipients of the church's 1999 Peace with Justice grants, made this spring
with money from last year's offering, include a program of the North Georgia
Annual Conference that provides pastoral care and advocacy for crime
victims, and an Arkansas children's ministry to teach peace-building skills
to children. Funds were also given to the Jubilee 2000/USA campaign, which
seeks debt forgiveness for impoverished countries by the year 2000, and the
Rugmark Foundation-USA, a group working to end child bondage in the
hand-knotted carpet industry abroad. 

Worship materials are available in the April issue of Interpreter magazine.
Free Peace with Justice Offering materials can be ordered from United
Methodist Communications, PO Box 320, Nashville, TN 37202; toll-free
telephone, (800) 862-3242.  

For more information about Peace with Justice Sunday and the Peace with
Justice Program, contact Ringler at the Board of Church and Society, 100
Maryland Ave. NE, Washington, DC 20002; phone: (202) 488-5647; e-mail:
dringler@umc-gbcs.org.

# # #

* Bryant is the program director of communications and associate editor of
Christian Social Action magazine for the United Methodist Board of Church
and Society.

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