wfn.org | Violence in all forms 'contrary to God's purpose,' bishops say

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Nov. 9, 2001 News media contact: Thomas S. McAnally7(615)742-54707Nashville,
Tenn.     10-21-71B{525}

NOTE: The full text of the bishops' pastoral letter follows the close of
this story. For further coverage of the United Methodist Council of Bishops'
meeting, see UMNS stories #520-524.

By Tom McAnally*

LAKE  JUNALUSKA, N.C. (UMNS) --  During the closing hours of their weeklong
meeting Nov. 5-9, the United Methodist Council of Bishops issued a pastoral
letter offering words of "hope and peace" to people struggling with the
consequences and fear of terrorism. 

They also expressed concern for the "thousands of people who live in fear
and terror and those displaced by war and poverty." Violence in all its
forms and expressions is contrary to God's purpose for the world, they
declared. The letter was approved Nov. 9.

Officials of the council issued a statement within hours of the Sept. 11
terrorist attacks, but their semiannual meeting at Lake Junaluska was the
first opportunity for all bishops to explore issues with one another and to
consider what action they should take as "pastors" of the church and its
nearly 10 million members worldwide.  

To accompany the brief pastoral letter, the bishops are planning a list of
resources, developed in cooperation with the top executives of churchwide
agencies. The list, expected soon, will include official statements on war,
peace and terrorism adopted by the 2000 General Conference and found in the
Book of Discipline and Book of Resolutions. The General Conference, a
legislative assembly of nearly 1,000 delegates that meets every four years,
is the only body that can speak officially for the church. 

The bishops voted to ask one of the church's agencies, United Methodist
Communications in Nashville, Tenn., to include a resource guide for the
study of terrorism in the next edition of Interpreter, a magazine sent to
nearly 300,000 pastors and local church officials.

The bishops also voted to ask the United Methodist Publishing House in
Nashville to reissue "In Defense of Creation," a document on nuclear
concerns, which the council produced in 1986.  They asked that the reprinted
document have a new introduction that will explain its relevance to
"America's new war."

In their letter to the church, the bishops call on church members to join
them in prayer for:
7	Those who have lost companions and loved ones.
7	Military chaplains and others who are providing the "ministry of
presence, comfort, healing and hope."
7	Public servants and volunteers.
7	"All who are redemptively reaching out to those persons who have
been erroneously connected to terrorism."
7	People "placed in harm's way and their loved ones."
7	President Bush and leaders of all nations.
7	Innocent victims who have experienced injuries, loss and death.
7	"Those who wish to do harm." 

The bishops called for prayers that "violence, terrorism and war will
cease."

The letter went through several revisions as the bishops debated whether it
should be "pastoral" or "prophetic," or both. Bishop Joe Pennel, leader of
the church's Richmond (Va.) Area, argued "the need for pastoral care right
now is greater than a prophetic word."

He told his colleagues of visiting people at the crash site at the Pentagon
soon after the Sept. 11 attack. "I'm trying to put myself in the place of
those people who will be worshipping on a Sunday morning when this (letter)
is read," he said. "At this point, write what people can hear ... and put
people in touch with the sources of our faith." 

"I could never understand that you can divorce the pastoral and the
prophetic," said Bishop Joseph Sprague of the Chicago Area.  

While people are in a period of grief, they are also in the grip of fear,
observed Bishop Ann Sherer of Missouri. "At some point, we the church must
bear witness to issues such as violence in the Mid East."  

Bishop Kenneth Carder of Mississippi suggested a letter and other resources
that might provide a balance between the pastoral and the prophetic. At some
point, he said, it would be important "to confront the rightful place of
patriotism but also the idolatry of the way we deal with patriotism."

After further revision, the resolutions committee recommended a pastoral
letter with accompanying resources. Bishop Ernest Lyght of New York,
chairman of the resolutions committee, said the letter was kept brief so it
could be read easily from pulpits and included in local church newsletters
and Web sites. 

Much of the debate centered on what should be said for or against the
military action being undertaken by the United States and coalition
countries.

Those who pushed for the letter to be more specific about war included
Angolan Bishop Jose Quipungo. "The letter doesn't need more words; it needs
peace," he said through an interpreter.  "Either we want the war to continue
or we want peace. If we want peace, we need to say, 'Stop the war.' We
should say we want this war to stop and that is our prayer."

"We need to pray that violence, terrorism and war will end," said Bishop
Michael Watson of the church's South Georgia area. "I believe we are in one
accord on that." However, he expressed concern about a phrase in the letter
urging church members to study and work toward alleviating the "root causes
of terrorism." Such language, he said, appears to suggest there is "moral
justification for terrorism."

In the closing of their letter, the bishops call upon the church, leaders,
nations and individuals around the world to "make room for love so that the
patterns of common life might reveal God's justice." 

They then quote the angel in the Christmas story found in Luke 2:10: "Do not
be afraid; for see I am bringing you good news of great joy for all people."

Council members voted to continue their discussion of the issues at their
2002 meeting. The body includes 50 active bishops in the United States, 17
active bishops in Europe, Africa and the Philippines, and about 50 retired
bishops. Only active bishops vote on business matters during the council
meeting. The denomination has 8.4 million members in the United States and
more than 1 million in other countries. Serving a one-year term as president
of the council is Bishop Elias Galvan of Seattle. 

Each bishop agreed to take responsibility for distribution of the letter in
his or her own area. 
# # #
*McAnally is director of United Methodist News Service, the church's
official news agency.

The full text of the letter follows:

A Pastoral Letter to the Whole Church

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Grace and peace be to you in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

The sad and terrible events in the United States of America, on Sept. 11,
2001, and beyond, compel us to speak words of hope and peace to United
Methodist people in the 120 annual conferences in more than 50 countries of
the world. Stunned and shattered by terrorist attacks in the United States
and the threat of bioterrorism, we, your bishops, call upon the church to
join us in seeking solidarity with victimized peoples throughout the world.

Our fervent and constant prayers are for those who grieve because they have
lost companions and loved ones; for military chaplains and for those persons
who are providing the ministry of presence, comfort, healing and hope; for
public servants and countless volunteers who have demonstrated selfless
generosity; for all who are redemptively reaching out to those persons who
have been erroneously connected to terrorism; for the people who have been
placed in harm's way and their loved ones; for President Bush and the
leaders of all the nations that they may have wisdom and courage to lead
people toward justice and peace. We pray for innocent victims who have
experienced injuries, loss and death. We also pray for those who wish to do
harm. We pray that violence, terrorism and war will cease. We ask you to
join us in prayer.

We are extremely concerned for the thousands of people who live in fear and
terror and those displaced by war and poverty. We sincerely believe that
every conceivable effort must be used to protect those who are innocent and
most vulnerable. We are persuaded that we must use the spiritual and human
resources of The United Methodist Church to respond in a loving and caring
way. We commend churches around the world for their contribution to the
appeal, "Love in the Midst of Tragedy," and all other humanitarian
offerings.

We, your bishops, believe that violence in all of its forms and expressions
is contrary to God's purpose for the world. Violence creates fear,
desperation, hopelessness and instability. We call upon the church to be a
community of peace with justice and to support individuals and agencies all
over the world who are working for the common good for all of God's
children. We also call upon the church to study and work toward alleviating
the root causes of poverty and the other social conditions that are
exploited by terrorists.

As people of the resurrection, we believe that peace has been achieved in
Christ; however, this peace is yet to be fully realized in human
relationships. The message of the resurrection is that love is stronger than
all the forces of evil. Furthermore, it is only sacrificial love, not war,
which can reconcile people to God and to each other. We call upon the
church, leaders, nations and individuals around the world to make room for
love so that the patterns of our common life might reveal God's justice.

We offer this letter with the wondrous promise of Advent ringing in our
ears: "But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid; for see I am bringing
to you good news of great joy for all the people.'" (Luke 2:10)

Peace

Bishops of The United Methodist Church

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United Methodist News Service
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