wfn.org | Looking for Peace, Justice Marks NCC Assembly Statement

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NCC11/15/01 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LONGING FOR PEACE, JUSTICE MARKS NCC ASSEMBLY STATEMENT

         November 15, 2001, OAKLAND, Calif. - A longing for peace with 
justice marks the statement "Out of the Ashes and Tragedy of Sept. 11, 
2001," adopted today at the National Council of Churches' annual General 
Assembly, meeting here Nov. 13-15.

         Delegates from the NCC's 36 Protestant and Orthodox member 
communions, in the three-page statement, lamented the suffering, death and 
grief unleashed upon the United States on Sept. 11.

At the same time, they expressed their concern at the subsequent attacks in 
the United States on people of Middle Eastern and Central and Southern 
Asian background, and detention of some people "presumably because of 
possible linkages to terrorist activities."  And they expressed their alarm 
that "as violence escalates, the pre-existing humanitarian crisis in 
Afghanistan reaches horrendous proportions."

Delegates stopped short of calling for an immediate end to the bombing 
campaign in Afghanistan, but called "for an early end to the bombing 
campaign and for all parties to collaborate with the international 
community to discern non-violent means that may be available by which to 
bring to justice those who terrorize the nations of the world."

They further urged:

* "the U.S. government and other governments to ensure the protection of 
human rights and fundamental freedoms and to treat all peoples with 
dignity, respect, and tolerance irrespective of religion, race, ethnicity 
or color."
* "the United States to play a constructive role within the framework of 
the United Nations in establishing institutions of a post-war Afghan 
government that are broadly based, respectful of their traditions and 
acceptable to the people of Afghanistan."
* "the United States to make a long-term commitment to the region with a 
view to promoting harmonious relationships, economic development and 
lasting peace."

"We believe that no nation can feel secure by itself if others are 
insecure," they said.  "Similarly, military security does not ensure 
economic security.  Nor can there by true security without adequate food, 
water, health care, sanitation or shelter.  The challenge for those who 
seek justice and peace is to reinforce the intimate connections between 
economic, political, cultural and physical security.  Such a challenge is 
pertinent to the current situation in Afghanistan and should be taken up by 
the United Nations in its effort to broker a post-war Afghanistan 
government with the active participation of Russia and the United States 
and the countries surrounding Afghanistan: China, Iran, Pakistan, 
Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan."

The Assembly encouraged the NCC's member communions and their congregations 
"to undertake open dialogue on questions of peace and justice seeking to 
build stronger multi-faith communities of tolerance and mutual 
understanding, and to renew our commitment of the churches in the ministry 
of peace with justice."

The resolution appeals to the NCC's member communions and the general 
public to contribute generously to the Church World Service 
Afghanistan/Pakistan Appeal for $6.28 million designated for food and 
shelter for Afghan refugees and internally displaced.  CWS, the NCC's 
global service and witness ministry, has been active in Central and 
Southern Asia for decades.

The full text of "Out of the Ashes and Tragedy of Sept. 11, 2001" follows 
(or, in some versions of this story, accompanies it).

         The assembly's reflections on Sept. 11 and its aftermath extended 
to the impact of that day's events on an already declining U.S. economy and 
to the "poor among us, the newly unemployed and the hundreds of thousands 
in our land whose lives, already deeply stressed by poverty, will now 
become even more difficult."

         In a second, resolution titled "For the Faithful Living of These 
Days," delegates unanimously declared that "together we can and must draw 
upon our deep religious resources to address the needs of the most 
vulnerable among us."

         They pledged and invited others to practice "daily attention to 
Scripture and prayer in the active search for the leading of the Holy 
Spirit, immediate attention to the unmet needs in our communities for food, 
shelter, clothing, comfort and meaningful work, weekly observance of a day 
of fasting in which we modify our patterns of consumption and pray for the 
poor and give whatever we save to the needy, (and) regular donations of 
food, money, time and talent to community pantries, food kitchens and 
places of refuge and hope for the poor."

         The Assembly noted that, under provisions of the 1996 welfare law, 
people will soon begin to exhaust their lifetime eligibility for public 
assistance.  Unemployment insurance may run out for others before they are 
able to find new jobs.

Accordingly, the delegates urged church members and others to "call upon 
local, state and federal agencies to 'stop the clock' on eligibility 
terminations of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), 
unemployment insurance, food stamps and health care."

         The call to prayer and fasting picked up on a point raised by the 
Rev. Dr. Robert W. Edgar, NCC General Secretary, in his report to the 
General Assembly on Wednesday.

         "Each of us has come to this gathering in the shadow of September 
11, struggling with how we think and feel and with how to respond," Dr. 
Edgar said.  "This may be a time to learn from our Muslim brothers and 
sisters about daily prayer and fasting," especially as Muslims observe 
Ramadan and Christians approach Advent and Christmas.  He noted others 
issuing similar calls, including Richard Mouw from Fuller Seminary, Jim 
Wallis from Call to Renewal and Rabbi David Saperstein from the Religious 
Action Center of Reform Judaism.

Dr. Edgar, in his report to the General Assembly, also described the 
ecumenical movement's vocation "to be builders of the future."  In the 
Council, that is happening through participation in building Habitat for 
Humanity houses and work to build a new, more broadly inclusive ecumenical 
entity.  He also emphasized the importance of work against poverty and for 
peace with justice - in particular, better understanding among Christians 
and Muslims.

Also at General Assembly:

* Delegates declared the NCC's commitment to work for improvements in three 
programs crucial to low-income people -- Temporary Assistance to Needy 
Families (TANF) and Related Programs, the Food Stamp Program and the Child 
Care and Development Block Grant - all coming up for reauthorization in 
2002.  The purpose of these and related programs "should be the reduction 
and elimination of poverty, not merely the reduction of caseloads," they said.

* Delegates expressed appreciation for a proposed "Resolution on Sudan," 
developed by the NCC's Church World Service ministry in close working 
relationship with the Sudan Council of Churches, operational in northern 
Sudan, and the New Sudan Council of Churches, operational in southern 
Sudan.  They asked for time to review the resolution in their communions, 
asking the NCC's Executive Board to take up the resolution at its February 
2002 meeting.

* The Rev. John L. McCullough, Executive Director of Church World Service, 
the NCC's international service and witness ministry, described CWS 
response following Sept. 11 with training in pastoral and spiritual care 
for pastors and other caregivers across the United States, and with a $6.28 
program of shelter and food kits for Afghan refugees and internally 
displaced.

In the past year, CWS also has provided humanitarian assistance following 
earthquakes, floods, hurricanes and other natural disasters. CWS is at work 
for Middle East peace, engaged in dialogue with government on appropriate 
ways to work together to meet human need, and collaborating with more than 
2,000 partners in more than 80 countries in emergency response, development 
and refugee assistance, the Rev. McCullough said.

* Angela Glover Blackwell of Oakland, a vice chair of the Children's 
Defense Fund Board and convenor of the Black Community Crusade for 
Children, a CDF initiative, thanked the NCC for its support of the "Act to 
Leave No Child Behind," proposed comprehensive legislation that seeks to 
ensure children's well-being.  She also described her work to build strong 
communities, "so important" for children.

* Heard a report from an NCC delegation visit to Chile, Argentina and 
Uruguay;  participated in a worship service led by four Bay Area children; 
heard a stirring keynote presentation by Dr. Tony Campolo, who called his 
listeners to work to end poverty and to root their work soundly in 
Scripture, and honored outgoing NCC President Andrew Young.

Dr. Muzzamil Siddiqi, Director of the Islamic Society of Orange County and 
Immediate Past President of the Islamic Society of North America, was 
scheduled to address the Assembly on Thursday morning, but was prevented 
from coming by flight delays.

-end-