wfn.org | LONGING FOR PEACE, JUSTICE MARKS NCC ASSEMBLY STATEMENT

["Nat'l Council of Churches" <nccc_usa@ncccusa.org>]

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.
Contact: NCC News, 212-870-2227
E-mail: news@ncccusa.org; Web: www.ncccusa.org
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 NCCs 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 NCCs 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 NCCs 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 NCCs 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 assemblys reflections on Sept. 11 and its aftermath extended to the
impact of that days 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 movements 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 NCCs 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 NCCs 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
NCCs Executive Board to take up the resolution at its February 2002
meeting.

The Rev. John L. McCullough, Executive Director of Church World Service, the
NCCs 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 Childrens 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 childrens
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-