wfn.org | GAC calls for U.S. restraint on Iraq

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Note #7449 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

28-September-2002
02375

GAC calls for U.S. restraint on Iraq

Council urges Presbyterians to witness - and work - for peace

by John Filiatreau

LOUISVILLE - The General Assembly Council (GAC) on Saturday issued a "call to
prayer and action," urging Presbyterians to oppose a precipitate U.S. attack
on Iraq and the Bush administration's "new doctrine of pre-emptive military
action."

During its fall meeting here, the council overwhelmingly endorsed a statement
approved by the staff leadership team of the Presbyterian Church (USA) on
Sept. 18, calling on members of the denomination to:

* Pray that the leaders of the United States, Iraq and the United Nations
"may receive the wisdom that leads to peace, not war," and will commit
themselves to "the rebuilding of the lives, communities and nations that
already have been destroyed by war";

* Pray that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein will "cooperate fully as U.N.
weapons inspectors prepare to re-enter Iraq" and "stop the oppression of his
own people and threats of violence against neighboring states";

* Pray for "all who are fearful over the prospect of war, especially the
families of all who will be placed in harm's way in the event of military
action";

* Pray for the Iraqi people, who have been "victimized by a repressive
government" and "devastated by more than a decade of destructive and
ineffectual economic sanctions";

* "Urge restraint on the part of our own government," by communicating to
members of Congress the policies of the General Assembly and "our desire for
negotiated solutions to international problems rather than resort to military
violence."

The statement also calls upon President George W. Bush, as well as the vice
president, the secretaries of state and defense, the attorney general, the
national security advisor and Congressional leaders, to:

* "Speak in ways that encourage peace, rather than war, and refrain from
language that seems to label certain individuals and nations as 'evil' and
others as 'good'";

* Oppose ethnic and religious stereotyping, "affirming the value of all U.S.
citizens and others ... who embrace the visions of peace found in Islam and
other faith traditions";

* Guard against "a unilateralism, rooted in our unique position of political,
economic and military power, that perpetuates the perception that 'might
makes right'";

* Allow the decisions of the United Nations on weapons inspections in Iraq
"to run the appropriate course, without undue pressure or threats of
pre-emptive, unilateral action";

* End the economic sanctions against Iraq, "which have been an ineffectual
weapon against Saddam Hussein, but have done untold damage to the Iraqi
people."

Finally, the GAC statement encourages Presbyterians to consult resources on
the PC(USA)'s Web site - www.pcusa.org - "as a help in determining how God is
leading each to respond to this international crisis."

In support of the recommendations, the statement cites policies on Iraq
adopted by past General Assemblies calling for the lifting of the economic
sanctions; safeguards "to prevent the government of Iraq from acquiring or
developing the means of mass destruction"; a "wholehearted" search for "a
negotiated solution based on diplomacy and not violence"; and a decision on
Iraq's part "to redirect its resources from developing and deploying
instruments of destruction to enterprises that will benefit the Iraqi
people."

It notes that a GA-approved statement called Peacemaking: The Believers'
Calling points out, "The church's faithful obedience to its calling means
active participation in the formation of the values and beliefs of our
society ... and exercising our citizenship in the body politic to shape
foreign policy."

It also cites the Confession of 1967, which says in part:

God's reconciliation in Jesus Christ is the ground of the peace, justice and
freedom among nations which all powers of government are called to serve and
defend. ... The church, in its own life, is called to ... commend to the
nations as practical politics the search for cooperation and peace. ...
Reconciliation among nations becomes particularly urgent as countries develop
nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, diverting their manpower and
resources from constructive uses and risking the annihilation of mankind. 

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