wfn.org | Church's social action board speaks against war

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March 21, 2003	      News media contact: Joretta Purdue7(202)
546-87227Washington	10-21-71BI{164}

HERNDON, Va. (UMNS) - The board of the United Methodist Church's
international advocacy and social action agency called for peace less than 24
hours after President Bush declared the "early stages of military operations
to disarm Iraq" under way.

In the March 20 opening session of the Board of Church and Society's
semi-annual meeting, the board approved a statement expressing "deep sorrow
and regret over the pre-emptive attack on Iraq."

"The invasion marks a new military posture by the United States of America,"
the brief statement said. "Around the world, people remain deeply divided
over the legitimacy of this war and concerned about its spiritual and
temporal costs and consequences."

Voting members of the board, one of 14 agencies of the denomination, then
listed the subjects of their prayers: "the safety of military personnel,"
"the people of Iraq and others in the region," "Christian Peacemaking Teams
who remain in Baghdad," and "the president of the United States and leaders
of the United Nations as they seek to bring an end to war."

The lay and clergy church members from around the world wrote that they
"deplore war" and "urge peaceful settlement of all disputes among nations,"
quoting Paragraph 164G in the denomination's Social Principles. 

The Social Principles are found in the Book of Discipline and Book of
Resolutions. They represent the stand of the church as expressed by the
General Conference, the only entity that speaks for the entire denomination.
The legislative assembly meets every four years, and will gather again in
2004 in Pittsburgh.

"Respecting those who now support the use of force against Iraq and honoring
those who will not let us become complacent about war, we pray for the day
'when there will be no more war and people will live together in peace and
justice,'" the Board of Church and Society said, using words from Paragraph
165C.
# # #
The complete statement follows:
March 20, 2003

A Statement on the Iraq War

The General Board of Church and Society

(The following statement was adopted by the General Board of Church and
Society at 3:00PM Eastern) 

The General Board of Church and Society expresses deep sorrow and regret over
the preemptive attack on Iraq.	The invasion marks a new military posture by
the United States of America.  Around the world people remain deeply divided
over the legitimacy of this war and concerned about its spiritual and
temporal costs and consequences.  We pray for its swift conclusion so that
the work of reconstruction and peacemaking can begin.  We pray for the safety
of military personnel now in great danger and for their families and loved
ones.  We pray for the people of Iraq and others in the region who experience
displacement, destruction, and death.  We pray for members of Christian
Peacemaking Teams who remain in Baghdad as a witness to peace.	We pray for
the President of the United States and leaders of the United Nations as they
seek to bring an end to war.  We "deplore war" and continue to "urge peaceful
settlement of all disputes among nations" (164(G) of the Book of Discipline
of the United Methodist Church).  Respecting those who now support the use of
force against Iraq and honoring those who will not let us become complacent
about war, we pray for the day "when there will be no more war and people
will live together in peace and justice"  (165(C) of the Book of Discipline).
 In the name of Jesus we will "let the peace of Christ rule" (Colossians
3:15) in our hearts as we seek to be "peacemakers." (Matthew 5:9)
 
Only General Conference speaks for the entire denomination. The General Board
of Church and Society is the international social witness and advocacy agency
of The United Methodist Church, charged by General Conference to "conduct a
program of research, education, and action on the wide range of issues that
confront the church.  It shall speak its convictions, interpretations and
concerns to the church and to the world."

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United Methodist News Service
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