wfn.org | WCC FEATURE: Sep. 21 Re-commitment to peace with justice

["WCC Media" <Media@wcc-coe.org>]

World Council of Churches - Feature
Contact: + 41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363 media@wcc-coe.org 
For immediate release - 17/09/2004

 RE-COMMITMENT TO PEACE WITH JUSTICE

			     By HH Aram I (*)

					 Free photos available  see below.

The United Nations has called on all member states to observe 21 September
as the International Day of Peace. In the framework of its Decade to
Overcome Violence, the World Council of Churches, associating itself with
the international community, has called on its member churches to observe
the same day as an International Day of Prayer for Peace.

Peace is a gift of God to humanity through the Incarnation of Christ. The
birth of Christ was announced by the angels as the restoration of peace in
this world. A God-given reality cannot be usurped by man. This is a sin
against God.

Peace is a divine promise. It will be granted to those who are ready to
accept it in humanity and obedience, and to preserve, enhance and enrich it
as a sacred treasure.

Peace is also a God-given mission that must be fulfilled. Hence,
peace-making is integral to the Christian vocation. It is an essential
dimension of the proclamation of the Gospel.

Peace primarily means respect for life. This requires us to renounce
violence against life and to preserve its sacredness and integrity.

Peace means doing justice. Justice is a sine qua non condition for peace.
It is the only way to peace. True and permanent peace is undergirded by
justice.

Peace means accepting each other the way we are, by respecting our
differences and seeking common goals and values in the midst of
differences.

Peace means building community by recognizing the rights and obligations of
each other, and promoting creative interaction and coherent relationships.

Peace does not mean that enemies are conquered; it means that enmity is
overcome through mutual understanding and trust.

Peace does not mean absence of conflict, but right relationships with God,
with neighbours, and with the creation. Peace prevails wherever and
whenever there is freedom in truth (John 14:16), equality in justice (Col.
4:1), and harmony in life (1 John 4:8).

A vision of true peace rejects unilateralism and promotes multi-lateralism
It rejects all "ism"s that ignore the God-given gift of life, dignity,
justice and freedom. It rejects all forms of governance that deny
participation and community.

A vision of true peace strives for a society governed by the rule of law
and sustained by basic moral values and fundamental human rights.

In a world torn apart by the rhetoric of hate, mistrust and alienation, the
churches must become more vigorously engaged in peacemaking.

Religions are challenged to work together for a just, participatory and
morally sustainable society. They are urged to promote dialogue among
civilizations, cultures and religions by leading humanity from a culture of
death to a culture of life, from a culture of violence to a culture of
peace.

Religions must support the United Nations in its attempt to transform its
peace-keeping mandate into a peace-building mission. Such a mission implies
addressing seriously the root causes of violence, hate and distrust, which
have become dominant features of contemporary societies. It also implies
advocating for justice by eradicating all forms of poverty, racism and
ignorance.

This is the way to build peace.

The International Day of Prayer for Peace is a day of prayer and hope. It
is also a day of re-committing ourselves to a global covenant for building
peace with justice.

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God"
(Matt. 5:9).

(*) His Holiness Aram I is Catholicos of Cilicia (Armenian Apostolic
Church) and moderator of the WCC Central Committee.

A free high resolution photo of the author is available at:
www.wcc-coe.org > press corner > Bios & Photos

Additional information: Juan Michel,+41 22 791 6153  +41 79 507 6363
	 media@wcc-coe.org 

Sign up for WCC press releases at
http://onlineservices.wcc-coe.org/pressnames.nsf

 The World Council of Churches is a fellowship of churches, now 342, in
 more than 120 countries in all continents from virtually all Christian
 traditions. The Roman Catholic Church is not a member church but works
 cooperatively with the WCC. The highest governing body is the assembly,
 which meets approximately every seven years. The WCC was formally
 inaugurated in 1948 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Its staff is headed by
 general secretary Samuel Kobia from the Methodist church in Kenya.