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Passing this on. Tom
Here is a challenge from American Christians which our churches might reflect upon? Shalom, Deborah War in Iraq and at Home - Adopted June 24, 2004 A Statement of the Association Council Chicago Metropolitan Association Illinois Conference United Church of Christ I. CONFESSION As the members of the Association Council of the Chicago Metropolitan Association of the Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ and as people of God, we confess our complicity and sorrow in the misplaced, vengeful and ideologically driven reaction to the tragedy of September 11, 2001; We have been too silent in the face of national arrogance and greed that places the United States above the family of nations (the United Nations) in our actions; this is evidenced by our government's abrogation of numerous treaties and the Charter of the UN itself, and the decision to privatize Iraqi oil allowing foreign corporations to control Iraqi oil; We have not resisted enough as our nation took up pre-emptive and unilateral war against Iraq, while all rationales for the war have proven false; We have too quickly acquiesced in "eye for an eye" tactics in military operations, leading to enormous disproportion of civilian carnage and widespread destruction; We have tolerated an "anything goes" attitude illustrated graphically by the brutality and torture of Iraqi prisoners held by US forces, dehumanizing both victim and victimizer; We have sat tacitly as reports of US torture, rape, murder and abuse of Iraqi prisoners at the infamous Abu Ghraid prison are continuing to unfold; We have not strenuously enough decried the erosion of civil rights, aimed particularly at Moslems and Arab- Americans, and a new level of secrecy in government seriously jeopardizing the very values and rights and patriotism we seek to defend; We have failed to educate others about the connections between massive poverty and humiliation across the world, particularly in Arab countries, and acts of despair and terror; We have placed upon our children and our children's children the enormous and continuing cost of this war; We have failed, in sum, to be the Church, to be agents of God's peace and reconciliation on earth, to live by the rule of love that casts out fear and to be faithful witnesses of a justice-demanding God.
A II. AFFIRMATIONS We reaffirm the historic position of the United Church of Christ to reject war as a means to establish peace and democracy and security. We reaffirm our confidence in the family of nations and in international institutions and treaties to help solve the problems of our world. We
support the May 11, 2004 Pastoral Letter, signed by Rev. John H. Thomas,
General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ, that calls on
the US to "turn over the transition of authority and post-war
reconstruction to the United Nations - and to recognize US responsibility to
contribute to this effort generously through We call upon all members of the United Church of Christ to pray for peace and advocacy for justice in Iraq and the world. We support US and Coalition troops caught up in a dangerous war amidst hatred, humiliation and violent reaction to foreign occupation, and we acknowledge the special sacrifice of military reservists deployed for long terms and unexpected extensions of duty. III. APPEAL TO THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES We call upon the government of the United States to: · Plan an orderly transfer of power to legitimate Iraqi leadership under UN security arrangements. · Plan an orderly withdrawal of all US forces, including military, contractors (mercenaries) and prison guards, and the closing of all US bases in Iraq, in consultation with the UN. · End the privatization of Iraqi oil, and allow a sovereign Iraq to make all decisions about Iraqi oil and other national resources. · Become a participant in and be subject to the International Court of Justice. · Apologize for any and all instances of violating the Geneva Convention, such as the treatment of Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraid prison, and turn over the investigation and prosecution to the International Court of Justice. · Offer a multi-billion dollar no-strings-attached humanitarian and economic aid package to a sovereign Iraq, with solicitations to all Coalition partners and to all regional governments to join in this effort. · Resume efforts to defend our nation against all threats within the bounds of our own Bill of Rights and stated values. IV. ACTIONS As the Association Council, we commit ourselves and encourage the UCC members and local churches we represent to: · Raise issues of justice and peace to all candidates in the 2004 elections. · Urge UCC members and local churches to contribute to the Olive Branch Appeal for the Iraq Humanitarian Crisis of the Wider Church Ministries of the United Church of Christ. A total of $ 115,000 from the One Great Hour of Sharing offering has been sent to UCC's international partners to respond to the escalating crisis and an additional $300,000 in designated gifts is being sought from UCC members and friends. · Encourage obtaining information about the situation in Iraq from news media other than the major four television networks (ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox) · Light a candle for peace during all services of Holy Communion until a stable peace has been achieved in Iraq. · Provide financial and moral support for Christian Peace Keepers and other observers/workers in Iraq. · Initiate community-wide prayer vigils on September 11, 2004. · Promote intercessory prayer for all nations and persons, military and civilian, involved in the Iraq conflict, in regular worship and in private meditation. · Support community-wide interfaith dialogues between Christians, Jews, Muslims and persons of other faith persuasions. · Pray for peace and advocate for justice in Iraq and around the world. Adopted, this 21st day of June, 2004 - Moderator
Rev. Stephan Hanning
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