From Creating a Culture of Peace
As Episcopalians living at the start of the 21st Century, we can clearly identify the prophetic voice of Christ as a source of inspiration and encouragement in our own faith tradition. The Episcopal Church, and wider Anglican Communion, inspires us to be nonviolent peacemakers in all areas of our lives – from our daily social interactions and relationships, to taking a stand on national issues of Justice and Peace.
The Baptismal Covenant. The Book Of Common Prayer
As Episcopalians, we pledge to “strive for Justice and Peace” at Baptism:
Celebrant: Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?
People: I will, with God’s help
It is our understanding that we as Christians are called to serve God in everything we do. Everything - with no exceptions, whether you are considering military service, working in war-related industry, supporting the military through your federal taxes, or simply defining your own stand on the issues of war and peace.
Peace and Justice Collects:
Almighty God, who created us in your own image: Grant us
grace fearlessly to contend against evil and to make no peace
with oppression; and, that we may reverently use our freedom,
help us to employ it in the maintenance of justice in our
communities and among the nations, to the glory of your holy
Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. BCP
Almighty God, kindle, we pray, in every heart the true love of
peace, and guide with your wisdom those who take counsel
for the nations of the earth, that in tranquillity your dominion
may increase until the earth is filled with the knowledge of your
love; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with
you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for
ever. Amen. (BCP)
“Cross Before Flag” contains The Episcopal Church and the world-wide Anglican Communion’s statements that address the concerns of war, peace, and violence in the 20th and 21st centuries, and their efforts to declare God’s Word in a world that still sanctions war and killing and violence. Below are some edited highlights.
As you read these statements, listen for God’s word to you. We hope they may inspire you in the EPF’s “Creating a Culture of Peace” Training that lies ahead of you!
(From Cross Before Flag: Episcopal Statements on War & Peace – available for order on-line at www.epfnational.org)
On War –
“War, as a method of settling international disputes, is incompatible with the teaching and example of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Lambeth Conference 1930
“Nothing less than the abolition of war itself should be the goal of nations, their leaders, and all citizens.”
Lambeth Conference 1958
On the Right of Conscientious Objection –
“It is the concern of the Church to uphold and extend the right of conscientious objection, and to oppose persistently the claim that total war or the use of weapons however ruthless or indiscriminate can be justified by results.”
Lambeth Conference 1968
That War May be Abolished -
“ We solemnly commit ourselves as members of a Christian Church to use every consistent means to the end that war may be abolished…”
General Convention 1922
The Cross Is Above the Flag
“An excess of nationalism or an attitude of detached concern for the ills of other nations, together with the building up of an armed force beyond reasonable national needs, deprives us of anyh opportunity to be a conserver of the world’s peace. Love of country must be qualified by love of mankind; patriotism is subordinate to religion. The Cross is above the Flag….”
House of Bishops 1933
On Preventive War
“Believers in a God of Justice and Love as revealed in Christ cannot concede that war is inevitable…we unalterably oppose the idea of so-called “preventive war.“
General Convention 1952
Christians are called to be Peacemakers
“Because of the nature of Christian faith, Christians have an imperative obligation to pray and work for peace among all men and nations. Questions of war and peace are not remote peripheral concerns for the committed Christian; they grow out of our basic understanding of man and his destiny which are inherent in the Christian revelation.”
House of Bishops 1962
On Nonviolence
“The Episcopal Church calls Christian People everywhere…to engage themselves in nonviolent action for justice and peace, and to support others so engaged….”
General Convention 1982
“That each congregation of the Episcopal Church become a model for peacemaking in our violent society by encouraging its members to commit themselves to nonviolent and peaceable behavior in their relationships with others at school, at work, at church, in the community, and wherever they find themselves….”
General Convention 2000
“The Episcopal Church….develop specific plans at national, provincial, and diocesan levels in the next triennium for the church to live into a culture of nonviolence which values love, compassion, and justice, and which rejects violence as a means of solving problems.”
General Convention 2002
Heroes and Heroines of Peace & Nonviolence in the Episcopal Church & wider Anglican Communion number in the many thousands – from both clergy & laity struggling on a daily basis in poor and violence-torn parishes in the United States & across the globe, to leaders in internationally recognized peace movements – including:-
* ARCHBISHOP DESMOND TUTU; BISHOP PAUL JONES; DR MARGARET CORNELIA MORGAN LAWRENCE; JANET CHISHOLM; JONATHAN MYRICK DANIELS; REV NAIM ATEEK; REV SEIICHI MICHAEL YASUTAKE
Detailed biographies on the above Episcopal Peacemakers can be found in the Nonviolence Training section on-line atwww.epfnational.org
ECUSA Resolutions on the Iraq War & Nonviolence
A. July 2000 General Convention
1. Resolution on a Pledge of Nonviolence:-
Resolved: That each congregation of the Episcopal Church become a model for peace making in our violent society by encouraging its members to commit to nonviolent and peaceable behavior in their relationships with others – at home, at school, at work, at church, in the community, and wherever they find themselves; and be it further
Resolved: That every congregation also encourages its members to adopt the pledge of Nonviolence as it comes from the Institute of Peace and Justice, St Louis Missouri:
Making peace must start within ourselves. I commit myself:
* To become, with God’s help, a nonviolent and peaceable person.
* To respect myself, to affirm others and avoid uncaring criticism, hateful words, physical attacks, and self-destructive behavior.
* To share my feelings honestly, to look for safe ways to express my angerand to work at solving problems peacefully.
2. Resolution on the Decade for a Culture of Peace and Nonviolence
Resolved: That the Episcopal Church promote a culture of nonviolence which values love, compassion, and justice, and rejects violence as a means of solving problems and join with other faith communities in observing the United Nations’ Decade for a Culture of Peace and Nonviolence for the World (2001-2010) by prayer, action, and study of “the things that make for peace” (Luke 19:42) and be it further
Resolved: That the Episcopal Church at national, provincial, diocesan, and congregational levels, with the assistance of Church staff and peace, justice, and education networks, provide worship, study, and action resources and opportunities throughout the Decade which promote the development of a culture of peace and nonviolence at all levels of society, with special attention to the unique gifts for peace and justice of the faith community in its history, theology, and practice; and be it further
Resolved: That the Secretary of General Convention send this resolution with letters of encouragement in their work for peace and justice to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches, the President of the United States, and Episcopal Members of Congress.
B. General Convention 2003
Resolved: That the Episcopal Church develop specific plans at national, provincial, and diocesan levels in the next triennium for the church to live into a culture of nonviolence which values love, compassion, and justice, and which rejects violence as a means of solving problems; and be it further
Resolved, That curricula in nonviolence awareness and training be promoted for use in dioceses and congregations; and be it further
Resolved: That the results of these plans be compiled by the Office of Peace and Justice and presented to the General Convention in 2006
C. Executive Council Resolution – February 2005
The following a resolution that was adopted by the Executive Council at its meeting on February 11-14, 2005 in Austin, Texas at which a quorum was present and voting.
Resolved: That the Executive Council meeting in Austin, Texas, commend to the whole church the Episcopal Peace Fellowship’s new training in Creative Peacemaking and urge Dioceses and congregations consider how such training might help Episcopalians address the culture of violence in their homes, their workplaces, their congregations and our society at large.
RESOLUTIONS SPONSORED BY THE EPF AT GENERAL CONVENTION 2006
FINAL VERSION – Concurred
Resolution D018
Title: Active Nonviolence Training
Topic: Peace
Committee: Education
House of Initial Action: Bishops
Proposer: The Rev. William E. Exner (New Hampshire)
Resolved, That the 75th General Convention urge the provinces, dioceses, congregations, and institutions of The Episcopal Church to adopt and support for the next triennium nonviolence training for personal and social change, to advance the mission priorities of Congregational Transformation and Justice and Peace; and be it further
Resolved, That each Episcopal diocese be encouraged to make available active nonviolence training to congregations and institutions, to assist them in addressing conflicts, controversies, and divisions; to respond to violence, oppression, and injustice at all levels, including issues of racism, social and economic injustice, crime, and domestic violence; and where possible to create trainings that represent a diversity of perspectives within communities, including intergenerational trainings for youth/young adults with adults; and be it further
Resolved, That each diocese be invited to identify candidates to attend training to become training facilitators in the diocese.
FINAL VERSION – Concurred
Resolution D020
Title: End the War in Iraq
Topic: Warfare
Committee: National and International Concerns
House of Initial Action: Bishops
Proposer: The Rev. William E. Exner (New Hampshire)
Resolved, That the 75th General Convention of The Episcopal Church affirm the conclusion of the October 1, 2002 letter of the House of Bishops to members of Congress, stating that the conditions of the “Just War” tradition have not been met in the national government’s decision to attack the nation of Iraq; and be it further
Resolved, That the General Convention of The Episcopal Church call upon the Congress and the President to immediately develop for implementation a plan for the stabilization of Iraq, to be followed by the prompt withdrawal of U.S. Armed Forces from Iraq, to provide for transfer of peacekeeping functions to an international peacekeeping force, to work through international and Iraqi organizations in the reconstruction of Iraq’s civil and economic infrastructure, and for the full restoration of Iraqi sovereignty; and be it further
Resolved, That the 75th General Convention call on The Episcopal Church to acknowledge and confess that our government’s participation in the war in Iraq has resulted in individual and global injustices including passive acceptance of the loss of our military personnel, lack of support and care for those returning home, indifference to the loss of countless Iraqi citizens, silent response to atrocities, illegal confinement without representation or formal charges and torture; and be it further
Resolved, That the 75th General Convention call on The Episcopal Church to request the Ecumenical and Interfaith Officer to step-up dialogue with the Iraqi Muslim and Christian community to work toward nonviolent resolutions to conflict; and be it further
Resolved, That the 75th General Convention, as a community of faith committed to reconciliation and nonviolence taught in the gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ, direct the Presiding Bishop and the Executive Council to encourage wide use of Christian formation materials that stress nonviolent methods to conflict resolution and change; and be it further
Resolved, That the 75th General Convention request the Standing Liturgical Commission to commission prayers and liturgies to be used in time of war, and that the General Convention call on Episcopalians to honor and support, through their prayers and actions, the armed service men and women who return home with injuries to body, mind, and spirit that they might be restored to wholeness of life and assisted in recovering from injury and trauma; and be it further
Resolved, That the 75th General Convention call on all Episcopalians to honor through their prayers and actions the men and women who conscientiously serve their country and especially those who have been killed and wounded; and be it further
Resolved, That the 75th General Convention call upon all Episcopalians as an act of penitence, to oppose and resist through advocacy, protest, and electoral action the continuation of the war in Iraq, and encourage the President and Congress to take proactive steps to end our participation as soon as possible.
EXPLANATION
On October 1, 2002, the House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church sent a letter to members of Congress in which they argued that the conditions for a just war had not been met in the national government’s decision to attack the nation of Iraq. Nevertheless, the Armed Forces of the United States invaded Iraq in 2003, based upon the assertion by the national government that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction which presented a threat to the U.S. No such weapons were ever found. And on January 12, 2005, the President officially declared an end to the search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.
More than 2,400 members of the United States Armed Forces have been killed as part of the ongoing combat operations in Iraq. The Defense Department’s official tally of US wounded as of April 28, 2006 was 17,648 . Independent estimates of US wounded range from 15,000 to 48,100. Various estimates place the number of unarmed, innocent Iraqi civilians killed as part of the ongoing combat operations in Iraq between 38,000 and 100,000.
The very presence of 150,000 American troops in Iraq is resented by the majority of the Iraqi population, fueling the insurgency and contributing to the continuing instability. A majority of the people in both the United States and Iraq favor the withdrawal of U.S. armed forces from Iraq.
We certainly recognize that faithful Christians of good will may disagree with one another when it comes to questions of national policy. We trust, however, that all Christians will pray and work for peace, remembering the words, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
Several measures are being considered in Congress that propose various timelines for withdrawal, many with bi-partisan support. We would urge the adoption of one or more of them as soon as possible.
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