A
Resolution Concerning A Christian Response to War
Approved
by the 204th Annual Meeting, June 6-7, 2003, Mount Holyoke College.
Proposed by the Commission for Mission and Justice Ministries
WHEREAS the 204th Annual Meeting of the Massachusetts
Conference of the United Church of Christ takes note of the
large number of current and impending violent conflicts throughout
God's world, and
WHEREAS, as disciples of the Prince of Peace
and as Christians who have been called to live out a vocation
of reconciliation, we acknowledge with humility our duty to
pray for, seek out, advocate and work for those things which
make for peace, and
WHEREAS we are called by Jesus to “love
our enemies” and by St. Paul to “contend with the
powers and principalities” “wearing the whole armor
of God” and wielding the tools of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians
6.12f), and
WHEREAS Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. aptly
asserted that “The past is prophetic in that it asserts
loudly that wars are poor chisels for carving out peaceful
tomorrows. One day we must come to see that peace is not a
merely distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive
at that goal” (attributed), and
WHEREAS Isaiah prophesized “and they
shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into
pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war anymore.” (Isaiah 2:4)
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the 204th Annual
Meeting of the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church
of Christ
- recommits as Christians to working for and promoting the
peaceful resolution of all violent conflicts, in our own
nation and worldwide
- believes that all peaceful possibilities and options for
resolution of conflicts should be exhausted before resorting
to war
- continues to believe that we are called as a nation to
vigorously and diligently pursue diplomatic, financial, educational
and intelligence strategies that are non-violent in cooperation
with other countries and international bodies in the face
of conflict and potential conflict
- passionately and faithfully affirms the personal and corporate
Christian vocation as peacekeepers, peacemakers, and reconcilers
in the name of Christ that we might shine God's light into
the darkness and bring Christ's healing into the brokenness
of this world; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the 204th Annual
Meeting of the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church
of Christ reaffirms previous General Synod and Annual Meeting
Resolutions that we are a Just Peace Church; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the 204th Annual
Meeting of the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church
of Christ urges the Commission for Mission and Justice Ministries
of the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ
to institute educational and action programs concerning the
issues implicit in this resolution as financing is available;
and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the 204th Annual
Meeting of the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church
of Christ requests that its Minister and President send copies
of this resolution to appropriate world, national, and local
leaders.
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