Contact: Vince Isner
Program Director, Communications
Phone )202) 488-5631
Fax (202) 488-1617
email: visner@umc-gbcs.org

March 20, 2003

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.”