| Bishop urges restraint in Iraq crisis By Joretta Perdue United Methodist News Service  The president of the United Methodist Council of Bishops has written to President George W. Bush, a fellow church member, urging him to seek every opportunity to disarm Iraq without resorting to war. Bishop Sharon A. Brown Christopher released two letters Feb. 6, one to Bush, addressing the crisis with Iraq, and the other to 9.8 million United Methodists around the world, encouraging them to join in prayer.  In her letter to Bush, Christopher said that as the president of the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church and, therefore, one of your pastors, I write to you, a fellow United Methodist, because of the awesome burden that rests on your shoulders in these days. The human community stands at an intersection of decision that will shape its common life and international relations for years to come, she said. In your hands rests in large part the path we will follow. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel of peace, the bishop continued. It calls us to transcend political ideology and national interests to act on behalf of the welfare of the whole human family. She commended Bush for his careful work within the processes of the United Nations and urged him to stay the course, seeking every opportunity to disarm Iraq without resorting to war and looking for every peaceful way of protecting the world and our nation against the tyranny manifest around the globe.  Saddam Husseins tyranny has been demonstrated, Christopher said. He must be held accountable. At the same time, Christopher asked the president to consider the potential suffering and loss of life among the military personnel and the men, women and children of Iraq. I beseech you to listen to the voice of hundreds of thousands of Americans and citizens of other countries who demonstrate for peace and ask your utmost restraint, she said. Her letter to United Methodists throughout the world explains that the Council of Bishops feels called by faith in the Prince of Peace and by the denominations highest legislative body to speak to the church and from the church to the world. The Council of Bishops urges you to join us in prayer, she wrote. World-shaping and life-shaping decisions will be made in the coming days and weeks that require Gods gbwc_superuserance. | 
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