| Bishops Council president addresses possible war Dear United Methodist Sisters and Brothers in Faith: As president of the Council of Bishops, I write to you with a sense of urgency about the present perilous state of our world. I do so because 1) the Gospel of peace needs to be heard; 2) our United Methodist Social Principles offer gbwc_superuserance, and 3) our General Conference expects the Council of Bishops to speak to the Church and from the Church to the world. Nothing could be clearer than that the Gospel of Christ is a Gospel of peace. Jesus rejects the violent response to evil. He who takes the sword will perish by the sword. Jesus, speaking to us about a new way of living, proclaims that peacemakers are blessed and that they will be called children of God. He moves the standard even higher by urging us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Paul tells us that we are not to return evil for evil, but are to overcome evil with good. Our General Conference, on the basis of these Gospel teachings, declares: Some nations possess more military and economic power than do others. Upon the powerful rests responsibility to exercise their wealth and influence with restraint.... We believe war is incompatible with the teachings and example of Christ. We therefore reject war as a usual instrument of national foreign policy and insist that the first moral duty of all nations is to resolve by peaceful means every dispute that arises between or among them. Without question, Saddam Hussein is in gross violation of numerous United Nations resolutions, and President Bush is to be commended for calling the United Nations to accountability on this score. The United States and the United Nations should take the steps necessary to ensure compliance. But a preemptive war by the United States against a nation like Iraq goes against the very grain of our understanding of the Gospel, our churchs teachings, and our conscience. A preemptive strike does not reflect restraint and does not allow for the adequate pursuit of peaceful means for resolving conflict. To be silent in the face of such a prospect is not an option for followers of Christ. There is no question that President Husseins demonstrated behavior leaves any thoughtful person horrified by his treatment of his own citizens and the citizens of Iraqs neighboring countries. However, ours has been historically a church seeking peace, justice, and reconciliation. Even as we acknowledge the need for military action as a means of self-defense demanded by highly unusual circumstances, our primary allegiance is to what we understand the basics of the Gospel of Jesus Christ require of us grace, mercy, peace, justice, and love. So, I call all of us to prayer. Pray for the leaders of the nations, many of whom bear the name of Christ, that they may truly be led by the spirit of Christ as crucial decisions are made. Write and phone them, letting them know of your deep concern. Especially lift your prayers for United Methodists President Bush and Vice-President Cheney, that they may truly seek the will of God in Christ as they make awesome decisions of life and death, war and peace. In Christ,
Sharon A. Brown Christopher | 
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