|
Register
|
|
Individuals, small groups,and congregations are invited to join the National Registry of Peace Churches. More...
|
|
|
 |
| Following Jesus in nonviolent struggle for justice and peace, we love our neighbors and enemies
as God loves us all, becoming a peace church to share in Gods work to save the world. |
|
| |
Message from Christian Peacemaker Congress 2001
A MESSAGE FROM CHRISTIAN PEACEMAKER CONGRESS 2001, NORTH MANCHESTER, INDIANA, SEPTEMBER 23, 2001
“PEACE CHURCH RESPONSE TO TERRORISM”
Gathered as a group of 200 peacemakers in a three-day meeting to energize the nonviolent imagination of God’s people, we send this message to the sponsoring churches of Christian Peacemaker Teams, New Call to Peacemaking/Every Church A Peace Church, and all people who hear this word. We speak out of our faith in God, motivated by Jesus of Nazareth who taught us to overcome evil with good, and to love our enemies as well as our friends and neighbors (Matthew 5).
SACRIFICIAL GIFTS OF LIFE AND MONEY
In response to terrorism, we call on God's people everywhere to contribute sacrificially of their gifts by presenting themselves for service to organizations such as the Christian Peacemaker Teams and Every Church A Peace Church, and by giving generously of their wealth to support the work of active peacemaking. These organizations strive against the materialism, racism and militarism which alienate our society from our neighbors on this earth, and work to prevent war by promoting justice--overcoming evil with good (Romans 12: 21).
RESIST ALL TERRORISTIC VIOLENCE
We must resist any violence which causes terror to any person, whether sponsored by rebel faction overseas or our own government; be it nuclear, technological, economic, or in daily words and acts against others whom we encounter. We muct act with the greater power of nonviolent direct action to improve the life of all humanity and creation.
REDIRECT WAR TAXES
We call on all churches to commit themselves and their members to creating just economic and social conditions for all people of this earth so that war becomes obsolete. We urge people of peace to withhold tax contributions from the cruelty and destruction of warmakers in our government, and the greed of those who profit from war. We ask that this treasure be redirected to the long and demanding task of building a world of peace with the methods of peace. We urge houses of worship to receive these redirected funds and forward them to organizations which resist war.
| |
