RESOLUTION: AFFIRMING PEACEFUL ALTERNATIVES TO WAR ON IRAQ

WHEREAS, this year's Annual Meeting of the Connecticut Conference, UCC, is occurring at a time of crisis, with the United States government threatening immediate war against Iraq; and

WHEREAS, as members of the United Church of Christ, we claim our identity as disciples of Jesus Christ, who taught us to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44); and that as peacemakers we are blessed as "the children of God" (Matthew 5:9); and

WHEREAS, scripture also teaches us to "live peaceably with all" (Romans 12:18) and to "be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21); and

WHEREAS, Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem, saying "If you, even you had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace" (Luke 19:41) and we recall that just before when some in the crowd had tried to silence the disciples, Jesus said, "I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out" (Luke 19:40); and

WHEREAS, we feel a Christian responsibility to speak out against unleashing the horrors of war, and to witness for peace and the utilization of other means than war to seek justice and an end to terrorism;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, we the delegates to the 135th Annual Meeting of the Connecticut Conference of the United Church of Christ, affirm our conviction that a pre-emptive, unilateral attack by our nation against the government and people of Iraq would be in violation of Jesus' way of peace and reconciliation, and that such a war would immeasurably increase the toll of human suffering, drain resources from crucial human needs everywhere, and create incentive for even more grave acts of terrorism; and

THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we join the clergy and congregations of the Connecticut Conference of the United Church of Christ in a prayerful response to this crisis, and we call upon them and our Conference leaders to communicate concern for peace to national policy makers, including the President and Congress, and urge that the United States pursue all possible diplomatic and non-military means, in cooperation with the United Nations and the international community, to resolve the Iraq crisis without war.

Submitted by Church Council, Church of the Redeemer, New Haven