[Episcopal News Service]
An ecumenical gathering on the theme, 'Beyond September 11: Implications for US churches and the world,' has outlined the basic principles for human and national security. In a statement at the end of the August 5-6 meeting outside of Washington, DC, the participants called on American churches to 'press their government to work for a just resolution of the Palestine-Israeli conflict,' and to 'speak out against the threat of military attack by their government against Iraq.'
The statement, addressed to the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches meeting in late August, calls for 'ongoing dialogue' with Christians and other faith communities around the world. It also argues that the war on terrorism led by the United States is threatening genuine peace. 'Peaceful relations among nations and peoples are achieved through multilateral decision-making, not by the unilateral economic and military actions of one country,' the statement said.
'As Christians we put our security in the hands of Jesus Christ and the biblical witness that says 'perfect love casts out fear',' the statement concluded.
The meeting was organized by the WCC, the National Council of Churches and Church World Service.
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