e-HUM Alert 10/07/2002

e-HUM Alert -- Church News Now
October 7, 2002

e-HUM Alert is a free service of Indiana Area United Methodist Communications (www.inareaumc.org). Bridging the gap between monthly issues of the "Hoosier United Methodist News," subscribers will receive late-breaking news, announcements and Church resources via e-mail. We welcome your comments, please direct to "e-HUM" editor at ehumeditor@inareaumc.org.

Bush, Cheney Among 8.4 Million U.S. UMs Called to Prayer Over War; President of UM Bishops Counsel Bush to Avoid 'Preemptive Strike'

SPRINGFIELD, IL.- In a pastoral letter to 8.4 million United Methodists in the United States, including President Bush and Vice President Cheney, the president of the United Methodist Council of Bishops said the U.S. should act with restraint in dealing with Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. "A preemptive war by the United States against a nation like Iraq goes against the very grain of our understanding of the Gospel," wrote Bishop Sharon A. Brown Christopher of Springfield, IL, urging the president to rethink his war strategy.

"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 the followers of Christ," she wrote.

Christopher wrote there is no question Hussein is "in gross violation of numerous United Nations resolutions," and commended the president for calling the international body to accountability to enforce them and urged him to use peaceful means to settle the crisis.

In asking United Methodists to join in prayer for fellow United Methodists President Bush and Vice President Cheney, Christopher wrote, "Jesus rejects the violent response to evil... [and] moves the standard even higher by urging us to love our enemies."

After consulting with the council's officers, Christopher distributed the letter to the 68 United Methodist bishops around the world Friday night, urging that it be read or distributed during Sunday's worship services. Christopher quoted positions taken by the General Conference declaring, "war is incompatible with the teachings and example of Christ. We therefore reject war as a usual instrument of national 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."

Christopher urged United Methodists to follow up their prayers with phone calls and letters to the "leaders of nations... letting them know of your deep concern." The letter also has been sent to members of the U.S. Congress.

For more information, go to www.umc.org

If you know someone who has yet to sign up for e-HUM, they simply need to send a blank e-mail from their preferred e-mail account to add@inareaumc.org.

TOP OF PAGE