Irak

Multiplicity of Documents Season of Peacemaking
Links to statements and other resources for
education and advocacy on Iraq

Resources for Education and Advocacy

ADVOCACY RESOURCES

Would War Help or Hurt Human Rights in Iraq? -- Amnesty International's Viewpoint

Minnesota Council of Churches Resources on Peacemaking

January Peace Blitz -- Resources from the Mennonite Church

New Video of December 2002 Service at The Riverside Church is a Valuable Teaching Tool for People of Faith Concerned About War; Multiracial and Interfaith Leaders Gathered for Prayer Service Opposing War Against Iraq

The War on Iraq: What We Can Do for Peace -- A New Resource from Church World Service

"Citizen Demands for More Information," A Grassroots Advocacy Tool
Resources for Peacemaking from the American Friends Service Committee
"Talking Points for Religious Leaders' Action Days for Peace" from the Lutheran Office on Governmental Affairs
Talking Points From Churches for Middle East Peace

Protestants for the Common Good Network -- Follow link to "Who We Are - Advocacy Network" to get regular bulletins, and/or e-mail cgn@thecommongood.org - Ask for Dec. 11 Iraq resource packet

From the Institute for Policy Studies' Foreign Policy in Focus
Economic Costs: http://www.fpif.org/commentary/2002/0209warimpact.html
Iraq Talking Points (Long Version): http://www.fpif.org/papers/iraq2.html
Iraq Talking Points: http://www.presentdanger.org/cgaa/talkingpoints/0208iraq.html

CURRICULA AND DISCUSSION GUIDES

"Teaching with the News" Curriculum Resources on the Iraq Crisis from the Watson Institute for International Studies
"U.S. Policy Toward Iraq: What Should We Do?" A Guide for Public Dialogue from the Studies Circles Resource Center
Friends Committee on National Legislation Resources on U.S.-Iraq Relations

JUST WAR PRINCIPLES

Just War Principles -- Among Resources on the Center of Concern Web Site

Order the Bumper Sticker "AMERICA'S PROBLEMS won't be solved in Iraq" -- and Arm Band

Prayers, Litanies and Liturgies

World Council of Churches U.S. Conference Lenten Fast Against Violence (March 5-April 20 in Western church traditions; March 10-27 in Orthodox traditions)

Links to WCC Prayers for Peace in Iraq: Liturgical resources in various languages contributed by members of the international ecumenical community are available on our website at:

English: http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/international/iraqprayers-e.html
Français: http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/international/iraqprayers-f.html
Español: http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/international/iraqprayers-s.html
Deutsch: http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/international/iraqprayers-g.html

What Makes America Strong: A Litany for Peace
Liturgy for Calling a Communal Fast for Peace
Multireligious Call to a Fast for Peace
Peace Prayer: www.peaceprayer.org
More Prayers for Peace
Ta'anit Tzibbur al HaTzarah:Call to a Communal Fast to Avert Calamity
Poem 'For the Children of Iraq'

Prayers for Peace in the Middle East and Selections from Jewish, Christian and Islamic Texts

Related Web Sites

All Our Children Campaign for Humanitarian Assistance for Iraqi Children: http://www.allourchildren.org

American Friends Service Committee: http://www.afsc.org
American Nobel Laureates' Position on a Unilateral, Preventive Attack on Iraq: http://www.nobellaureatesoniraq.org
Bread for the World: http://www.bread.org
Church of the Brethren: http://www.brethren.org/Iraq.html
Churches for Middle East Peace: http://www.cmep.org
Education for Peace in Iraq Center: http://epic-usa.org
Every Church a Peace Church: http://www.ecapc.org
FaithandValues.com Iraq Files: http://www.faithandvalues.com/channels/iraq.asp
Friends Committee on National Legislation: http://fcnl.org
The Interfaith Committee for Nuclear Disarmament: http://www.zero-nukes.org
Iraq Pledge of Resistance: http://www.peacepledge.org
Lutheran Office on Governmental Affairs: http://www.loga.org
National Interfaith Nuclear Reduction/Disarmament Initiative: http://www.nrdi.org
Network - A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby: http://www.networklobby.org
Patriots for Peace: http://www.patriotsforpeace.org
Pax Christi: http://www.paxchristiusa.org
Peaceful Ends Through Peaceful Means: A Christian Witness for Peace in Israel and Palestine: http://www.pepm.org
Returned Peace Corps Volunteers for a Better World: http://www.epic-usa.org/rpcv
Rhode Island Peace Mission: http://www.peacemissionri.org
Shalom Center: http://www.shalomctr.org
Sojourners: http://www.sojo.net
Stop the War Fast: http://www.webofcreation.org/ncc
True Majority: http://www.truemajority.com
United for Peace: http://www.unitedforpeace.org
Virtual March on Washington February 26, 2003: http://www.moveon.org/winwithoutwar
Veterans' View of the War on Iraq: www.veteransforcommonsense.org
World Council of Churches: http://www.wcc-coe.org

WCC's Interactive Web Site for the Decade to Overcome Violence 2001-2010: Churches Seeking Reconciliation and Peace: http://www.wcc-coe.org/dov

Index to Ecumenical and Denominational Statements

FEBRUARY 2003

March 2, 2003 - Many Faiths, Joined Together for Prayer in San Francisco, Call for End to Unjust War on Iraq -- and on America's Poor
February 27, 2003 - International Church Leaders Plead for Peaceful Solution to Iraq Crisis
February 27, 2003 -- U.S. Church Leaders, in Rome, Ask Pope to Address U.N. Security Council
February 21, 2003 -- Interreligious Committee Calls for Urgent U.S.-Led Push for Mideast Peace; Believes Such an Effort Would Evoke Strong Support at Home and Worldwide
February 19, 2003 -- Letter on Iraq to President Bush February 19, 2003, From the General Secretary of the Conference of European Churches
February 18, 2003 -- In London, U.S. Church Leaders Meet Tony Blair in Third of Five NCC Peace Delegations
February 17, 2003 -- Tuesday Meeting with Blair on U.S. Christian Leaders' London Schedule
February 14, 2003 -- A Letter To Women’s Organizations Worldwide from the Justice for Women Working Group of the National Council of Churches
February 14, 2003 -- World Conference on Religion and Peace International Executive Committee Issues Statement on Iraq
February 13, 2003 -- Jimmy, Rosalynn Carter Endorse "All Our Children" Campaign; Ecumenical Effort Seeks $1 Million for Health Assistance for Iraqi Children
February 11, 2003 -- NCC Delegation in Paris Feb. 10-11 Surprises France with U.S. Church Opposition to War
February 7, 2003 -- Iraq Crisis: U.S. Ecumenical Leaders Go to Paris for Meetings
February 7, 2003 -- Iraqis Face Enormous Human Disaster if There's War, Says Church World Service Executive Director McCullough
February 5, 2003 -- In Berlin, NCC Delegation Meets With Church Leaders From Europe and Middle East, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder
February 3, 2003 -- U.S., European Churches to Discuss Common Response to Iraq Crisis
February 3, 2003: Make Every Monday a Special Day of Prayer for Peace, NCC General Secretary Urges

JANUARY 2003

January 31, 2003 -- 49 U.S. Religious Leaders Ask Urgent Meeting with President Bush on Iraq
January 28, 2003 -- NCC General Secretary Dr. Bob Edgar Reflects on "State of the Union" 2003
January 27, 2003 -- France's Conference of Bishops' Statement Against Going to War with Iraq (In French)
January 23, 2003 - NCC General Secretary Calls for Fasting, Prayers for Peace Jan. 27
January 20, 2003 -- 'We Can Still Stop This War' - Martin Luther King, Jr., Day Service Draws 3,200 to Washington National Cathedral; Peace March Follows
January 30, 2003: Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church Statement "The Challenges of Global Citizenship"

DECEMBER 2002

December 22, 2002 -- $1 Million Campaign Responds to Iraqi Children's Health Needs
December 8-21: Pax Christi Delegation Visit to Iraq
December 9: 26 State Ecumenical/Interfaith Council Leaders Issue Statement Against U.S. War on Iraq
December 11: Launch of 'Keep America Safe: Win Without War'
December 4:

NOVEMBER 2002

November 20: "A Call to Peace" by Church Women United, Connecticut
November 16: NCC to U.S.: "Do All Possible, Without Going to War" to Resolve the Iraq Crisis
Full text: "After September 11, 2001: Public Policy Considerations for the United States of America"
Full text: "Resolution Expressing Appreciation for the U.S. Catholic Bishops' Statement on Iraq"

November 13: Statement on Iraq: U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Nov. 13, 2002, Washington, D.C.
November 4: Statement on Iraq from the World Methodist Council Youth Committee

OCTOBER 2002

October 31: The Age Newspaper, Australia - "On Iraq, the Churches Must Speak Out"
October 29: Middle East Church Leader Pleads for Diplomacy, Not War
October 24: United Methodist Board of Global Ministries Statement of Concern on Iraq
October 24: Statement of Conscience on the Iraq War
October 21: United Methodist Women Oppose War with Iraq
October 15: WCC Letter to U.N. Security Council on Iraq: "Pre-emptive war against Iraq illegal, immoral and unwise"
October 18: Kentucky Council of Churches Resolution on Question of War Against Saddam Hussein and Iraq
October 14: Church of the Brethren General Board "Statement on the Threat of War Between the United States and Iraq
October 12: United Methodist General Board of Church and Society Statement on Iraq
October 11: War is Not the Answer -- an ecumenical statement
October 7: NCC Board Asks Bush to "Move, Even Now, Away from War"
October 5: News Story - In Pastoral Letter, President of United Methodist Bishops Counsels Bush to Avoid ‘Preemptive Strike’ (Click here for full text.)

SEPTEMBER 2002

September 28: Presbyterian Church (USA) General Assembly Council (GAC) Call for U.S. Restraint on Iraq
September 25: Letter from Canadian Council of Churches to U.S. President Bush
September 25: Letter from 16 Canadian Religious Leaders to Canada's Prime Minister, Jean Chretien
September 24: NCC Justice for Women Working Group: "Potential War on Iraq: A Threat to Women and Children"
September 24: Heads of Five Quaker Organizations' "Joint Statement in Response to Threat of War with Iraq"
September 20: American Friends Service Committee Letter to President Bush
September 20: World Council of Churches Letter and Statement on Iraq
September 18: Declaration of the Florida Council of Churches Regarding Iraq
September 16: Religious Leaders Meet with U.S. National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice
September 13: U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Letter to President Bush on Iraq
September 13: Statement of United Church of Christ Leaders Opposing U.S. War Against Iraq
September 12: Letter to Congress from Friends Committee on National Legislation
September 12: Letter from 51 U.S. Religious Leaders to President Bush
September 6: Episcopal Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold's Statement on Military Action Against Iraq
September 4: United Methodist Women's Division Statement on Iraq

AUGUST 2002

August 30: United Methodist General Board of Church and Society: Bush Urged to Turn Back from War
August 30: ELCA Bishop Mark Hanson issues statement against U.S. attack on Iraq
August 29: Leaders from American, Canadian, British Churches to U.S. Government: 'Stop the Rush to War'
August 27: Letter from Mennonite Church U.S.A. to President Bush
August 6: Pax Christi - U.K.'s "Christian Declaration on the Morality and Legality of War with Iraq"
August 5: Middle East Council of Churches Statement on Iraq

UNDATED STATEMENTS

Christian Ethicists' Statement Against a U.S. Preemptive War on Iraq
Bread for the World Statement on War Against Iraq

NCC-Led Religious Leaders' Humanitarian Mission to Iraq

January 3, 2003: NCC-Led Religious Leaders' Humanitarian Mission to Iraq Concludes
January 3, 2003: Statement by the NCC-Led Religious Leaders' Humanitarian Mission to Iraq
December 30, 2002: Religious Leaders Arrive in Iraq for NCC-Led Humanitarian Mission
December 30, 2002: Global Partners' Messages of Solidarity with the NCC-Led Iraq Mission

Click here for the Iraq mission's photo gallery

See It/Hear It on the Web

'God and Country' audio segment of NPR's 'Talk of the Nation,' which aired October 3, featuring NCC's Bob Edgar
Flash movie with photos of the Gathering for Peace at the Rhode Island State House, Sept. 25, 2002

Other Resources

The Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace (ICUJP) has been meeting since 9/11/01 with strong participation by Muslim and Jewish leaders. They have a significant credibility in Southern California for peacemaking. It's one of the best efforts of trying to get faith communities actively involved in the work of peace and justice. For more information, please contact Rev. George Regas at regas@pacbell.net or 626-683-9400.

Resources Wanted!

A new National Dialogue Project focusing on Iraq is seeking resources for its Web site, such as dialogue guides on Iraq, unbiased information on the subject, summaries of different viewpoints, tips/resources for getting media attention, and tips/resources for involving and informing decision makers. Email Pam Garfield of Demos with your resource suggestions ASAP, at pgarfield@demos-usa.org. If you have other questions or want to get involved, contact Aliah MaJon of Days of Dialogue and the Shamballa Group, at shamballa@adelphia.net or 213-439-9640 x26. Also, feel free to contact Sandy Heierbacher, Director, Dialogue to Action Initiative, 2002 National Conference on Dialogue & Deliberation, 802-254-7341 and/or sandy@thataway.org