Bishops' president urges Bush to use restraint with Iraq
2/6/2003 NOTE: Both letters released by Bishop Sharon
A. Brown Christopher are reproduced in their entirety at the end of this
story. A photograph of the bishop is available at
http://umns.umc.org/photos/headshots.html. By United Methodist News Service The
president of the United Methodist Council of Bishops has written to
President George W. Bush, a fellow church member, urging him to seek
"every opportunity to disarm Iraq without resorting to war."
Bishop
Sharon A. Brown Christopher released two letters Feb. 6, one to Bush,
addressing the crisis with Iraq, and the other to 9.8 million United
Methodists around the world, encouraging them to join in prayer.
In
her letter to Bush, Christopher said that as "the president of the
Council of Bishops of the United Methodist Church and, therefore, one of
your pastors, I write to you, a fellow United Methodist, because of the
awesome burden that rests on your shoulders in these days."
"The
human community stands at an intersection of decision that will shape
its common life and international relations for years to come," she
said. "In your hands rests in large part the path we will follow.
"The
Gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel of peace," the bishop continued. "It
calls us to transcend political ideology and national interests to act
on behalf of the welfare of the whole human family."
She
commended Bush for his "careful work within the processes of the United
Nations" and urged him "to stay the course, seeking every opportunity to
disarm Iraq without resorting to war and looking for every peaceful way
of protecting the world and our nation against the tyranny manifest
around the globe."
Saddam Hussein's tyranny has been demonstrated, Christopher said. "He must be held accountable."
At
the same time, Christopher asks the president to consider the potential
suffering and loss of life among the military personnel and the men,
women and children of Iraq.
"I beseech you to listen to the voice
of hundreds of thousands of Americans and citizens of other countries
who demonstrate for peace and ask your utmost restraint," she said.
Her
letter to United Methodists throughout the world explains that the
Council of Bishops feels called by faith in the Prince of Peace and by
the denomination's highest legislative body to "speak to the church and
from the church to the world."
"The Council of Bishops urges you
to join us in prayer," she wrote. "World-shaping and life-shaping
decisions will be made in the coming days and weeks that require God's
guidance."
Both of Bishop Christopher's letters follow:
February 6, 2003
President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear President Bush,
As
the president of the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church
and, therefore, one of your pastors, I write to you, a fellow United
Methodist, because of the awesome burden that rests on your shoulders in
these days. The human community stands at an intersection of decision
that will shape its common life and international relations for years to
come. In your hands rests in large part the path we will follow. The
Gospel of Jesus Christ is a Gospel of peace. It calls us to transcend
political ideology and national interests to act on behalf of the
welfare of the whole human family.
President Saddam Hussein has
the world on edge. The lack of forthcoming evidence of weapons of mass
destruction in Iraq and President Hussein's resistance to complete
cooperation with the inspectors of the United Nations, as indicated by
the inspectors' report last week and Secretary of State Colin Powell's
address yesterday, raise suspicion of the highest order. President
Hussein's tyranny has been demonstrated. He must be held accountable.
Military
personnel now stand on the front line, willing to give their lives.
They personally bear the cost of the decision of war. I thank you, Mr.
President, for your words of care for the Armed Forces. I beseech you to
listen to the voice of hundreds of thousands of Americans and citizens
of other countries who demonstrate for peace and ask your utmost
restraint.
President Bush, I commend you for your careful work
within the processes of the United Nations. I compliment you for
presenting the U.N. Security Council with additional U.S. intelligence
about Iraq's weapons program. I urge you to stay the course, seeking
every opportunity to disarm Iraq without resorting to war and looking
for every peaceful way of protecting the world and our nation against
the tyranny manifest around the globe.
The United Methodist
Council of Bishops, made up of voices from Europe, Africa, the
Philippines, and the United States, has heard the voices of the men,
women, and children of Iraq who suffer daily from the effects of U.N.
sanctions. Their present misery will fade against the innocent bloodshed
to come in the event of war.
We pray that every possible means
to prevent war will be pursued in the coming days. This is not a moment
for haste but rather for deep thoughtfulness and prayer. It is a moment
to reflect upon the well-spoken concerns of our allies around the world.
The welfare of our human family depends on it.
The Council of Bishops holds you before God in prayer in this time of decision.
In the name of the Prince of Peace,
Sharon A. Brown Christopher
cc: The people called United Methodist
The United States Congress
Dear United Methodists around the world,
Once
again the Council of Bishops in prayer has been called to speak a
Gospel word. This time it is spoken directly to the president of the
United States, President George W. Bush. We do so again out of the
mandates of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the General Conference of The
United Methodist Church to "speak to the church and from the church to
the world."
We commend President Bush for his decision to work
within the processes of the United Nations. He has done what we asked of
him in October, 2002. Now, for the well-being of the innocent citizens
of Iraq and the faithful U.S. military personnel and their families, we
urge him to continue to work with the United Nations and to seek out
every possible peaceful means to deter the tyranny of Saddam Hussein.
The attached letter speaks for itself.
The Council of Bishops
urges you to join us in prayer. World-shaping and life-shaping decisions
will be made in the coming days and weeks that require God's guidance.
In the name of the Prince of Peace,
Sharon A. Brown Christopher |
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