MC USA congregations invited to join "A Season of Peacemaking"

WASHINGTON (MC USA) -- As Iraq nears a Dec. 8 deadline for complying with the United Nations regarding declaring weapons' programs, Mennonites are invited to join other churches in praying that peace prevails.

During "A Season of Peacemaking," sponsored by the National Council of Churches on Dec. 6-15, Mennonite Church USA congregations are invited to join others in praying and acting for peace, said J. Daryl Byler, Mennonite Central Committee's Washington office director. Activities -- ranging from a prayer weekend, sending faxes to the White House and silent retreats -- will seek to encourage peaceful alternatives to war with Iraq.

On Nov. 8, the U.N. Security Council adopted Resolution 1441 by a vote of 15-0 that gives inspectors sweeping access to suspected Iraqi weapons sites and threatens serious consequences if the council determines non-compliance, Byler said. On Nov. 13, Iraq agreed to the terms of 1441 and has until Dec. 8 to declare any existing chemical, biological or nuclear weapons programs, after which full-scale inspections will begin.

"If nothing else, Resolution 1441 seems to have pulled the United States back from the brink of war with Iraq -- at least for the moment," Byler said. "Most analysts view the resolution as a victory for a multi-lateral approach to Iraq and as placing some restraints on the United States. ... But while the Bush administration has publicly supported the resolution, our nation almost daily threatens to use force if necessary and continues to amass troops in the Gulf region ...

"My gut instinct is that a war is quite likely. But I will not lose hope until the church stops calling for alternatives to war. When the church's voice is silenced -- when light is hidden under bushel baskets and salt has lost its taste -- then it is time to lose hope."

Byler said his hope is buoyed by his work with MC USA in earlier peace efforts by the Peace and Justice Support Network, aided by Susan Mark Landis, peace advocate for MC USA's Executive Board, and Leo Hartshorn, minister of peace and justice for Mennonite Mission Network. MC USA isn't a member of the National Council of Churches. But earlier Mennonite peace efforts have inspired the National Council of Churches to create the Season of Peacemaking, he said.

Those efforts included sending 17,400 signatures by 322 congregations this fall to Washington to protest war; Peace Sunday activities by congregations Nov. 10; the distribution of peace flags; and last spring's Palm Sunday prayer and faxing event. That's when about 4,000 Mennonites sent faxes to the White House to protest the first inklings of war with Iraq.

MC USA involvement in the Season of Peacemaking can help encourage the United States to continue in a multi-lateral direction and is also fitting during Advent - a time when Christians prepare their spirits to celebrate Jesus, the Prince of Peace, Landis said.

"If we ignore God's call to peacemaking, Advent means nothing," she said. "The whole point of Christmas is that Jesus brought a gift of peace to our world. The best gift we can give back is to show our neighbors that there are alternatives to war.

"What better time to focus on this message. Let's not only sing songs and send cards about peace. Let's say it publicly. I encourage congregations to be public with their prayers and witness and to go other places than their sanctuaries as a way to invite others to join us."

Two ways congregations and individuals can do this is by participating in the Weekend of Prayer for Peace in Iraq on Dec. 6-8, and the Prayer and Faxing event Dec. 10, International Human Rights Day. It's when former President Jimmy Carter will receive the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, Norway.

During the prayer weekend, congregations may join with other people to pray for peace in Iraq for one hour or more between 6 p.m. on Dec. 6 and 8 p.m. on Dec. 8. Congregations and individuals who join the prayer and faxing event Dec. 10 should fax President Bush and send copies to elected representatives, Byler said. Those numbers are 202-456-2641 or 202-456-6218.

Byler suggests faxes encourage the Bush administration to publicly announce that it seeks Iraq's disarmament and not regime change and that it will seek immediate lifting of sanctions as soon as Iraq complies with the U.N. resolutions. The faxes also could suggest that the Bush administration work multi-laterally and with a spirit of mutuality, he said.

"Working through the U.N. Security Council was a good step," Byler said. "But ... the United States has threatened to act alone if the U.N. doesn't do as the United States wants. The United States must drop its threats of acting unilaterally and must show respect for other members of the global family who also care about security issues."

Finally, the faxes could communicate that war is not the answer, he said. "Even if Iraq fails to fully comply with the inspections process, war is not a viable alternative. There are less violent alternatives -- diplomatic engagement, arms embargoes -- for containing those who have or seek to gain weapons of mass destruction."

Other Season of Peacemaking activities include "United for Peace" action days Dec. 10-12. During that time, organizations that want to help build a more coordinated anti-war movement may contact Leslie Cagan at or Andrea Buffa at . From Dec. 11 to Dec. 13, religious heads of the National Council of Churches will go into silent retreat at the Washington National Cathedral, Byler said. They will be encouraged to break their silence at the Cathedral that evening.

To encourage and inform congregations during these times, the Peace and Justice Support Network will send occasional peace advisories to area conferences that may pass them on to congregations, Landis said. Find out about them by subscribing to the free e-mail list, <http://www.mennolink.org/email/reg.cgi?grp+menno.org.peace> http://www.mennolink.org/email/reg.cgi?grp+menno.org.peace. For more information on the Season of Peacemaking or other resources, call Landis at 330-683-6844, Byler at the Washington office or Hartshorn at 717-391-6512.

Laurie L. Oswald is news service director for Mennonite Church USA.