Thanks to Gordon Shull, elder of First Church, Wooster, Ohio, and chair of the Synod's Committee on Justice and Peacemaking, who sent us this statement.

A Christian Perspective on Iraq

Acknowledging that the right of self defense, even with military weapons, is accepted by most Christians, and that the world confronts serious challenges from terrorists like Al Qaeda and governments like Iraq's,

We find that the following principles are peculiarly relevant to our situation.

1. Christians and Presbyterians have classically emphasized the importance of international law in world affairs, and the solution of global problems through international organizations. Our understanding that "God hath made of one blood all nations," and that all human beings and groups are limited in wisdom as well as virtue, underscores that emphasis. We therefore look with grave misgiving on any effort to bypass the United Nations in coping with general threats that all nations experience. Specifically, we see little to be lost by a two-stage approach through the United Nations: first, demanding unfettered inspection in Iraq; then, failing compliance, a new decision. Maximum international consensus is more important than a rush to war in the absence of an imminent threat.

2. We look with grave misgiving on calls for an early "pre-emptive war." This term has always meant that there is clear evidence that an enemy is planning to strike in the very near future. No such evidence has been given, either to the public or to congressional committees.

3. Wars always inflict unexpected consequences upon all concerned. We do not believe that the advocates of an early war have given adequate consideration to this point. We are sobered by the warnings of many experts that the consequences of unilateral American invasion of Iraq could well include the triggering of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction (hitherto deterred); massive upheaval in the Middle East; severe complications in the worldwide struggle against terrorism; collaboration between natural enemies like Al Qaeda and Saddam Hussein; and lengthy, costly occupation of a fragile and hostile country.

We urgently call upon our national leaders to give serious attention to these matters, and to treat with grace and respect those who disagree with them.

(Adopted for communication to the President, Vice President, National Security Advisor and Secretaries of State and Defense of the United States, the Senate and House Committees on Foreign Relations, the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA), and the presbyteries of the Synod of the Covenant.)

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PVJ's Facebook page

Mitch Trigger, PVJ's Secretary/Communicator, has created a Facebook page where Witherspoon members and others can gather to exchange news and views. Mitch and a few others have posted bits of news, both personal and organizational. But there’s room for more!

Voices of Sophia blog

Heather Reichgott, who has created this new blog for Voices of Sophia, introduces it:

John Harris’ Summit to Shore blogspot

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