June 13, 2003
by Jim DeLa

As a post-war Iraq emerges, church leaders at this summer's General Convention will tackle a resolution that attempts to define when war can be justified and may offer some advice to the Bush administration on how to handle one of the world's other hot spots: North Korea.

The church has taken a stand against armed conflict as early as 1931, when the convention passed a resolution stating that "war as a method of settling international disputes is incompatible with the teaching and example of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Indeed, two weeks after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church issued a pastoral letter urging Christians to "wage reconciliation" by calling church members to "open our hearts and give room to God's compassion," striving to be instruments of God's peace in a troubled world.

Before the recent war in Iraq, the Episcopal Church joined other mainstream Christian denominations in on-the-record opposition to war in general, and to war in Iraq in particular.

In the days leading up to the start of "Operation Iraqi Freedom," church leaders were directly critical of President George W. Bush's policy on Iraq. Last October, the Executive Council unanimously endorsed letters by Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold and the House of Bishops decrying plans to invade Iraq, saying they found the strategy of a pre-emptive strike "to be an unacceptable form of action for Christians who are called by Christ to be peacemakers."

Once the shooting started, the church mobilized by urging prayers for a swift end to the conflict and offering support to American troops in the field.

Here are a few legislative items to watch at General Convention:

Just War: One resolution (A033) before this year's convention, submitted by the Standing Committee on Anglican and International Peace and Justice Concerns, urges the endorsement of "just war" principles, a set of generally accepted moral and legal guidelines used to justify armed conflict. Those criteria include: that lethal force can be used only to correct a "grave public evil"; that care must be taken to protect civilians; to use no more force than is necessary; and that war can only be waged as a last resort.

In its report to convention, the committee does not attempt to decide if the recent war in Iraq met the guidelines but rather argues that each person must discern whether to participate or not in war through "deep reflection and prayer."

Northeast Asia: The peace and justice committee is also offering a resolution (A036) urging nonconfrontational U.S. policy and diplomacy aimed at peaceful reunification of the Korean peninsula. "The damage done by President Bush's axis of evil' rhetoric is extensive and regrettable," the committee wrote in its report.

Other resolutions from the committee include one urging the U.S. to give Korean citizens more access to legal redress of grievances and compensation for victims of misconduct by U.S. personnel, as well as damages from weapons testing and pollution (A037); and another resolution encouraging Episcopal colleges and schools to offer peace and justice studies, as well as training for careers in nongovernmental organizations and civil society (A038).

Other scheduled activities relating to war and peace issues include:

"An Evening of Conversations:" Wednesday, July 30, 7-9 p.m. A series of panel discussions with time allotted for audience participation on various topics. The "war and peace" panelists include Bishop George Packard, suffragan for the Armed Services, Healthcare, and Prison Ministries; the Rev. Stephen Holton, founding member of the Episcopal-Muslim Relations Committee; the Rev. Kristina Coppinger, a chaplain in the U.S. Air Force Reserve; Deborah Stokes, social work administrator with the Ohio Department of Health; and the Rev. Daniel Appleyard, active in Christian-Muslim relations in Detroit.

Reception sponsored by Episcopal Peace Foundation and The Witness magazine: Saturday, Aug. 2 from 4-6 p.m., at Gethsemane Episcopal Church, Minneapolis. Dr. Margaret Lawrence will be honored with the EPF Sayre Peace Award. Tickets are $40.

The Witness will give its Spirits of Justice Awards at the same meeting. Bishop Barbara Harris will receive the William Stringfellow Award and Tom B.K. Goldtooth will receive the William Spofford Award. Barbara Ramnaraine will receive the Vida Scudder Award and Voices in the Wilderness, a network for nonviolent education and action, will rreceive the William Scarlett Award.

EPF Nonviolence Workshops: "From Violence to Wholeness" workshops will be offered Thursday, July 31 and Wednesday, Aug. 6, from 1-5 p.m., at Gethsemane Episcopal Church near the Convention Center. Fee: $10 a session.

Episcopal News Service
Jim DeLa is director of communications for the Diocese of Southwest Florida and is managing editor of the ENS news team at the 74th General Convention in Minneapolis.