Dear Critters,
Two weeks ago, I contacted Jim Winkler, General Secretary of the United
Methodist Church in the USA. Jim has spoken out repeatedly and strongly
against Bush's war plans. The irony here is that the United Methodists is
the church that many senior officials of the current Whitehouse
administration, including George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, belong to. I
told him I was doing a slot at my church (St Barnabas', Cambridge) on the
proposed Iraq war, inviting people to take part in the demo planned in
London on February 15th (and also a local one), and asked him to answer
three questions.
The questions and answers are copied below. They made quite an impact in
my church, and you may want to use them in your own campaigning. Even if
you are speaking to people who are not from a faith background, or are not
from one yourself, I think you'll find the irony of it all very pleasing!
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Nick Megoran: Why has your church not backed your president in enthusiasm
for war on Iraq?
Jim Winkler: I believe it would be shameful for any Christian to be
enthusiastically for war. We are called by God to be peacemakers. War is
the worst way to resolve conflicts. This conflict can and should be
resolved peacefully. The United Methodist Church is not a 'just war' church
nor are we one of the historic peace churches. Still, many of us have
employed the 'just war' teachings to consider this particular conflict. We
have concluded that a preemptive war does not meet the criteria. It would
be immoral and illegal to carry out such an attack. While the president
and vice-president are United Methodists themselves, our church does not
feel that entitles them from exemption from our denomination's Social
Principles which state, in part, "War is incompatible with the teachings
and example of Christ."
NM: Does British public opinion matter at all in the US?
JW: British public opinion does matter in the United States and support by
PM Blair for President Bush is frequently referred to on the news and by
opinion-makers. Many Americans feel emboldened to go to war because the UK
is with Bush. If Britain and Blair backed away, I believe it would be
devastating to Bush's war plans.
NM: Why do you think that British Christians should go on a march against
war on Iraq?
JW: Because we must put our faith into action and speak truth to power.
Power does not want to listen to truth unless that truth has enough moral
force--often exemplified by marchers--to threaten those holding power with
removal from office. Many Christians will come to Washington on Jan. 18
for a major peace demonstration. We will have a prayer service that
morning at the United Methodist Building on Capitol Hill. Also, let me add
as one who has just returned from Iraq--I was part of a US National Council
of Churches delegation--that it is also important British Christian
delegations go to Iraq.
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