The following statement is issued by
the First Presidency of the Community of Christ as guidance to church and community on the possibility of a war with Iraq. It calls on Community of Christ congregations to participate in a Day of Prayer for Peace in
the World on February 2, 2003.
The Community of Christ joins with religious communities around the world in urging the leaders of the United States and its allies to use every possible means to avoid a
divisive and tragic war with Iraq. People of faith have different perspectives on issues of war and peace, but virtually all agree that military intervention should at the very least be a matter of absolute last
resort. We live in a global society in which any war has victims around the world, affected directly or indirectly by its consequences. As an international church we must speak on behalf of our brothers and sisters
in the fifty nations where we are established, and not just represent any one national voice.
Our church has dedicated itself to the pursuit of peace. That is not a statement of political philosophy or even social
conscience. It is a divine call to us as a people, inspiring us to erect a temple as a symbol of our commitment to peace. Our voices must be those of a people who see in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ the
call to love one another and to discover pathways of understanding among all of God's children.
We are not naïve about the political realities of the world in which we live. We do not condone in any way the brutal
regime of Saddam Hussein. To the contrary we repudiate his violence and the persistent violation of the human rights of his people. But in the absence of a widespread international consensus, the invasion or bombing
of a sovereign nation in a volatile region of the world will have grievous consequences for our globe. The victims of this war will not be the political tyrants but the children and innocent citizens of the
countries affected, very likely including the nations that launch the military offensive.
We call upon the members of the Community of Christ to raise our individual and collective voices in a fervent prayer for
peace. We are designating Sunday, February 2, 2003, as a Day of Prayer for Peace in the World. We urge each congregation to devote a portion of the worship service that day to a time of prayer that God will bless
the leaders of the world with wisdom and restraint in a dangerous time.
It is our faith that God is the creator of all people and loves each person and each nation without qualification. May we see the face of
Jesus Christ in all of God's children, including those defined as enemies. May God's grace touch each of us with a full measure of love and may our lives and voices be a witness to that divine Presence.
The First Presidency
