Swords into Plowshares

Georgia and Russia

Pray for the people of Georgia, Russia, South Ossetia, and Abkhazia.

Athletes from around the globe have gathered in Beijing. As the world's attention focuses on the Olympic games, violence persists in many places.

In South Ossetia, an ongoing conflict between Georgia and Russia has escalated and flared for several days. Reports now indicate that the Russian President has called for an end to military operations.

Many have called for such a halt including President Bush, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, the International Crisis Group and charitable organizations.

The United Nations Security Council has met. Relief efforts have begun.

May the announcement that military operations have ended prove true and may the work of rebuilding begin.

3D Security: Take One

"Security doesn't land in a helicopter. It grows from the ground up." That concept lies at the heart of 3D Security.

Lisa Schirch, professor of peacebuilding at Eastern Mennonite University, presented the idea of 3D Security and how it works during the recent Peacemaking Conference.

The thinking behind 3D Security begins with the recognition that security today requires a variety of tools as nations seek to address complex threats. The toolkit includes hundreds of different tool like treaties, negotiation, advocacy, law enforcement, economic development, and trade policies. These tools can be categorized broadly under the headings of Development, Diplomacy and Defense; the 3D's of security.

Too often, Schirch suggests, the U.S. has relied most heavily on Defense at the expense of Development and Diplomacy and the tools they bring that could prove far more effective at promoting peace and security.

The Presbyterian News Service has posted a story about Lisa's presentation.

Photo by Amanda Craft

Abolish Nuclear Weapons

On August 2, I was one of almost 50 participants in the Peace and Justice week at Ghost Ranch who journeyed to Los Alamos, New Mexico, to take part in the Sackcloth and Ashes vigil sponsored by Pax Christ, New Mexico and others.

Participants in the vigil wore sackcloth and walked along Trinity Drive toward Los Alamos National Laboratory. At 2:45, we paused for 30 minutes of prayer.

This was a time to remember and repent of the use of atomic weapons against Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It was a time to rededicate ourselves to working for a world free of nuclear weapons.

A Presbyterian from Gallup, New Mexico, captured the day's essence in her simple sign.

Photo by Mark Koenig

Write for Human Rights in the Philippines

Here's another chance to help implement the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s General Assembly policy. The 218th General Assembly (2008) adopted a resolution on human rights violations in the Philippines.

The Uniting Church in Australia has initiated a letter-writing campaign on behalf of church leaders in the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP). Human rights activists, including church leaders continue to face ongoing harassment including arrest, torture, and death. The National Council of Churches in the Philippines has documented this oppression in a report entitled "Let the Stones Cry Out!" (PDF).

Current concern focuses on Pastor Berlin Guerrero and Pastor Rodel Canja. Pastor Berlin Guerrero is currently detained at the Cavite Provincial Jail in Trece Martirez City, Philippines where he has been held for over one year.  Pastor Rodel Canja was abducted and tortured on 6 May 2008, and while being released on 9 May, holds grave fears for his and his family’s safety and security.

The Uniting Church in Australia suggests that correspondence be made with leaders of the Philippine government expressing our concern and identifies the following points to include in such correspondence:

• Express concern at the continued human rights violations against UCCP clergy and members, and specifically (most recently) the abductions of Pastors Berlin Guerrero and Rodel Canja;
• Express deep concern at the continued detention of Pastor Guerrero;
• Ask for the immediate and unconditional release of Pastor Guerrero, as the charges against him appear politically motivated;
• Acknowledge that the Supreme Court’s decision to defer the matter to the Philippine Court of Appeals means a significant delay in the possible release of Pastor Guerrero, and more stress to Pastor Guerrero and his family as he waits in detention; and
• Ask what progress has been made to bring the abductors of Pastor Guerrero and Pastor Canja to justice.

Send your emails or letters to:

Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
President of the Republic of the Philippines
Malacañang Palace
JP Laurel Street
San Miguel, Manila NCR 1005
Philippines
E-mail: corres@op.gov.ph

Salutation: Your Excellency

The Hon. Raul M. Gonzalez
Secretary, Department of Justice
Republic of the Philippines
Padre Faura Street
Manila NCR 1004
Philippines
E-mail: sad@doj.gov.ph

Salutation: Dear Secretary Mr. Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr.
Defense Secretary
Department of National Defense
Room 301, DND Building, Camp Aguinaldo
EDSA, 1110 Quezon City
Philippines
E-mail: opla@dnd.gov.ph

Salutation: Dear Secretary 

Learn more about the situation in the Philippines and Presbyterians at work in the Philippines.

Seeking Economic Justice

The Presbyterian News Service has posted a story on the keynote presentation by Roberto Jordan of Argentina at the 2008 Intergenerational Peacemaking Conference. Roberto is president of the Reformed Church in Argentina, a member of the executive committe of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, and one of the drafters of the Accra Confession.

Photo of Roberto Jordan by Evan Silverstein.

Soldiers of Conscience

I showed the video Soldiers of Conscience yesterday at Ghost Ranch.

This award-winning full-length documentary film focuses on our soldiers, serving in Iraq as the face the most difficult moral decision of their lives: to kill or not to kill.

Eight solders are profiled. Most have seen active duty in Iraq. All are torn between the demands of duty and the call of conscience. They make different decisions.

Four reach the conclusion that they cannot kill. The film explores what happens when each acts on his conscience.

The film provides a look at what it is like to serve in Iraq -- what we are asking our sisters and brothers to do.

It also explores the dimensions of conscience involved in making the decision to serve in the military -- and the decision to kill.

Soldiers of Conscience is scheduled to air on P.O.V. on PBS on October 16, 2008 at 9:00 PM. As always, check your PBS listings.

You also might want to contact your local PBS station and encourage them to show Soldiers of Conscience.

Ever Wonder What Happens with General Assembly Actions?

One of the questions that folks often raise is what happens with the various statements and actions of the General Assembly -- particularly those that deal with matters outside the life of the church. There is no one answer. Different actions are used in different ways.

One way that the action on Iran may be used is during the Stop the War on Iran event in New York taking place tomorrow. The Presbyterians in New Jersey who helped work on the resolution brought it to the attention of the organizers of tomorrow's event. They received an invitation to read the statement during the event and are seeking a Presbyterian who will be present to read.

If you are involved in an event tomorrow, perhaps you could arrange for a reading of the statement.

If you are not involved in an event, perhaps you could send the statement to your elected officials.