[Sac-news] Witnessing for Peace

[Susan Leslie]

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SOCIAL ACTION CHAIR (SAC) NEWS
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Dear SAC-News Readers:
 
The UUA has signed on to several interfaith efforts calling for an end to the fighting in the Middle East.  We have also endorsed the National Council of Churches Season of Prayer for Peace in the Middle East that includes congregational resources. See http://www.uua.org/news/2006/060728_peace.html for statements and resources that can be used in your Sunday service.
 
All Souls Unitarian in New York City reports that they are collecting donations for Mercy Corps. See http://www.mercycorps.org/.
 
Please let us know what your congregation is doing.
 
In Peace, Susan
 
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In response to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations and President William G.Sinkford have joined several interfaith efforts aimed at stopping the
violence and calling religious people to action.

In joining with these efforts, Rev. Sinkford expressed the sense of urgency shared by many Unitarian Universalists.  "The widening conflict in the Middle East is a call to all people of conscience to witness for
a just and lasting peace," Sinkford said.  "As we work to end the violence, may we also find the courage to examine our own role in shaping the conditions that allow violence to flourish."

The UUA has officially endorsed a statement from Dr. William F. Vendley, the Secretary General of Religions for Peace, calling for an end to fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Israel and Hamas in Palestine (http://www.uua.org/news/2006/060728_vendley.pdf). The statement also urges religious leaders to "reject the grotesque misuse of religion in support of violence." Religions for Peace, (the largest coalition of international religious communities, is a long-standing partner of the UUA.

Rev. Sinkford, along with senior Jewish, Muslim and Christian leaders, including religious leaders from Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria and Iran, will participate in the Eighth World Assembly of Religions for
Peace, a conference to be held in Kyoto, Japan, at the end of August (http://www.religionsforpeace-2006-kyoto.net/). Religions for Peace supports religious leaders in the Middle East who are working together
to end the violence and build a lasting peace.  

To help gather domestic support for these peace-making efforts, the UUA has joined a broad interfaith initiative organized by religious leaders from groups including the National Council of Churches USA, Islamic
Society of North America, and The Shalom Center. The campaign, called "Season of Prayer for Peace in the Middle East," will officially be launched later this week, and will include a collection of online
worship and advocacy resources.

Rev. Sinkford has signed two letters authored by another US interfaith group, Churches for Middle East Peace (http://www.cmep.org/), a religious coalition of twenty-one church groups including the UUA.  The
first letter addresses the recent crisis in Gaza, and the second calls for a broader cease-fire. 

For UUs committed to long-term action, "Peacemaking" is the issue that was selected by General Assembly for congregational study and action over the next four years.   Sustained attention to this critical question presents an opportunity for Unitarian Universalists to engage with some of the most profound issues of our time.

The purpose of the Congregational Study/Action Process, according to the UUA by-laws, is "to provide the member congregations of the Association with an opportunity to mobilize energy, ideas, and resources around a common issue.  The end result will be a deeper understanding of our religious position on the issue, a clear statement of Association policy as expressed in a Statement of Conscience, and a greater capacity for the congregations to take effective action." 

The text of the "Peacemaking" Congregational Study/Action Issue can be found online at http://www.uua.org/csw/. A resource guide for congregations will be available by November 1st.

For complete coverage on "Witnessing for Peace" plus additional resources, please visit http://www.uua.org/news/2006/060728_peace.html

 
Susan Leslie
Director for Congregational Advocacy & Witness
UUA, 25 Beacon St., Boston MA 02108
617-948-4607; sleslie at uua.org
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