At its February 16, 2003 meeting in Richmond, Indiana, the General Board of Friends United Meeting adopted the following formal minute on the proposed war on Iraq:
Friends United Meeting Minute
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"Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:21 KJV
"Let us then try what Love will do." William Penn |
The government of the United States proposes to protect democracy by means of preemptive violence against the people of Iraq. Friends United Meeting calls it members – and all who know the love of God – to deny the possibility of a "just," "necessary," or "holy" war.
We believe there is another way to address issues of injustice and oppression because the root causes of injustice and oppression, such as greed, thirst for power and lack of mercy, cannot be solved through violence. We must examine our own entanglements in these roots.
Jesus shows us the way of service, humility, and non-violent intervention – substituting courageous acts of compassion for domination. The teachings of Jesus are clear: Feed the hungry, heal the sick, take care of children, love each other, forgive each other, return good for evil. In His life, His death, and His resurrection, we can see a way through our fears which is not the world's way.
The citizens of the United States continue in turmoil, affected by messages of fear and terror from all directions; we pray that they do not succumb to the temptation of believing in the security promised by military might and action. Only a false security comes through armies or weapons or creating fear – thereby hatred – in others. We recognize that following Christ's way carries risk. Yet, our experience of life under God's power keeps us on this path of love and compassion. We know that there is not – and never has been in this world – any safety except the safety that is found in hearts that have been touched and tendered by the Holy Spirit.
Friends United Meeting says to the governments and peoples of the United States, Iraq, and all the world once again, "The spirit of Christ, by which we are guided, is not changeable, so as once to command us from a thing as evil and again to move unto it; and we do certainly know, and so testify to the world, that the spirit of Christ, which leads us into all Truth, will never move us to fight and war against any man with outward weapons, neither for the kingdom of Christ, nor for the kingdoms of this world." (Declaration from Quakers to King Charles II, 1660)
Approved by FUM General Board on February 16, 2003.
Friends United Meeting (FUM), headquartered in Richmond, Indiana, is an international association of Friends (Quaker) meetings and ministries in nine countries. For more information: Retha McCutchen, FUM General Secretary, 765-962-7573