Worship and Action for Peace Letter

October 29, 2004

Dear Friends in New York Yearly Meeting,

At our annual sessions in July of 2002 we called one another to worship and act for peace. Many believe that we need to go deeper, opening our hearts and minds more fully, so that we are changed by our worship and can enter into a changed and peaceable world. Hamilton Monthly Meeting's recently approved Minute, above, is one example of moving deeper.

As Election Day approaches, many religious groups and persons offer thoughtful, faith-based principles and queries to help bring clarity to our voting decisions. We include at the close of this Letter a quotation from Rabbi Lawrence Kushner's book Eyes Remade for Wonder (the quotation is available online at http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/2004/10/07_faith/index.shtml), and a deepening piece by John Edminster of 15th Street Meeting, entitled "Did You Ask God How To Vote?"

Among the groups that have issued pieces to consider in making our voting decisions, the National Council of Churches USA has developed a statement of "10 principles to those seeking to accept the responsibility that comes with holding public office," entitled "Christian Principles in an Election Year" (http://www.ncccusa.org/electionyearprinciplesguide.pdf).

Sojourners, a "a Christian ministry whose mission is to proclaim and practice the biblical call to integrate spiritual renewal and social justice" led by Jim Wallis, has prepared actions (http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=action.election&item=election_2004) people can take to become involved in current political and social issues. These include a political ad and petition "God is Not a Republican. Or a Democrat." (http://go.sojo.net/campaign/takebackourfaith) that seeks to "Remind America that Jesus taught us to be peacemakers, advocates for the poor, and defenders of justice," and that "rather than endorsing any party, we must examine each candidate in light of the complete range of Christian ethics and values."

Sojourners also published on October 22nd a pastoral message drafted by Jim Wallis - "Confessing Christ in a World of Violence" - that has been joined by over 200 leaders (http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=action.election&item=confession_signers). The message notes that in a "world ... wracked with violence and war", "a time comes when silence is betrayal." It offers five planks of a "new confession of Christ": (1) "allegiance to Christ takes priority over national identity"; (2) we have "a responsibility to count the cost, speak out for the victims, and explore every alternative before a nation goes to war"; (3) "see not only the splinter in our adversary's eye, but also the beam in our own"; (4) "enemy-love is the heart of the gospel"; and (5) "humility is the virtue befitting forgiven sinners".

The Buddhist Peace Fellowship has issued a "Guide to Issues and Candidates' Positions" (http://www.bpf.org/html/whats_now/pdfs/VoterGuidesforWeb2.pdf) that offers objective information on significant issues and also

echo[es] Gautama Buddha's injunction: "Do not accept anything by mere tradition. Do not accept anything just because it accords with your scriptures. Do not accept anything because it agrees with your opinions or because it is socially acceptable. Do not accept anything because it comes from the mouth of a respected person. Rather, observe closely and if it is to the benefit of all, accept and abide by it." (the Kalama Sutta)

The American Friends Service Committee, joined by others, including the National Council of Churches and the United for Peace and Justice coalition, invites us to join "in holding our nation in the light as a part of 'Lighting the Path for Democracy'", by organizing and participating in election eve candlelight vigils in our communities. Already organized vigils in New York are in Syracuse, at the corner of Marshall Street and South Crouse Avenue (on the Syracuse University hill), at 6:30 PM; and in New York City, at Washington Square, at 7:00 PM; and in Connecticut in Middletown, at Main and Washington Streets, at 8:00 PM; in New Haven, at Temple and Elm Streets (across from the New Haven Public Library), at 7:00 PM; and in Bloomfield, at the Bloomfield Town Green, at 7:00 PM. More information is available at http://www.afsc.org/vigil/.

Let us challenge ourselves and one another to faithfulness, today, and tomorrow, and Saturday and Sunday, on November 1, November 2, November 3, and November 4, and November 5 . . . .

In care,

Linda Chidsey, Vicki Cooley, Fred Dettmer, Lu Harper Worship and Action for Peace working group

One reason we find talking about God so difficult is we are part of what we are trying to understand. The thing about spiritual truth is that it wants to be spoken. It is too important, too transforming to be left alone in silence. It seems to have speakable content. The problem is that once you speak or show the words to someone else, then both of you are different. The words have changed both of you. And now you must start all over again. I believe that in one form or another this making of words is the touchstone for all spiritual traditions and of all spiritual renewal: To say what is just at the outermost edge of what can be spoken is to deal with words that are so primary and dazzling that they are infinitely personal and intimate. from Lawrence Kushner, Eyes Remade for Wonder

Did You Ask God How to Vote?   a    s e t    o f    q u e r i e s   1. We are taught to pray "Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done." If we truly pray for God's kingdom to come, might it contradict that prayer to be striving to make someone else's kingdom come" Bush's, Kerry's or Nader's? Is our involvement in the selection of earthly rulers in any sense a turning away from the actual and ongoing rule always exercised over us by our Creator? When the Israelites demanded a human king, the Lord told Samuel: They have rejected me, that I should not reign over them (I Samuel 8:7). Do these same words rebuke us today?   2. Have we put the questions of whether and how to vote in the November election before our heavenly King, setting aside our self-will and our own opinions, with the intention of being perfectly obedient to the divine will? Recognizing that providence might ordain one outcome, and conscience bid us work toward another, are we prepared to be steadfast in our fidelity to conscience, through which God reveals His (I use the masculine pronoun for God for ease of expression, without any disrespect intended to aspects of the Supreme Being that might better be called "She" or "It") wishes for us, even though we might come out looking like fools or failures? Knowing that the Lord sets up and brings down whom He will, when He will, just as in the days of Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar, are we prepared to view election results with detachment? Do we hold all the participants in our electoral process, including the many souls the world over that are affected by its outcome but cannot participate in it, in the same loving and prayerful concern? If we recognize some of the participants as evildoers, do we pray for their repentance and salvation?   3. Have we considered the evil of campaigning or voting for the lesser of two evils? If our conscience forbids the taking of life, how will it permit us to vote for a candidate without such scruples about war or the death penalty? If we are forbidden to lie, dare we help elect a liar? 4. We have the mind of Christ, wrote Paul (I Cor, 2:16), and again, be of one mind (II Cor. 13:11). The apostle John wrote, ye have an anointing that teacheth you of all things (I John 2:27). Today, however, there is such deep division in the great household of faith that we cannot imagine all of God's faithful being "of one mind" on a candidacy or a political issue, and "anointed" to know themselves in unity with God's Truth on the matter. We may well mourn the darkness of ignorance, prejudice and self-will that causes such disunity among us -- not only within Christendom but among all worshippers of the living God, including Jews, Muslims, Hindus and others. When we try to combat this darkness, however, are we careful not to act without a sense of the Lord's guidance? Do we avoid all stealth, manipulation, intimidation, psychic violence, and other tainted means of suppressing differences? Do we hold our own views without self-righteousness or a sense of superiority? John Jeremiah Edminster October 7, 2004