Justice and Representation Committee, Presbytery of Plains and Peaks
6 June 2003
…Our Lord promises to be with us whatever happens, as in Psalm 34: “God’s angel defends the faithful, guards them on every side.” That is what we believe, and, after all, nothing, not even war, can separate us from the love of Christ…
--from Kirkuk, Iraq, Pastor Haitham Jazrawi, National Evangelical Presbyterian Church, in a letter to Christians abroad.
CALL TO THE CONGREGATIONS FOR HELP IN IRAQ
FOR PRESBYTERY ACTION
The Justice and
Representation Committee recommends that the Presbytery
1.
encourage
sessions a) to act for congregations’
participation in the PEACEMAKING OFFERING on or about World Communion Sunday, 5
October, and b) consider designating
the PEACE FUND FOR SOLIDARITY WITH THE CHURCHES OF IRAQ for the 25% of the 2003
Peacemaking Offering retained locally;
2.
designate the 25%
of the 2003 Peacemaking Offering returned y the Synod to the Presbytery for the
PEACE FUND FOR SOLIDARITY WITH THE CHURCHES OF IRAQ.
(The process—not for action)
The Committee further
recommends that the Presbytery join with PCUSA’s Worldwide Ministries Division
in encouraging sessions
3.
to make known to
the congregations opportunities for contributing at will to
·
THE PEACE FUND
FOR SOLIDARITY WITH CHURCHES OF IRAQ
·
PRESBYTERIAN
DISASTER ASSISTANCE—IRAQ REPONSE
·
CHURCH WORLD
SERVICE—ALL OUR CHILDREN, IRAQ
For Information
Our church’s Worldwide Ministries Division (WMD) encourages church members, congregations and presbyteries to be vigilant for opportunities to intervene in solidarity with the people of Iraq. In particular, WMD signals the following for attention in the churches:
1. Peace Fund For Solidarity With The Churches Of Iraq.
The dimensions of disruption, displacement and damage to the spiritual and programmatic life of the CHURCHES OF IRAQ, as a result of the 2003 war may never be know. Between enduring the devastation from twelve years of economic sanctions and two previous wars while suffering under a brutally oppressive regime, it is certain that life in Iraq, including church life, has suffered untold damage. American Presbyterians have had a long love for, and a relationship of mission and ministry with the people of Iraq, especially the Christians, and Iraqi Presbyterians in particular. As “next of kin”, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has an opportunity to demonstrate genuine partnership with Iraqi Christians as they work – over many years to come – to rise from the rubble and ashes.
The PEACE FUND FOR SOLIDARITY WITH THE CHURCHES OF IRAQ is intended to offer a positive witness affirming the power of resurrection and hope, after such a long struggle with all the symbols of death. It is intended to help Presbyterians in the U.S. share in the struggle of Iraqi Christians to make a new start. The needs will include new pastoral and lay leadership development; Sunday School curriculum, teachers and youth workers; assistance and training for doctors, nurses, community health workers, counselors and therapists; development work among women and children, especially those widowed/orphaned by the wars; new church development; as well as facility restoration work. The Peace Fund for Solidarity with the Churches in Iraq is not humanitarian assistance.
To contribute, please make checks payable to: Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), specify Extra Commitment Opportunity Account # 051722 and send them to Central Receiving Service, Section 300, Louisville, KY 40289.
2. Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA)
PDA, a unit of the Worldwide Ministries Division, is responding to human need in Iraq by working with the Middle East Council of Churches and Action by Churches Together (ACT, the worldwide network of churches meeting human need through coordinated emergency response—organizationally based in the World Council of Churches and the Lutheran World Federation, and with Church World Service representing US churches on the ACT committee). Humanitarian assistance is conducted through mission partners and non-governmental organizations. Information via www.pcusa.org/pda/response/Iraq.
To contribute, please make checks payable to: Presbyterian Church USA, specify “Iraq Response” Account # 9-2000082, and mail to Central Receiving Service, Section 300, Louisville, KY 40289.
3. Church World Service (CWS)
In collaboration with international relief organizations and local partners, CWS’ Iraq Humanitarian Crisis Emergency Appeal, ALL OUR CHILDREN, is distributing medical equipment and supplies to hospitals and medical centers. Information via www.churchworldserivce.org.
To contribute, please make checks payable to: Church World Service, specify “All Our Children—Iraq” Account # 6801, and mail to Church World Service, P. o. Box 968, Elkhart, IN 46514.
Further, WMD encourages “sending greetings to the Presbyterian Churches in Iraq…expressing concerns for peace, any relevant prayers, scripture and other expressions of solidarity we share as Christians with them and the people of Iraq.”
Presbyterian churches in Iraq may be contacted as follows:
Rev. Ikram Mehanni Rev. Nashwan Nicola Petro
Elder Maher Fouad Elder Pauls Ishak
evangel@uruklink.net Assyrian Evangelical Presbyterian Church
Elder Georges Hormis Sada P. O. Box 3446 Al-Awiyah
FadiKia@uruklink.net Baghdad
Arab Evangelical Presbyterian Church Iraq
P. O. Box 3446 Al-Awiyah
Baghdad
Iraq
Rev. Gilbert Albazi Elder Mother Saleem
Elder Ghazi Ashoo Elder Dr. Mazen Saleem
Elder Dr. Riad Haddad mazen.m@warkaa.net
basrahyni@uruklink.net National Protestant Evangelical Church
Elder Dr. Zuhair Fathallah P. O. Box 1345
zfalla.b@uruklink.net Mosul
National Presbyterian Church Iraq
P. O. Box 866
Basrah
Iraq
Rev. Haithem Jazrawi
Elder Akram Jazrawi
National Evangelical Protestant Church
P. O. Box 420 Al-Tameem
Kirkuk
Iraq
For as in one body we have many members, and all the members do not have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. (Romans 12)
For further resources and information on Iraq, consult the Presbyterian Church USA webpage, www.pcusa.org/iraq
The building of a new Iraq calls for intense prayer and vigilance, as sketched out below;
“TEAR IT DOWN< BUILD IT UP”
“The war is over, but the most crucial phase of intervention in Iraq is only beginning. The justness and competency of the American and British military occupation will determine the health and safety of Iraqi civilians. Disease, looting, and starvation could take as many lives as the bombings and worsen the misery caused by 13 years of UN economic sanctions.
“On the political front, will Saddam Hussein’s authoritarian rule be replaced by true self-determination or a hegemonic occupation? The choices about decision-making power are now being made and it matters who’s making them. There are struggles going on within the Bush administration, within the international community, and within Iraqi society for power. Is power being shared by all citizens of Iraq or are certain elements, either foreign or domestic, dominating the debate?”
--www.moveon.org/moveonbulletin, 23 May 2003
Your Committee invites prayers in the congregations that our nation earnestly seek international and UN common cause in the rebuilding of Iraq with a workable infrastructure and public life fully democratic, pluralistic, non-sexist and free.