In these times of war and rumors of war, we are surrounded by voices that cry for revenge, voices that inspire hatred, and voices that demand control.  Such voices are not unique to our times.  They are present across the ages, just as war is recorded in the annals of history in all times and places.  They are not the only voices that cry out, though!  Paul's letter to the Galatians shows us a clear alternative, an attitude not determined by our basest instincts but rather guided by a faithful discernment of the Spirit's guidance in our own lives, and the life of our nations.  We are thus called to be instruments of the Spirit's reconciling fruits, especially of peace, patience, and self-control; and to make our voices heard among the clamor for war.

Background
The Middle East has been a constant focus of our nation's attention in recent months and years.  Serious efforts to attain comprehensive peace in the region go back decades. United States foreign policymakers and Congress have wrestled extensively with the unignorable tension in the region.  At the core of this tension is the Arab-Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which manifests itself politically, socially, and economically, and has contributed to events and phenomena that have had significant implications worldwide, including the events of September 11, 2001.  A just resolution of the Arab-Israeli-Palestinian conflict, one that recognizes the pain and suffering of all sides, would be a primary factor in making progress toward a lasting peace in the region.  The US has a central role in resolving the conflict, for it is the only country that can exert sufficient positive influence over all the actors.

The end of the Cold War meant that the Middle East was no longer a theater for US-USSR power politics.  The emergence of the US as the world's lone superpower, however, has had major ramifications in the Middle East.  The US has solidified strategic interests in the region by influencing the region's oil production, trade, and consumption for its own ends; continuing its support for Israel; and further marginalizing states such as Iran and Iraq.  The US has pursued a policy of heavy militarization, especially of those countries in the Middle East with expendable oil wealth and those dependent on US aid and security.  This policy has greatly increased the profits of the US defense industry and the influence of American intelligence and technology systems among those countries. Recognizing that there is variance in weapons capability among Middle Eastern states, the US has nonetheless provided weapons capacity, including in some cases Weapons of Mass Destruction, to current allies such as Israel, Egypt, and Jordan, as well as to former allies now "enemies" such as Iraq and Iran.

In October, 2002 Congress passed a joint resolution authorizing President Bush to use military force against Iraq.  During intense debate, objections were raised both to the President's strategy of invading Iraq to effect regime change, and to several tenuous claims upon which it was based: that Iraq possesses chemical and biological weapons; that Iraq has not complied with several aspects of UN Security Council resolutions; that Iraq is a threat to its neighbors, the Middle East region, the United States, and global security; that Iraq has ties to al-Qa'ida; and that Saddam Hussain must be replaced.  In fact, the US has effectively been at war against Iraq since the Second Gulf War and Operation Desert Storm (1991), severely containing the nation and routinely bombing its infrastructure.  The 12-year-long UN sanctions against Iraq sanctions whose execution is led and supported by the US? have resulted in the death of more than one million civilians, over half of whom are children. The US would engage Iraq more productively by ending this deadly sanctions policy.

In the post-Cold War context, the US has had a nearly free hand to make and apply its own rules in a unilateral and isolationist way.  The administration's current case of pressing military force against Iraq is an example of how the US can be highly selective and inconsistent in its application of international law and reliance on the United Nations.  While Iraq is indeed in violation of numerous UN resolutions, so too are other states in the region, most notably Israel.  As the US rushes to enforce the UN resolutions on Iraq, it stands back as Palestinians continue to be victimized by Israeli violations of UN resolutions, among them UN General Assembly resolution 194, and Security Council resolutions 242 and 338.  The inconsistency in approach is closely tied to U.S. economic? especially oil? interests, wherein the US patronizes some states and leverages others according to their compliance with US demands for oil rather than their compliance with human rights, democracy, or international law.  But the lack of consistency is not simply unacceptable as a matter of principle or interest? too many lives are at stake.

As Christians, our voice must be one of peace, patience, and self-control. It must also be one of justice and fairness. As a nation, the United States is not the sole agent in determining international relations. We must be open to efforts that attempt to bridge gaps, to resolve differences, and to make peace.  In taking seriously our sacred vocation, we bring this resolution.

RECALLING all previous resolutions and statements regarding the Middle East expressed by the United Church of Christ and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) separately and collectively through the Common Global Ministries Board; and the affirmation the denominations have made of the World Council of Churches' Decade to Overcome Violence; and

WHEREAS the United States has executed foreign policy in the Middle East in ways that are inconsistent? especially through selective reference to United Nations resolutions? and that have grave implications for the nations and peoples of the Middle East, and thus threaten to compromise responsible US leadership;

WHEREAS the United States is the only global power in a position to be a primary and effective broker of peace and justice in the Middle East; and

WHEREAS the "war against terrorism" is vague rhetoric that has been used by the US? and other nations? to subdue disparate adversaries, be they militant groups such as al-Qa'ida, or nation-states such as Iraq;

WHEREAS the Arab-Israeli-Palestinian conflict is far and away the leading cause of hostility in the Middle East and has had devastating effects on the people of the entire region;

WHEREAS Israelis and Palestinians have suffered injury and death as a result of acts of violence perpetrated by both parties to the conflict, and that the occupation of Palestinian lands is violent and begets violence; and

WHEREAS the Church, and particularly the United Church of Christ and Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), is called by its head, Jesus Christ, to be reconcilers, peacemakers, and advocates for justice,

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Common Global Ministries Board of the United Church of Christ and Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

      3. Express voices of opposition to unprovoked US military action against Iraq, and to the continuation of sanctions, preferring the pursuit of diplomatic means to resolve the differences between the two governments, including the issues of no-fly zones, weapons proliferation, and human rights.

      4. Urge the US government to reorient its long-term policy with regard to Iraq, including ending US-led punishment of the Iraqi people through sanctions and war, so that a healing of the relationship between the states might promote integration of Iraq into the community of nations.

      5. Call upon the US government to direct its attention to and actively commit to work fairly and creatively for peace and justice for Palestinians and Israelis, and most urgently to end the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories, a good faith step required by international law that would go a long way toward establishing trust, stability, and an end to violence between Palestinians and Israelis, and in the Middle East as a region.

      6. Call upon the churches of the United Church of Christ and Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) to appreciate the connections we have with Christians in the Middle East through partnerships and mission relationships, and to engage in activities that promote bridge-building between churches in the US and churches in the Middle East and people of Middle Eastern heritage here in this country.

      7. Communicate these concerns and position to the fifteen members of the United Nations Security Council.

Forward this resolution to the United Church of Christ's 24th General Synod (July, 2003) and to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)'s General Assembly (October, 2003) for passage by the respective denominations.