For more information, visit the Churches for Middle East Peace website.

I participated in the massive October 26 rally and march in Washington DC opposing a U.S. war against Iraq. A few days later I went to Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois to speak on the churches' opposition to a U.S. initiated war. My impressions were consistent with the discussion among CMEP board members at our recent meeting. While national events have an important role, a credible anti-war campaign must be built by mainstream Americans in their local communities by means of action, education and witness for peace.

The National Council of Churches has hosted meetings of church and action organizations - Protestant, Catholic and secular - to plan and loosely coordinate actions and projects. Listed here are some of the programmatic suggestions that might be appropriate for your community as well as some of the national initiatives and useful websites. NCC's draft Vision Statement is at the end of this message.

Nov. 17 - March 8:
WOMEN'S PEACE VIGIL AND FAST AT THE WHITE HOUSE.

The launch is Nov. 17th, 2002 and will continue through International Women's Day on March 8, 2003, culminating in a massive Women's March for Peace that day. They are looking for women's groups, religious communities to endorse and do four-day shifts at the vigil at the White House. Folks can contact Kristi Laughlin for more information at Global Exchange -- 415/255-7291.

Weekend of December 6 to 8:
WEEKEND OF PRAYER FOR PEACE IN IRAQ

You are invited to join with other peoples of faith to pray for peace in Iraq for one hour or more between 6:00 pm on December 6th to 8:00 pm on December 8th. The process is simple to participate. Create a prayer activity in your particular religious tradition or an interfaith prayer and/or service on the December 6-8 weekend for an hour, a day, or all 50 hours. Then describe it on any computer web page (who, what, when and where) and send the link with a note about location (city and state) to contact@peaceprayer.org for posting to the website: www.peaceprayer.org. Groups are also invited to submit non-copyrighted prayers and prayer resources as resources for others and to make use of prayers and peace resources that are posted.

December 8 to 15:
"A SEASON OF PEACE ACTION"

The week of December 8th to 15th incorporates among other things Human Rights Day (December 10th), the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to President Carter (December 10th in Oslo), and the celebration of Advent - noting the birth of the Prince of Peace. Friday to Sunday December 13-15 has been designated a Weekend of Peace and Reconciliation for peace vigils and worship services. The National Council of Churches may coordinate a national "Call in Day" or a national "Prayer and Faxing Day" during this week. On International Human Rights Day religious leaders will gather at the UN to embody the conviction that the proposed war on Iraq shows contempt for human rights and human dignity while also reflecting a misguided conception of America's proper role in the world. For information: Sr. Arlene Flaherty, arflah@aol.com or Rev. Peter Laarman, plaarman@judson.org

January 21:
The period around MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY was lifted up as another time of focus.

SILENT VIGILS:

On every Tuesday, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. there will be silent vigil on the U.S. Capitol west lawn to ask our leaders to "seek justice and pursue it" (Psalm 34:14) in regard to Iraq. Candles are optional, but civil disobedience or anti-US or aggressive signs and literature are not welcome. Communities nationwide are encouraged to organize silent vigils on Tuesday evenings or from noon-1:30 in front of their town hall, state capitol or post office.

MULTI-RELIGIOUS CALL TO FAST FOR PEACE

Rabbi Arthur Waskow of the Shalom Center offers resources and action guidance for Jews, Christians and Muslims at www.shalomctr.org

FOR MORE PROGRAM IDEAS, RESOURCES AND GUIDANCE

The Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) has listed 6 alternatives to war and many other useful items on their website at www.fcnl.org. The Mennonite Central Committee has had staff in Iraq and been delivering food, medicine and school kits for years. The website has helpful information and materials: http://peace.mennolink.org) The NCC website, www.ncccusa.org has lots of links, including statements from many churches. Here you'll find updates on the listed actions, a daily calendar of events and new plans.

DRAFT Vision Statement:

We oppose the War against Iraq for two basic reasons: In the short run, it will be an act of death and destruction. We choose to follow those tenets in our religious tradition that forbid violence as a way to usher in God's kingdom. In the longer run, it will make far harder the building and healing of the planetary community, which our religious traditions demand.

We are called by our various faiths to be peacemakers, a difficult choice but the right one. Our opposition to preemptive, unilateral war against Iraq is grounded in a broader vision of national security-one that recognizes that the true threats are more economic, environmental, and social than military. We call on the United States to live up to its own principles and set an example for the rest of the world body by:

• Honoring international treaties and conventions.
• Cooperating with the UN and international institutions to resolve conflicts.
• Using diplomacy rather than military might as a tool of foreign policy.
• Working for peace through arms reduction, not arms production.
• Setting quality healthcare and education for all people as a priority on our government's agenda.
• Working proactively to achieve harmony among racial, ethnic, and religious groups.
• Promoting sustainable consumption of natural resources.

All of this is in recognition that to do otherwise only breeds anger and contempt--and the very threat to ur security that we wish to end. We affirm Albert Einstein's idea that "Peace cannot be achieved through force, it can only be achieved through understanding."

Churches for Middle East Peace is a Washington based program of the American Friends Service Committee, Catholic Conference of Major Superiors of Men's Institutes, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Church of the Brethren, Church World Service, Episcopal Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Friends Committee on National Legislation, Maryknoll Missioners, Mennonite Central Committee, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, Presbyterian Church (USA), Reformed Church in America, Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations, United Church of Christ and the United Methodist Church.