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United Reformed Church |
NewsletterVol. 6 no. 2 |
Keynote Address by Revd John Johansen-Berg, |
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PeacemakingNow we are faced with the task of peacemaking in arrears. The present situation presents a quandary. The immense destruction results in a huge task of reconstruction and at the same time security has to be restored. Some think that withdrawing the troops too soon might lead to civil war and more deaths. I believe that the presence of US and UK armies is now a major part of the problem; they should be allowed to go home. The Iraq Government should restore law and order, with the support and help of the UN, if needed. To complicate the issue, there is sabre-rattling by US leaders with reference to Iran. Peace makers are challenging Presidential statements which pour oil on the flames. The clear injustice and oppression in Palestine is one of the major causes of unrest in the Middle East. Had the British Government insisted that justice, peace and security for Israel and Palestine must precede any action on Iraq, we would have avoided much death and destruction, laid the basis for a peaceful Middle East, averted a clash of civilizations and encouraged international co-operation. In our world of hunger, poverty and disease, the work of compassion demands immense resources. The huge expenditure on the invasion of Iraq could have gone a long way to overcome these problems. Many of you will know that some years ago, I founded UNAFRAID (United Africa Aid) as part of the overseas work of the Community for Reconciliation. |
 photo T.C.Whilst I was still working on this message, news came of the release of the hostages in Iraq. What an inspiration their witness has been! They have demonstrated that the role of peacemaker can be costly. Their sacrificial action has spread the peace message far and wide. We are challenged in East Africa to match our words with actions, helping to avert the worst effects of the drought in some communities. As people across the world respond to such crises, they are sending a message to the agents of death and destruction. God sets before us a choice – of life or death. Let us choose life, so that we and our descendants may live in peace together. John Johansen-Berg is founder and currently International Director of the Community for Reconciliation. He is Chair of the Fellowship of Reconciliation and of the Living Spirituality Network of CTBI. He led two Pilgrimages of Reconciliation to the Holy Land and is the author of Prayers of the Way and Prayers for Pilgrims. |
News of members - Peace Vigils in Seaton |
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Arthur and Pat, members of Seaton URC, are part of the worldwide Prayer Vigil for Peace movement, begun by Mother Teresa in the early 1980s (does anyone know the exact year?). Their vigil starts with the Universal Prayer for Peace and ends with the Lord’s Prayer. In a report in the Seaton News, 25th October 2005, they said: “These vigils are the public expression of a regular commitment to prayer and peacemaking. We are bringing the breath of eternity into the marketplace and creating a little oasis of peace in the centre of our small town.” The report, with a picture taken by a photographer who just ‘happened to be passing’ was welcome and only too rare publicity for their commitment and the issues. Arthur, who is also a member of the Society of Friends, has written books and booklets on peace issues and on Christianity in general. If you are visiting the area, why not join them one Friday? |
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Editorial - Welcome back, Norman! |
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The response to Norman’s return has been mixed and sometimes horrifying. Ridicule, belittlement and almost vilification of Norman and the teams, by predictable sections of the Establishment and the Media, have all but overwhelmed the true message of CPT activity and any wider discussion of Iraq. The authors have pretended to occupy the moral high ground when, by alleging ingratitude and exaggerating risk and cost, they were simply scrabbling among the foothills in their all too familiar way. The response of world-weary and cynical journalists is one thing. Completely unexpected were the attacks, some of quite breath-taking nastiness, by people within the church. Norman was wrongly accused of egotistical publicity-seeking and of putting himself intentionally in harm’s way. I wonder whether these same people would have tried to dissuade Jesus from entering Jerusalem. |
At about the same time as Norman’s rescue, I had two very different encounters: One was Beyond Belief, the one-man show by Christian Aid’s Martin John Nicholls (much to be recommended - see it if you can), in which he made clear how much CPT has achieved in Palestine and set Norman’s activities in context. The other has been a series of Lent meetings based on From Violence to Wholeness, a course developed by Pace e Bene in the USA and circulated here by Pax Christi. Our group numbered only four, including a civil servant working for the military. We agreed on many things and heard that modern UK military training emphasized the use of violence only as a last resort; we felt this made a significant contribution to Norman’s rescue. We discovered too that the vital difference between a military and a pacifist approach to a situation was not in the determination to use non-violence as far as possible, but in the degree of vulnerability that could be allowed. The military could allow itself none, the Christian pacifist must follow Jesus and go into a situation with both eyes and hands open as did Norman, with devastating results for him, both in Iraq and now back home. Mercifully, the media has now tired and returned to the controversies surrounding the House of Lords. Now, there’s a thought. Lord Kember of Pinner would be a most worthy addition - wise, forthright and amusing. Anyone know the procedure for proposing him? |
Worship resources |
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| At the request of Diana Townsend, here is the hymn Say 'No' to Peace: | |
If what they mean by peace Is the quiet misery of hunger The frozen stillness of fear The silence of broken spirits The unborn hopes of the oppressed Tell them that peace Is the shouting of children at play The babble of tongues set free The thunder of dancing feet And a father's voice singing |
If what they mean by peace Is a rampart of gleaming missiles The arming of distant wars Money at ease in its castle And grateful poor at the gate Tell them that peace Is the hauling down of flags The forging of guns into ploughs, The giving of the fields to the landless, and hunger a fading dream. |
In the News |
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That this House notes that the Government when elected in 1997 committed itself to working for multilateral nuclear disarmament; further notes that the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) commits nuclear weapon states to negotiate the elimination of their nuclear arsenals and that the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the use or threatened use of nuclear weapons affirms an obligation `to negotiate in good faith and bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament'; further notes that any programme to replace Trident nuclear weapons systems would pre-empt and undermine the effectiveness of such negotiations; and calls upon the Government to support the international rule of law by implementing the obligations of the NPT which would preclude a replacement of Trident. George Farebrother of the World Court Project has asked that people contact their own MP and ask whether they have signed this and persuade them to do so if not. * What seemed to be an off-the-cuff statement by Gordon Brown to a receptive audience in February was in reality the start of a determined effort to bring military cadets back in to state schools |
Our approach should perhaps be to approve the concept of an organization within schools which relates to the outside world and which can instil loyalty, knowledge, skill and self-discipline, but does it have to be military? There must be equally challenging work in charities, deprived areas and rescue services. Suitable models could be the St Johns Ambulance Brigade and the US Peace Corps (though without its political agenda). What do you think? Mea culpa: Your editor was in the Air Training Corps. Before Easyjet, it was the only way an impecunious boy of fourteen who loved aeroplanes could get near one, but the ethos certainly rubbed off at the time (they wouldn’t have guessed then that I would be editing this newsletter now). 
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URCPF Committee notes |
Dates for your Diary: |
A URC/Methodist group which includes Hazel Barkham has produced a paper called Peacemaking: a Christian Vocation. The next committee meeting is on 18th May. If you wish to raise any issue, address your comment or question to Andrew Jack c/o the Church and Society office (contact details below). Network of Christian Peace Organizations(From Hazel Barkham’s committee report)* Greenbelt (See www.greenbelt.org.uk for details) * the 365 Faslane Campaign, a proposal that each 48-hour period of the year be allocated to a peace organization to carry out some non-violent blockade of their choosing. Details, including a support statement you can sign, at www.faslane365.org. **** Do you know someone who might be interested in the Fellowship? A new joining leaflet is available from the office. |
Fellowship of Reconciliation Annual Council 29th April Wesley Memorial church, Oxford. Speaker: Kathy Galloway. 01865 748796 www.for.org.uk. Resisting Tyranny:5-25 May at The Custard Factory Gallery, Birmingham; 3-6 July at Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh. Details at www.david-moore.net/bonhoeffer. Place of Danger, Place of Safety:MANA concert 18th June Lauderdale House, Highgate Hill N6. Flute and piano. The 2006 URCPF Annual Conference is on the 25th November at Carrs Lane URC, Birmingham; Keynote Address John Reardon. |
Your contribution to the newsletter is needed! Letters, book reviews, devotional pieces, poems, reports, cartoons, all are welcome. Also please let us know of any peace actions, vigils, correspondence with MPs etc you have been involved in. Deadline for the next issue: |
On paper: via Church and Society, United Reformed Church, 86 Tavistock Place, London WC1H 9RT
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United Reformed Church Peace Fellowship — part of Church and Society. |
Revd. Kate Compston Ms Gabrielle Cox Revd John Johansen-Berg Revd. Dr. Fred Kaan Revd. John Reardon Revd. Roberta Rominger |
Convenor and Secretary: Mr Andrew Jack Treasurer: Ms Wendy Cooper NCPO representative: Revd. Hazel Barkham Revd Sîan Collins Mrs Anne Lewitt Mrs Anne Parker Revd Diana Townsend |
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