by Rev. Dr. Mary Susan Gast, Conference Minister, May, 2002
Monthly Reflections from The Pacific ~ News and Events of the NCNC United Church of Christ

AN ISSUE OF CONCERN

Words of encouragement and support for those ministering "in the fields."

Nobody sent in any proposals for Position Statements for the 2002 Annual Meeting. Nothing about terrorism or peace with justice or suicide bombers. Not that it isn’t on our minds. Not that it doesn’t cudgel our hearts.

No proposed Position Statements. Maybe we’re too numbed? Maybe we sense the ineffectiveness of "pros" and "cons?" Maybe our visions of what might be, are too heavily clouded by what already is?

Family members of people killed on September 11 have visited Afghanistan to meet family members of people killed in U.S. bombings since September 11. "There must be smarter ways to catch criminals," one of the visitors remarked.

"How can you protect yourself from people willing to blow themselves up along with you, for their cause?" is a question that was asked by high school students in Berkeley last September, and by Israeli police yesterday.

"Warfare waged against Al Qaeda will not be effective," wrote international conflict mediator John Paul Lederach back in September. "The enemy is not located in a territory. It has entered our system." A viral load.

"Avoid doing what they expect," Lederach urged. "What they expect from us is the lashing out of the giant against the weak, the many against the few. This will reinforce their capacity to perpetuate the myth they carefully seek to sustain: That they are under threat, fighting an irrational and mad system that has never taken them seriously and wishes to destroy them and their people. What we need to destroy is their myth, not their people."

In 1988 the Northern California Nevada Conference voted to become a Just Peace Conference, implying a commitment to applying ourselves to the simultaneous cultivation of the justice from which the seedlings of peace emerge, and the peace that is a healing balm, strengthening the wounded and the oppressed to build a world on the foundation of justice.

We read from Psalms 11:

"Be assured.
The Almighty is enthroned in justice…
And abhors the lover of violence…
The Most High is trustworthy,
And cherishes deeds of valor and compassion"

During the Discernment Session time at this year’s Annual Meeting I invite the gathering of those who are willing to consider the "things that make for peace" in a world infected with terror and terrorism. The gathering of those who are ready to pursue the destruction of myth and injustice as a means to subvert the destruction of people. May we leave that Discernment Session with renewed commitment and courage to engage in the ongoing struggle for justice and peace. May we leave with plans to actively disengage from the myths that ensnare us.

Your comments are welcome
Send to mailto:msgast@ncncucc.org