 Pan-Methodist commission issues response to Sudan |
|||||||||
|
by Linda Green |
 |
||||||||
|
Five Methodist denominations are calling on government and international officials to establish a peace process in the war-ravaged country of Sudan that "holistically considers the concerns of all Sudanese parties and ethnic groups." War has created deep brokenness throughout the world, the Commission on Pan-Methodist Cooperation and Union noted in an open letter to U.S. and United Nations officials. "Particularly, we are distraught that tens of thousands of God's people in Darfur, Sudan, die from preventable famine, disease and violence as part of state-sponsored genocide." The commission, meeting Nov. 19-21, urged that the leaders respond to the humanitarian crisis, which has claimed more than 300,000 lives and left more than 3 million people at risk. The open letter was addressed to U.S. President George Bush, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, U.S. Secretary of State designate Condoleezza Rice, and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Danforth. "As Methodists, believing there is no holiness but 'social holiness,' we urgently call for the establishment of peace and security throughout the nation of Sudan," the commission said. "It is clear that there can be no resolution to the humanitarian crisis until there is a broader plan for regional stability brokered by the United Nations Security Council and the African Union." The Commission on Pan Methodist Cooperation and Union represents five strands of American Methodism - the African Methodist Episcopal, African Methodist Episcopal Zion, Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, Union American Methodist Episcopal and United Methodist churches. The body represents more than 15 million Methodists worldwide. Jay Williams, a United Methodist from New York and advocate for Sudan, introduced the idea of a commission response to the crisis in the African country. After he highlighted conditions there, particularly in Darfur, the commission approved a letter to the Bush administration and U.S. Congress "to implore further diplomatic pressure to urge the government of Sudan to withdraw all government-sponsored raiding entities and dispatch necessary and adequate peace enforcement personnel to Darfur." The commission's function is to highlight ways the Methodist bodies can cooperate in various areas and discuss how to move toward union by redefining and strengthening the entities relationship in Jesus Christ. Williams, who has helped liberate Sudanese slaves, told the Pan-Methodist commission that as it engages in unity, it should not ignore the disunion, suffering and strife in the Sudan and other places in the world. "As the commission is primarily African-American Methodist denominations, the people of color, the people that look like us in Africa, are being slaughtered by the day. As people of faith, we are called to respond, but as people of color with faith, we are called to respond even more," he said. He noted Jesus' admonition to care for the "least" and the fact that numerous people stood up for African Americans throughout slavery and suffering in America, he said. "We have to respond ... as a prophetic voice of witness when the rest of the world has turned their backs on Sudan." AME Bishop E. Earl McCloud Jr. of Atlanta, chairperson of the commission, stressed the importance of the group responding to the Sudan crisis. "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere," he said. Green is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in Nashville, Tenn. The text of the letter follows:
20 November 2004 The Honorable George W. Bush, President, United States of America We gather as a people called Methodist, representing five denominations with more than 15 million members, to further cooperation and union among churches in the Wesleyan tradition. As we commune in a spirit of togetherness, we recognize there is deep brokenness created by war throughout our world. Particularly, we are distraught that tens of thousands of God's people in Darfur, Sudan die from preventable famine, disease, and violence as part of state-sponsored genocide. Sadly, the situation in Sudan has been deemed the "world's worst humanitarian crisis". Already, more than 300,000 have died, and more than 3 million more are in grave risk due to deteriorating security and humanitarian conditions. As Methodists, believing there is no holiness but "social holiness", we urgently call for the establishment of peace and security throughout the nation of Sudan. It is clear that there can be no resolution to the humanitarian crisis until there is a broader plan for regional stability brokered by the United Nations Security Council and the African Union. Therefore, we urge the administration and Congress of the United States to reengage seriously a peace process that holistically considers the concerns of all Sudanese parties and ethnic groups. We also implore further diplomatic pressure to urge the Government of Sudan to withdraw all government-sponsored raiding entities and dispatch necessary and adequate peace enforcement personnel to Darfur. We applaud the Security Council's leadership during its 18-19 November 2004 meeting, and plead for its continued involvement. Moreover, we affirm the resolutions and calls to peace issued by the National Council of Churches, as well as the General Board of Global Ministries and the General Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church. We commit ourselves to remain mindful of the situation, and to revisit this commission's recommendations and actions at our spring 2005 meeting. Grace and Peace, on behalf of the Bishop E. Earl McCloud, Jr. Bishop Nathaniel Jarrett Bishop Ronald Cunningham Bishop Michael Molder Bishop Linwood Rideout Bishop Violet Fisher Bishop Rhymes Moncure Bishop William B. Oden "Beyond Repentance: Creating Communities of Peace
and Justice"
Date posted: Nov 23, 2004 |
|||||||||
