As violence continues across the Middle East and the United States considers pre-emptive strikes against Iraq, one-million member United Methodist Women have taken up arms in prayer.
The new prayer campaign called, "Christian Women Pray for Peace from Advent to Easter," came out of a suggestion from a local member of Washington state. Her November letter to the United Methodist Women’s Division suggested that the organization begin a prayer campaign, and other denominations and faith groups might join the effort.
"Imagine if the world heard that the churches in the United States cared enough to pray that there will be no war. We could revolutionize the way some other countries look at America," she said.
A brainstorming session of United Methodist Women conference leaders and staff at the Leadership Training Event in St. Louis, Mo., followed. Out of it came the prayer campaign for peace.
Across the United States, women are being asked to:
Write a prayer for peace on a postcard between Advent and Easter and send it to the Service Center, General Board of Global Ministries, The United Methodist Church, 7820 Reading Road, Caller No 1800, Cincinnati, OH 45222-1800 .
Designate one day for prayer or a 24-hour prayer chain in each church. Ask members to sign up for one hour when they will pray for peace.
Hold prayer meetings for peace in local, district, and conference United Methodist Women groups and encourage women of other denominations to do the same.
Collect prayer postcards in "prayer boxes" stationed in different public gathering places, e.g., stores, restaurants, churches, etc., then send all postcards to the Service Center.
On Easter weekend, the Women's Division plans a demonstration for peace and to deliver thousands of prayers for peace on postcards to the White House.
A special web site is being developed for the campaign at http://gbgm-umc.org/umw/prayers4peace.html where ongoing news, advocacy efforts, and prayers for peace will be noted.
Women’s Division assistant general secretary, Lois Dauway, reminds the Church of the urgency of prayers for peace and that no prayer is too small.
"God hears our prayers. And, if each of us takes the time to pray for the leaders and decision makers of the United States and countries suffering from instability... and if we take time to pray for the people in these countries who are neglected, ignored, and forgotten... then our prayers will not be ignored," said Ms. Dauway. "Our small prayers become large prayers and voices that are heard around the world! We must pray without ceasing."
This campaign is part of an ongoing effort by United Methodist Women to work for peace in the world. The situation in Iraq and Israel-Palestine have been the recent emphases.
At the October board of directors meeting, directors adopted a statement opposing a U.S. unilateral strike against Iraq. The statement says:
"The Women’s Division re-affirms it opposition to war as the instrument for resolving the continuing conflict with Iraq; presses for lifting the sanctions against Iraq; and urges all governments, most particularly the United States and the Security Council of the United Nations, to pursue peaceful means in resolving conflicts with Iraq."
United Methodist Women have been working closely with Churches for Middle East Peace. Women are circulating a petition entitled, "A Christian Call for Peace." Women’s Division members joined the organization to call on Congress and the Senate in July to continue and increase United States funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) – an agency primarily responsible for providing schools, health care and essential humanitarian services to Palestinian refugees in the West Bank and Gaza. And presently, United Methodist Women are being urged to participate in Churches for Middle East Peace-sponsored, "Africa and Middle East Advocacy Days" in Washington, D.C., February 23-26.
The Women's Division represents United Methodist Women, a one-million member organization whose purpose is to foster spiritual growth, develop leaders and advocate for justice. Members raise more than $20 million a year for programs and projects related to women, children and youth in the United States and in more than 100 countries around the world.
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