The International Ecumenical Peace Convocation convened by the World Council
of Churches is currently happening in Jamaica. Here’s their Ecumenical Call
to Just Peace:
http://www.overcomingviolence.org/en/resources-dov/wcc-resources/documents/declarations-on-just-peace/ecumenical-call-to-just-peace.htmlInspiring
stuff!

It includes statements like, “Jesus told us to love our enemies, pray for
our persecutors,and not to use deadly weapons. His peace is expressed by the
spirit of the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-11). Despite persecution, he remains
steadfast in his active nonviolence, even to death. His life of commitment
to justice ends on a cross, an instrument of torture and execution. With the
resurrection of Jesus, God confirms that such steadfast love, such
obedience, such trust, leads to life. This is true also for us.”

“Nonviolent resistance is central to the Way of Just Peace. Well-organized
and peaceful resistance is active, tenacious and effective  ¢â‚¬“ whether in the
face of governmental oppression and abuse or business practices which
exploit vulnerable communities and creation. Recognizing that the strength
of the powerful depends on the obedience and compliance of citizens, of
soldiers and, increasingly, of consumers, nonviolent strategies may include
acts of civil disobedience and non-compliance.”

and

“We feel obliged as Christians to challenge any theological or other
justifications of the use of military power and to consider reliance on the
concept of a  ¢â‚¬Å“just war ¢â‚¬  and its customary use to be obsolete.”

And here’s the opening keynote address from Dr. Paul Oestreicher:
http://www.overcomingviolence.org/en/resources-dov/wcc-resources/documents/presentations-speeches-messages/iepc-keynote-address-by-dr-paul-oestreicher.html

An excerpt: “Unless we change, unless the Church moves to the margins and
becomes the alternative society that unconditionally says  ¢â‚¬Ëœno ¢â‚¬â„¢ to war,  ¢â‚¬Ëœno ¢â‚¬â„¢
to the collective murder that every embattled nation or tribe, every warring
alliance, every violent liberation movement, every fundamentalist cause, and
now the War on Terror declares to be just, until we throw this justification
of war, this  ¢â‚¬Ëœjust war ¢â‚¬â„¢ theology into the dustbin of history, unless we do
that, we will have thrown away the one unique ethical contribution that the
teaching of Jesus could make both to the survival of humanity and to the
triumph of compassion. ”

Wow!

(from my friend Simon)