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We gather as a people who believe that every human being is created in the image of God, and that every life—every family, every child, every community—is sacred. In this moment of global turmoil, we lift our voices as followers of Jesus to proclaim a justice-centered peace in the face of war.
Today we lament the suffering caused by the war involving Iran. We grieve for families torn apart, for communities displaced, and for the deep wounds inflicted upon God’s beloved. Yet our lament does not end there, because the pain of war is not confined to one region.
We remember the people of Ukraine, living under invasion and bombardment. We remember the people of Gaza and Israel, enduring cycles of violence that shatter lives and futures.
We remember communities in Sudan, where civil war has brought famine and displacement. We remember the people of Myanmar, struggling under military violence and persecution. We remember those suffering in Syria, where years of conflict continue to devastate families.
We remember the forgotten wars—Yemen, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia’s Tigray region, and others—where suffering persists even when the world’s attention fades.
In all these places, God’s children cry out. And we hear them.
Scripture teaches us: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.” (Matthew 5:9) This blessing is not passive—it is a calling. It demands that we see the suffering of God’s people and respond with courage, compassion, and truth.
The prophet Isaiah gives us God’s vision: “They shall beat their swords into plowshares… nation shall not lift up sword against nation.” (Isaiah 2:4)
Indigenous peoples across the world remind us that violence against people is also violence against land, and that war tears apart not only human communities but the ecosystems that sustain life.
Indigenous wisdom teaches that:
- Land is not a resource—it is a relative.
- Children are not casualties—they are future ancestors.
- Care is not charity—it is covenant.
From this perspective, war is not only a political failure; it is a spiritual rupture. It breaks relationships—with land, with ancestors, with future generations, and with the Creator who entrusted us with stewardship.
Indigenous teachings echo the Psalmist’s call: “Seek peace, and pursue it.” (Psalm 34:14) Peace is not merely the absence of conflict—it is the presence of right relationship.
So we honor Indigenous voices who call us to:
- protect the land from destruction,
- safeguard water from contamination,
- shield children from trauma,
- and uphold the sacred web of relationships that war seeks to unravel.
As a denomination rooted in the liberating love of Christ, we declare:
- War is a failure of imagination and a betrayal of God’s dream for humanity.
- Violence cannot bring peace; only justice can.
- Every person caught in conflict is our neighbor, and their suffering is our concern.
We call upon global leaders to turn from retaliation and toward diplomacy. We call upon faith communities to resist narratives that dehumanize entire peoples. We call upon ourselves to be witnesses of peace—in our prayers, our advocacy, and our daily lives.
Jesus reminds us: “Whatever you did for the least of these, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40)
Today, the “least of these” are those whose lives are being torn apart by war. Our solidarity with them is not political, it is spiritual. It is the Gospel lived out loud.
So let us commit ourselves:
- to pray for peace with persistence,
- to speak against injustice with clarity,
- to support humanitarian relief with generosity,
- to stand with all who seek safety, dignity, and liberation,
- and to honor Indigenous teachings that call us back into right relationship with land, people, and Creator.
May the Spirit of the Living God strengthen our resolve. May Christ’s peace guide our actions. May our witness be bold enough to matter and tender enough to heal.
This is our stance. This is our prayer. This is our justice.
Ashe, Aho, and Amen.
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