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Representatives of the Kentucky Council of
Churches, meeting on Tuesday, September 10th, issued a three-point
statement to the media regarding U.S. foreign policy toward Iraq
and the potential attack on that nation for the purpose of deposing
Saddam Hussein. The statement urges restraint by the United States
government; encourages churches to engage in study and dialogue
about Iraq, its recent history, and the issues involved in the
current crisis; and recommends that churches and church members
convey their concerns to their Congressional representatives.
The text of the Council's statement is as follows:
As representatives of our churches to the Executive Board
of the Kentucky Council of Churches, meeting in Lexington, on
September 10, 2002, we are deeply concerned about the growing
crisis over Iraq and Saddam Hussein. We urge restraint in military
action to President Bush, Vice President Cheney, and the U.S.
Congress. We encourage our churches and their members to engage
immediately in study and dialogue about the current national and
global crisis about Iraq and Saddam Hussein, and the various actions
that are being discussed by the Bush administration and in the
media. Finally, we recommend that church members contact their
U.S. Representative and Senators to convey their concerns.
The Board also has appointed a task force to develop a resolution
concerning Iraq for presentation to and vote by delegates at its
55th Annual Assembly, October 17-18. The task force includes The
Rev. Dr. Ronald Ketteler, Ecumenical Officer of the Roman Catholic
Diocese of Covington; The Rev. Dr. Charles Hawkins, Ecumenical
Officer of the Episcopal Diocese of Kentucky; Dominican Sister,
Judy Morris; Maryrhea Morelock of the Lexington Society of Friends;
The Rev. Dr. Nancy Jo Kemper, Executive Director of the Kentucky
Council of Churches; and The Rev. Dr. Gerard Howell, pastor of
Central Baptist Church in Lexington, KY. The Assembly will meet
this year in Lexington, at Pax Christi Roman Catholic Church,
4001 Victoria Way. Some 125 delegates plus 20-30 observers and
guests will meet for two days to conduct Council business and
to engage in dialogue with one another, and to hear various key-note
speakers, including Dr. David Cortright, a peace activist with
the Fourth Freedom Forum, Goshen, Indiana. Dr. Cortright will
address the Assembly on Friday on the question: "Should the
U.S. Attack Iraq?" Later that day, Dr. Cortright will lead
a workshop on how churches can organize for peace in their communities.
[N. B. Please be alert for forthcoming press releases regarding the 55th Annual Assembly of the Kentucky Council of Churches, and the other national church leaders who will be delivering talks and sermons.]