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2549 Richmond Road, Suite 302  |  Lexington, Kentucky 40509  |  (859) 269-7715  | Fax (859) 269-1240

Click here for the pre-planned Call to Prayer order of worship that was used in Berea.
Click here to learn more about organizing a community-wide fast.
Click here for a copy of a press release that can be modified to inform your local media.
Click here for a list of local activities.

3-16-03
We request three actions by Kentucky churches.

1. We believe that it would be helpful if there could be simultaneous ecumenical prayer services held in every major community in Kentucky on the night after the war officially begins, or at least sometime during that week. We think these prayer services should avoid arguments about the war, should not contain preaching, but should include music, silence, and prayers of confession and intercession.

If you are willing to be the organizer in your town, city, or area, we have helpful worship resources to share with you. A Call to Prayer Service that was prepared by the Ministerial Association of Berea appears here. We can also share the worship service with you by fax, if you will notify us that you are willing to organize the service in your area. We also recommend another plan that you can view here.

You will then need to notify us about the details of your service as soon as possible: where, what church, when (date and time), and who will be involved. We will send out press releases to the major daily newspapers in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

2. During the week of March 31-April 5, we hope to have ecumenical Shalom Workshops for clergy in 4-5 localities across the Commonwealth that will provide clergy with resources to minister effectively during a time of possible antagonism and argument. These workshops will offer Biblical resources, guidance in preaching on "hot-button" issues such as the war, worship resources, and pastoral ministry suggestions for work with military families, with those who oppose the war, and with children and youth.

Please begin to spread the word about these Shalom Workshops. We will get back to you in the next few days with the designated localities and the names of the workshop leaders.

3. We recommend that every community develop support groups for families of military personnel, and support groups for those whose conscience leads them to oppose the war. Such support groups should be in different locations and on different nights, because their purpose is different. If you are interested in creating a support group, we have resources to help you.

We also have resources to help you if you wish to have a discussion about the merits of the war within your own congregation in a way designed to overcome polarization and division, and to build "shalom" within your church. Please contact us if you desire these materials. They have been tested in a large Kentucky church with a congregation that is very diverse in its politics and religious beliefs.

As members of the body of Christ, and as ecumenists, we affirm that our very commitment to Christ and to one another requires that we acknowledge our oneness, no matter how much we may differ. Therefore, in this time of national crisis, we have something unique and helpful to offer our people and the communities in which we live and minister. It is a vision of shalom, of hospitality, in the conviction that Christ died for all, and that reconciliation is always possible because of God's reconciling actions in Christ.

Setting aside the arguments for or against this war against Iraq for a moment, we need to minister to the crisis that the war will cause in our own towns, cities, and congregations. People are feeling very insecure and confused. Ambivalence runs high.

• There are many families in our congregations who have a loved one in the military, many of whom have been deployed to the Middle East already. They are anxious for the prayers for their loved ones, and for support, even though some of those same people may not be in favor of this war and others may be in support of it.
• We are entering a time when antagonisms and conflict can easily erupt, dividing our churches, and dividing our communities, and causing hurt to persons on all sides of the controversy.
• Prejudice and the possibility of hate-crimes against Arabs and Muslims may begin to occur.
• There will be those who oppose this war who will feel that the church should "exercise its prophetic voice" against the war. There will be those who feel that the church should "support the President and his foreign policy". There will be those who think that the church should stay out of the controversy all together. All of these people are "good" people, and they are our brothers and sisters in the human household of God.

The war against Iraq may tempt some to try to simplify and to polarize people into "for" or "against" camps. In fact, the situation is far more complex and will require our best ministry in the days and months ahead.

If we can be of any further service to you, please do not hesitate to let us know.

Sincerely,

Dr. Nancy J. Kemper, Executive Director

Rev. Ron Gaddie, President
Pastor, Highland United Methodist Church, Louisville

Click here for the pre-planned Call to Prayer order of worship that was used in Berea.
Click here to learn more about organizing a community-wide fast.
Click here for a list of local activities.
Click here for a copy of a press release that can be modified to inform your local media.
Click here for links to other peace resources.