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Public Advocacy
God is Lord of all of life. As followers of Jesus, our faith calls us
to exercise stewardship of our citizenship through involvement in the public
arena. Visit the Legislative Action Center to
find the latest information on current issues, locate your Senators and Congressperson,
and draft an email or letter that lets them know how you feel. Writing a letter
to the editor is one form of advocacy in which we can all participate. The
Presbyterian Washington Office Web site makes writing such letters easy. Go to
the Media Guide and type in
your zip code to find the media outlets in your area.
Why are persons of faith involved in the public arena?
What do scripture and the Reformed tradition tell us about
their involvement in the world? [Read more] |
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Resources on Peacemaking Issues |
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Items marked with  are
Adobe Acrobat PDF documents. For best results, right-click the link (or click
and hold for Macintosh), select "save target as" and save the document to your
desktop for viewing and printing.
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Addressing Poverty |
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Let Justice Roll - Living
Wage Campaign |
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The
Let Justice Roll Living Wage Campaign, a nonpartisan program of more than
fifty faith-based and community-based organizations, works in support of federal
legislation to raise the federal minimum wage and state legislation and ballot
initiatives to increase the minimum wage in selected states. |
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Antiracism
Office of Racial Justice
and Advocacy Advocacy Packet on Global Racism from the Presbyterian
United Nations Office
Resources for dialogues on issues related to race
Many groups are engaging in dialogues on issues related to race and racism
in the aftermath of the March
18 speech by Barack Obama. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) provides several
resources that might be helpful in organizing such dialogues:
Print Resources
The report of the Initiative
Team on Racism and Racial Violence, approved by the 211th General Assembly (1999)
as the PC(USA)’s comprehensive policy
document on racism.
This six-session
study teaches communication guidelines, mutual invitation, community bible study,
and power analysis and explores how to use these tools to build community in
the face of racism and other factors that divide us.
$3.00 • PDS #7027004014
This five-session study for
youth was developed to help youth confront racism and work to build the "beloved
community."
$1.25 • PDS #7027098002
The General Assembly has commended the Belhar
Confession to the church as a “resource for reflection, study, and
response, as a means of deepening the commitment of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
to dealing with racism and a means of strengthening its unity, bearing in mind
that the Belhar Confession emerged from the context of racism in South Africa.” Download The Belhar Confession and The
Belhar Confession study guide.
Study Opportunities
This year’s Multicultural Institute at Ghost Ranch will include two
opportunities to develop and refine skills for use in dialogue on issues of race
and racism:
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Colombia |
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Opportunities for Ministry
Colombia Accompaniment Program
The Colombia Accompaniment Program is a joint project of the Office
on South America and the Caribbean of World Mission, the Presbyterian Peacemaking
Program and the Presbyterian
Peace Fellowship.
In response to the request of the Iglesia Presbiteriana
de Colombia for Presbyterians to accompany it as the situation of repression
escalates, the PC(USA) has initiated a program
of sending short-term volunteers to Colombia in teams of two or three persons
for four to eight weeks.
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Colombia resource booklet
Full document (2.24MB)
Resource booklet in parts
- Part 1 (894k)
- Part 2 (262k)
- Part 3 (605k)
- Part 4 (1.12MB)
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For More Information
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Christian Witness for Peace in Iraq
Ongoing Witness
The Christian Peace Witness for Iraq is a Christian-based
movement that seeks to create real security and peace in Iraq. Five commitments guide
the Christian Peace Witness:
- End the U.S. war and occupation
- Support our troops
- Support an Iraqi-led peace process
- Say NO to torture
- Say YES to justice by fully and justly funding human needs at home
The Christian Peace Witness has identified three strategies for this effort:
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Decade
to Overcome Violence
Reflections
on the International Use of Power by the US Government: a U.S.
Christian Contribution to the Decade to Overcome Violence
2007 Annual Focus
The annual focus of the Decade
to Overcome Violence (DOV) in 2007 is Europe.
The
Prayer of a Peace Maker, attributed to Saint
Francis of Assisi, includes
the supplication: Make me an Instrument of Your Peace. This prayer was chosen
as the theme for the Focus
on Europe 2007 of the by the Steering Group, composed
of young adults from all over Europe. The theme invites us to accept the challenge
of overcoming violence in Europe actively and intentionally, while relying on
God's promise and power, not ours.
Video Messages of Peace
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu is among more than a dozen
well-known Christian leaders and peacemakers from all over the world who have
created video
messages supporting the World Council of Churches' Decade to Overcome Violence.
The two-minute messages also affirm the churches' and faith communities' work
for peace and justice.
The video messages are available in both webcast and broadcast quality. Links
are also provided to full transcripts of the messages.
Decade to Overcome Violence Goals
- Addressing holistically the wide varieties of violence,
both direct and structural, in homes, in communities, and
in international arenas and learning from the local and regional
analyses of violence and ways to overcome violence.
- Challenging the churches to overcome the spirit, logic
and practice of violence; to relinquish any theological justification
of violence; and to affirm anew the spirituality of reconciliation
and active nonviolence.
- Creating a new understanding of security in terms of cooperation
and community, instead of in terms of domination and competition.
- Learning from the spirituality and resources for peace-building
of other faiths to work with communities of other faiths in
the pursuit of peace and to challenge the churches to reflect
on the misuse of religious and ethnic identities in pluralistic
societies.
- Challenging the growing militarization of our world, especially
the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.
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Democratic Republic of the Congo
PC(USA) at Work in Democratic Republic of the Congo
UN
News Centre — News Focus: Democratic Republic of Congo
United
Nations Country Fact Sheet
United
Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MUNOC)
MUNOC
and the Elections |
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Department of Peace
From nonviolent communication skills to conflict resolution techniques to
cultural relationship building, the Department would employ proven and effective
strategies for diminishing violence in our country and the world. Its work would
range from providing support for state and local governments as they address
domestic violence to establishing a U.S. Peace Academy. The 214th General Assembly
(2002) called for "the creation of a U.S. Department of Peace at the cabinet
level, in order to provide focused government efforts to promote peacemaking."
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Disarmament
Faithful Security: The National Religious Partnership on the Nuclear
Weapons Danger
Faithful Security
is a network of citizens who participate in the National Religious Partnership
on the Nuclear Weapons Danger. Participants are committed
to organizing religious communities on a local level to break faith with nuclear
weapons once and for all. Faithful Security works toward the permanent elimination
of nuclear weapons by empowering religious communities to take action on a local
level. The group has created a toolkit to provide resources to learn about the
nuclear weapons danger and suggests action to build a safer world for all of
our brothers and sisters.
Muslim-Christian Initiative
The Muslim-Christian Initiative
on the Nuclear Weapons Danger was developed to enable Muslims and Christians
in this nation to work to end the nuclear weapons danger. The
initiative has developed study materials for
use by individual Christians and Muslims, church groups and Islamic centers.
The Muslim-Christian Study and Action Guide on the Nuclear
Weapons Danger will
help Muslims and Christians apply their faith to the nuclear weapons danger and
provide opportunities for the two faith communities to work together on an issue
of fundamental importance. Creation, Love, and Peace: People
of Faith and the Nuclear Danger contains study guides for three sessions.
Designed as a supplement to the study and action guide, the materials include
prayers, readings and discussion questions.
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Issues
Non-Governmental Organization on Disarmament, Peace and Security
For more than thirty years, the Non-Governmental
Organization (NGO) Committee on Disarmament, Peace and Security has provided
services and facilities to hundreds of citizens' groups concerned with the peace
and disarmament activities of the United Nations. Because of its distinguished
efforts as conference organizer, network clearing house, newspaper publisher,
and year-round UN liaison, the NGO Committee is viewed as a primary ally of the
international movement for arms control, peace and disarmament, and the continuing
body designated to serve this worldwide constituency. The NGO Committee publishes
a periodical Disarmament Times that
looks at nuclear disarmament, the small arms trade, weapons in space, and other
issues related to peace and security
World Religions for Peace
A Call for Arms Control and Nuclear Disarmament
General Assembly Actions
Summary of General Assembly Actions Related to Nuclear Weapons
At the Crossroads
A resource from the Friends Committee on National Legislation
Strategies for Congregations to Work on Disarmament Issues
- Educate members on the nature of disarmament issues making clear why people
of faith care about this issue.
- Advocate that this issue be addressed in worship.
- Recruit committed members
for the Presbyterian Washington Office's Global Security Network or another network
monitoring legislative action on disarmament issues.
- Work with others in the religious
community to implement educational and legislative strategies.
- Express your concerns
and commitments about disarmament issues publicly through letters to the editor
and other communication channels.
— Adapted from a resource of the
Interfaith Committee on Nuclear Disarmament |
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Fair Food
On September 24, 2005, the General Assembly Council (GAC) voted that the
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) become a founding member of the Alliance for Fair
Food. The Alliance for Fair Food, a growing network of religious, NGO, student,
labor, community, celebrity, and international passionate allies and institutions,
works with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) to establish socially responsible
purchasing in the corporate food industry, guarantee the human rights of farm
workers and end modern day slavery in the fields.
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Haiti |
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Please pray the people of Haiti during this
time of uncertainty and violence.
For further information on the Haiti and the current crisis
see: |
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HIV/AIDS
Availability of HIV/AIDS Medications
Prayer Resources from Church World Service
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Immigration
PC(USA) Statements
PC(USA) Resources
Links
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Iran
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Iraq
The Presbyterian Peacemaking Program, in cooperation with the
Middle East Office and other partners, offers these resources
in the hope that they will help Presbyterians engage in a variety
of ministries at such a time as this. [Read
more] |
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Israel/Palestine
Educate
Presbyterian United Nations Office Resources
On the Ground news monitor
produced by the NGO Working Group on Israel/Palestine (IPWG) of the United Nations.
Issue
2
Legal
Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
Pray
Advocate
- The Israel/Palestine
Mission Network of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) seeks to engage, consolidate,
nourish and channel the energy in the church toward the goal of a just peace
in Israel and Palestine by facilitating education, promoting partnerships, and
coordinating advocacy.
- Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel
- Churches for a Middle
East Peace
- SERRV International offers olive woodcarvings by the cooperatives,
Shepherd's Field Factories and Holyland Handicrafts, and olive oil from Sindyanna,
a non-profit organization administered by Arab and Jewish women established to
help restore and develop the Arab olive industry in the western Galilee of Israel. Type "olive
wood" or "olive oil" in the search engine for specific products.
- The
International Center of Bethlehem offers a variety of crafts made by Palestinians
including embroidery, ceramics, mosaics and more. Click on the "Cave
Gift Shop" link to see the variety of products and ordering instructions.
- Importing Hope: Olive Oil Partnerships and More
A participant in the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program’s 2006 travel/study
seminar in Israel and Palestine, Peter Mann saw the grave economic realities
in the occupied territories and wanted to make a difference. Recognizing the
importance of the olive oil harvest, he launched Import
Peace that sells fair trade, organic Palestinian olive oil and contributes
all profits to charity.
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Just
Trade
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Korea
The video Korea's Hope: Reconciliation and Peace features the Rev.
Dr. Syngman Rhee, former NCC president and Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) moderator.
Dr. Rhee supports the dream of many Koreans that North and South Korea will be
reunited or federated and that separated Korean families may once again see each
other. Produced by the National Training Center for Resource Center Directors
in Richmond, Va., Korea's Hope may be purchased for $20 postpaid by calling
(804) 354-9953. An ecumenical delegation organized by the National Council of Churches and
Church World Service that visited North and South Korea in November 2003 issued
a six-point
statement about the ongoing situation on the Korean Peninsula.
The 215th General Assembly (2003) of the Presbyterian Church
(U.S.A.) adopted A Joint Statement on Peace and Reunification
of Korea with the Presbyterian Church of Korea and the Presbyterian
Church in the Republic of Korea.
The Statement
(Section 12-07)
The
Assembly’s Action (page 14)
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Land
mines
Each month, eight hundred people die and
1200 are wounded by existing land mines. Most of the victims are children, women
and the elderly. The PC(USA) General Assembly, along with many organizations
and world leaders, has called upon the United States to ban the production, sale
and use of antipersonnel land mines. Find out why and learn what you can do!
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Making Peace with the Earth
General Assembly Policy
Advocate
Learn More
Links
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Myanmar (Burma)
Clifton Kirkpatrick, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly,
sent a letter to the secretary
general of the United Nations on
behalf of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to express
concern about the violence being used by the Myanmar government toward protesters.
The letter went to President Bush, Secretary of State Rice and ecumenical leaders.
Kirkpatrick also sent a letter
to the Myanmar Council of Churches, the
Christian Conference of Asia, the Presbyterian Church in Myanmar and the Buddhist
Peace Fellowship.
Many of those concerned for the people of Myanmar invite
people of faith to pray. The Buddhist
Peace Fellowship offers a number of suggestions of ways to support the people.
Religions for Peace has launched a global
appeal in support of the Buddhist monks in Myanmar, condemning violence and
calling for dialogue.
Faces of Myanmar
 Click
the photo for a slideshow. These images are a collection of photographs of the people
of Myanmar. They provide a human face of the people of that country: people who
work, smile, laugh and seek to live their lives. The photographs were taken by
David P. Young.
Statements on Myanmar
Other Links
News Sources
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Nonviolence
PC(USA) Statements
PC(USA) Study Guides
Steps Along the Way: Living as Peacemakers in a Violent World by Arch Taylor
and Jan Arnow
This eight-session study for adults explores a variety of
issues of violence and steps peacemakers who seek to follow Jesus might take.
Bullying, domestic violence, restorative justice, hate crimes, and militarism
are among the topics considered. PDS #70-270-03-011;
$3.00 plus shipping and handling
Peacemaking in a Violent World by Vera K. White
This five-session study for adults looks at reality of violence
and the nonviolent alternatives available through faith in Jesus Christ. PDS
#70-350-95-289;
$.75 plus shipping and handling
Children & Violent Video Games
Video
Other Study Materials
- Presbytery of Greater Atlanta Study and Reflection Paper
Training Opportunities
Groups Working on Nonviolence
Opportunities for Nonviolent Involvement
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Nonviolent Peaceforce
Formed at the 1999 Hague Appeal for Peace and inaugurated in Delhi, India
in 2002, the Nonviolent Peaceforce is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating
an international peace army of civilians trained in nonviolent strategies. The
Nonviolent Peaceforce responds to requests for help anywhere in the world, using
proven methods of nonviolence to assist human rights workers and to prevent violence,
death, chaos, and destruction. The need is great: it's estimated that only 1,000
people trained in nonviolence could have prevented the violence and genocide
that devastated Yugoslavia in 1998.
The Peaceforce represents an alternative
to massive military intervention that many people hope for. It is a key component
in the development of a strategic, cohesive, nonviolent response to brutality
and threats of genocidal violence. The
Peaceforce's first effort is currently taking place in Sri
Lanka. |
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Northern Ireland
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The Philippines
Statement by the United Church of Christ in the Philippines on the murder of the Rev. Filomeno Catambis
The report of Philip Alston, United Nations Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions on the Philippines 
Items marked with can
be downloaded in Microsoft Word format. For best results, right-click the link
(or click and hold for Macintosh), select "save target as" and save
the document to your desktop.
 Victims print by Amida Francisco. This oil painting shows five relatives of victims of violence in the Philippines. The impressionistic style gives them an almost faceless appearance, reminding us that so many victims of oppression are indeed faceless to the rest of the world. Prints of the painting may be ordered from the Reverend Larry Emery, Pastor of the Community Presbyterian Church, Walnut Grove, California for $25.00 with all proceeds going to CONTAK Philippines for the victims of the political killings.
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Presbyterians and Military Service
With concurrent engagements taking place in Afghanistan and Iraq and an ongoing
presence in numerous other countries, the United States armed forces are being
stretched. Enlistment is low; some military branches are failing to meet recruitment
goals. Some members of the service are asked to extend their tours of duty. In
the face of this situation, many people speculate that the U.S. will be forced
to reinstate a draft. The reinstatement of a draft always remains possible because
of the existence of the Selective Service System that currently requires 18-year
old men to register. However, many who address conscientious objection and other
draft-related issues believe a draft is not imminent. They do note that a draft
could be reinstated fairly rapidly once the decision has been made to do so.
If a draft is reinstated, people will probably be required to establish conscientious
objector status (CO) in a short time period, perhaps as short as one to two weeks.
Establishing CO status involves providing documentation that may be difficult
to gather quickly. Individuals who are COs should be working now to document
that position. As a result, those addressing issues related to conscientious
objection strongly encourage those who work with young people to talk candidly
about their options if the draft where to happen. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
has a strong history of supporting those who decide to serve in the military
and those who consciously object to war.
As young people make their choices on these matters, it is important to understand
the truths and implications of their position and to gather information about
their rights. The Peacemaking Program, in cooperation with the Office of the
General Assembly have created a number of flyers that may help people understand
PC(USA) policy and explore the various options related to the military.
Presbyterians and Military Service Information:
For more information on issues related to military service and the draft,
visit:
Recognizing the stress placed on individuals serving in the military, a coalition
of nonprofit, non-governmental organizations have created the GI Rights Hotline:
(800) FYI-95GI (800-394-9544). The hotline provides information to members of
the military about discharges, grievance and complaint procedures, and other
civil rights. Individuals who have enlisted in the armed forces and come to question
that decision based on new understandings of faith may use the hotline.
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Stopping
Torture
Rick Ufford-Chase, Moderator of
the 216th General Assembly (2004), and Ed Brogan, Director, Presbyterian Council
of Military Chaplains, invite Presbyterians to join in of prayer, study, discussion
and action focused on the treatment of those detained by and at the request of
the US and its allies since September 11, 2001. View their call
to the PC(USA) and
to congregations that have made the Commitment to Peacemaking.
General Assembly Policy
Advocate
Ideas for Responding to Torture
Washington Office Legislative Action Center
Endorse the Statement of Conscience from the National Religious Coalition against Torture
The No2Torture Group is
a Yahoo group consisting of people organizing as advocates for humane treatment
of prisoners captured and held by the United States and our allies since the
9/11 attacks. We are motivated by love of God and our country, and by concern
for captive and captors alike. To this end, we have decided to work, study and
pray together and to take such action as we deem necessary to promote peace,
justice and compassion. All who wish to join us are welcome. It is important
to note that, while those who initiate this conversation are Presbyterian, motivated
by the traditions and statements of our church, including the 2005 General Assembly
Statement Against Torture and Abuse, we do not speak for the church.
Study Materials
Out of Horror Hope Curriculum by No2Torture
No2Torture Poster
Worship Materials
Learn More
Links
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Sudan
The situation in Sudan, particularly in the Darfur region, continues to
unfold. Presbyterians are responding to the hunger, violence, and steps
toward peace in a variety of ways. The Presbyterian United Nations Office has
been meeting with country missions to the UN to pressure the Security Council
to act. Presbyterian Disaster
Assistance is providing humanitarian assistance
in the region and information updates for Presbyterian churches.
The Sudan Advocacy Action Forum (SAAF) coordinates prayer and advocacy
efforts on behalf of the people of Sudan. Sponsors include the PC(USA), the Reformed
Church of America, individual congregations of other denominations, and non-denominational
congregations.
For information and action ideas visit:
The PC(USA)'s history in Sudan dates back to 1901 when the
first missionaries from the American Mission in Egypt were sent
to Khartoum. The PC(USA) has had ongoing partnership with two
Presbyterian denominations in Sudan since that time, the Presbyterian
Church of Sudan and the Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church.
The PC(USA) has also worked closely with the two councils of
churches in Sudan, with Dr. Haruun Ruun the Executive Director
of the New Sudan Council of Churches being a PC(USA) Mission
Co-Worker. |
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Syria
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Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation
(Formerly Known as the School of the Americas)
God in Jesus Christ calls us to make peace. Recognizing that the nations of Central America, South America and the Caribbean have experienced “sustained levels of violence, that military leaders of the countries have been responsible for many incidents of violence and have been implicated in human rights abuses, and that many of those leaders were trained at the School of the Americas the 206th General Assembly (1994) called for upon the United States government to
- eliminate any and all funding for the School of the Americas, and close the school;
- cease any further training of the military leaders from the countries of Central America, South America, and the Caribbean; and
- use the funds that have been spent on the School of the Americas to support — both in the U.S. and in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean — programs for women, children, the hungry, the homeless, and other victims of violence.
The 207th General Assembly (1995) reaffirmed this action. The mission of the School of the Americas has been taken over by the Western Hemispheric Institute for Security Cooperation.
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