Iraq

PC(USA) takes strong action for peace.

As divisions around issues of sexuality continue to dominate conversations in the wake of the 218th General Assembly of the PC(USA), our church has demonstrated remarkable unity in its collective call to peacemaking. In fact, on many issues there was such consensus among commissioners that little or no discussion was offered in plenary sessions. We want to highlight the many ways our denomination adopted policies that will strengthen its larger witness for peacemaking in our broken world.

By Shane Whisler
Presbyterian News Service

The Committee on Peacemaking and International Issues reported on Latin American issues on Friday afternoon. Photo by Joseph Williams

SAN JOSE, June 27, 2008 — Commissioners to the 218th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) “stayed the course” of being peacemakers around the world. The Assembly called for “responsibly” bringing the troops home from Iraq, continuing peacemaking in Israel and Palestine and supporting human rights in Zimbabwe, the Philippines, North Korea and Colombia.

Issues concerning peace, as it relates to the Middle East and other crisis areas of the world, took the majority of the committee’s time during deliberations earlier this week. Their mindful discernment helped the full General Assembly to move business quickly and collaboratively. As a result, the full assembly quickly passed overtures that affirmed immediate food aid to North Korea, civil rights accompaniment to citizens of Colombia and a careful approach to peacemaking in Israel and Palestine.

by Shane Whisler
Presbyterian News Service

SAN JOSE, June 23, 2008 — The General Assembly Peacemaking and International Issues Committee quickly and unanimously voted on its first two overtures, then approved two others before settling into thorough and soul-searching hearings and discussion for hours on overtures related to the war in Iraq.

Items approved are listed at the end of this article.

On Sunday, June 22, in conjunction with the meeting of the 218th General Assembly of the PC(USA), the Presbytery of San Jose Peace & Justice Task Force, the Council of Churches of Santa Clara County and members of the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship are sponsoring .Eyes Wide Open, the widely acclaimed exhibition on the human cost of war.