Behind the News: Providing church, ecumenical and inter-faith information, resources, and analysis on issues of current global concern  A joint initiative of
WCC, ACT & EAA

 
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This bulletin/website is intended to provide an ecumenical space for "visions for peace" and "voices of faith". These materials do not necessarily reflect official
policy documents of the WCC, ACT or EAA.

last update: 12 March 2003


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The World Council of Churches (WCC) is a fellowship of 342 churches in more than 100 countries in all continents from virtually all Christian traditions. The Roman Catholic Church is not a member church but works cooperatively with the WCC. The highest governing body is the Assembly, which meets approximately every seven years. The WCC was formally inaugurated in 1948 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Action by Churches Together (ACT) is an international alliance of churches and relief agencies assisting thousands of people recovering from emergencies in
more than 50 countries worldwide.

Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance (EAA) is a global action network of churches and church-related organizations who have pledged themselves to change unjust policies and practices related to global trade and HIV/AIDS. Participants speak out with one voice against injustice and structures which deprive human beings of dignity and for alternative visions based on the Gospel.

 Bulletin Behind the News

Through Behind the News: Visions for Peace - Voices of Faith, Action by Churches Together (ACT International), the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance (EAA), and the World Council of Churches (WCC) provide alternative voices and perspectives on areas of critical conflict involving and demanding action by people of faith.

Bulletin Issue No 21, - Special Edition -
10 March 2003

As war in Iraq becomes increasingly likely, people of faith are compelled to act and be a living sign of hope. On every continent, in every country, and in every community, people are resisting the rush to war and standing against violence that will not, and cannot, bring peace. Churches and religious leaders have been a strong and prophetic part of these global anti-war protests, the largest the world has witnessed since the Vietnam War. The struggle to be peace-makers must continue and grow, even if - especially if - bombs begin to fall on Iraq.

Open your churches
Pray
Say “no” to war
Give generously to save lives
Share experience and encourage others

Churches and religious leaders around the world are making powerful statements and taking courageous actions -- sometimes against the positions of their political leaders. Such actions have been strengthened because they are linked with those of many other churches and religious traditions, showing a unified voice and a common witness against war in Iraq and for efforts that promote a just and sustainable peace in the Middle East and world-wide.

The Behind the News editorial group has received hundreds of statements, reports, and calls to action from around the world. Rather than summarize and list all we have received, we have chosen instead, in this special edition, to focus on five areas of action that churches around the world have called for .

Share these ideas. Forward this bulletin to your friends and family, and ask them to do the same. But more importantly, take up these actions as part of your contribution to building peace.

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is a joint initiative of the

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Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance (EAA)

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last update: 20 February 2003

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