"Dear Friends,

We write to you on the day following the tragic and shocking attacks on New York City, Washington D.C., and in the air. The devastation has been great, and the death toll will be high. These events have clearly demonstrated the vulnerability of people everywhere to this type of terrorist attack. As CWS offices are a mere seven miles from the devastation around the World Trade Center buildings, the New York staff feels that vulnerability at this moment even more. At the same time it reminds us of the many occasions in your countries and regions when you have experienced disasters by both natural and human causes, and the vulnerability with which the people of your nations live. We know of your concern for us as a nation and a people, and we are sure you join us, as people of faith, in our grief for those innocent people and their families who died in this senseless spasm of violence.

All of our U.S.-based staff are safe, and even though some may have had loved ones and friends at or very near the site, to the best of our knowledge, they are also safe. However, the psychological toll on the nation is incalculable. Those wounds will take time to heal. We worry that the anger that is so natural following such events, which destroy so many innocent lives, will be expressed in ways that will serve neither our nation nor the world well. Justice needs to be served, but we pray that vengeance will not rule anyone's reactions, and that the wisdom of lessons learned from you, our partners, will help us gain clarity and maintain perspective. Our prayer is that this wisdom, introspection, discernment, and the grace of God will guide our responses.

Some of you are in countries where repercussions might inevitably affect the lives of innocent people. Church World Service is deeply concerned about that possibility. We are also aware of the hatred that may be vented on people in the United States who, though very loyal citizens, are identified with particular ethnic or religious groupings suspected in acts of terrorism. We will do what we can to bring reason into the debate on retribution and, of course, we will continue in our commitment to respond to needs as you, our partners in God's work, request our participation. We consider it a high privilege to know that in times such as these, we are all members of a community of faith that sustains us in the midst of struggles.

Keep us in your prayers; and in this our time of trial, please accept our gratitude for your solidarity with us as expressed through your outpouring of letters of concern.

Sincerely,

Rev. John L. McCullough
Executive Director"

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