The following was sent via email to all members of my church on the upcoming war.

Subject: [PCUSANEWS] Church leaders issue pastoral letter on war

Note #7628 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

Church leaders issue pastoral letter on war
03142
March 19, 2003

Church leaders issue pastoral letter on war

Presbyterians urged to place their trust in Jesus Christ by Jerry L. Van Marter

LOUISVILLE - With a U.S.-led war against Iraq all but certain, three leaders of the Presbyterian Church (USA) have issued a pastoral letter to all Presbyterians, calling for prayer and fasting in support of all who will be in danger in the event of war.

The March 18 letter is signed by the General Assembly moderator, the Rev. Fahed Abu-Akel, the PC(USA)'s stated clerk, the Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick, and John Detterick, executive director of the General Assembly Council.

It acknowledges that Presbyterians "represent many different views regarding the best response to the threats posed by Saddam Hussein," and urges members of the denomination "to remember that our ultimate security is in the One who says to us: 'Take courage, I have conquered the world' (John 16:33)."

The full text of the pastoral letter:

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

We write to you today with heavy hearts, believing that short of a miracle, the beginning of full-scale military action against Iraq is imminent. In his address Monday night, our President left little room for the fading hope that war could be avoided.

We know that as the specter of war hangs over us all, those for whom it is most painful are those who find themselves in imminent danger, including U.S. military personnel prepared for combat, Iraqi soldiers ordered into place to defend their country and the citizens of Iraq who will find themselves the unintended objects of destruction and death. We cannot help
but think, also, of all the families, churches, businesses, and other communities whose circles have been broken by the call to bear arms. Though we know all too well the real toll of every war, it is our fervent prayer that God will offer protection to all those who are placed in harm's way by decisions not of their own making.

As we are in the midst of Lent and looking toward Holy Week and Easter, we call upon you to join us in prayer and fasting for all these named above, and also for the leaders of our nation, the leaders of Iraq and of all the nations of the earth. We are praying especially for those leaders in whose hands lie both the implements of war and the instruments of peace. We dare
to hope that whatever military action there is will be brief and that when the destruction has ended, the community of nations will come together to bring restoration. We urge Presbyterians to be in the forefront of efforts to rebuild Iraq, to support the United Nations and to work for peace and justice in the Middle East.

We are a diverse church, called into life by the Triune God, who is known to us in Jesus Christ. We represent many different views regarding the best response to threats posed by Saddam Hussein. Yet we are one in our faith in Jesus Christ as both the source of our salvation and the ground of our security. We urge you to remember that our ultimate security is in the One
who says to us, "Take courage; I have conquered the world" (John 16:33).

We know that you will be gathering in many places in the weeks ahead to pray, to study, perhaps to grieve and to support one another. Please take advantage of the resources that are available to you on our church's web site, www.pcusa.org/iraq. Many of these have been prepared for such a time as this.

"And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:7)

In the love of Christ and the hope of His Resurrection,
Fahed Abu-Akel, Moderator
Clifton Kirkpatrick, Stated Clerk
John Detterick, Executive Director

People are talking about shutting down the city of San Francisco with protests and civil disobedience to stop the money war machine. San Francisco is is such an economic slump, and the city currently has the biggest glut of office space in last 20 years. San Francisco has already been economically damaged by the dot com bust, so it's not the ecnomic engine it used to be. San Francisco is in fact, an economic hell hole right now.

If protestors really wanted to shut down the economic war machine, they should shut down Washington DC and Pentagon City, or Wall Street in NYC, or the Chicago Board of Trade, and not my already economically ravaged city.

Personally, I think the anti-war protests and the shut down of the city will have the opposite effect. I think people will just get upset, and turn away from the anti-war protests. I'm listening to a representive from anti-war protest organizers, and he's totally pissing me off. He is such a jerk! Talk about whiny and not answering any directly any of the questions that people are asking him. He's worse than any slimy politicianm who won't answer a question directly. I can see the headlines now, downtown San Francisco workers getting into fights with anti-war protestors. Great!

Whatever. This is one of the few times I'm glad I don't work in the downtown Financial District of San Francisco.

I'm not sure what kind of paper The Guardian UK is, but a columnist had this to say about Tony Blair, Electrifying Blair goes into Churchill-Custer mode. Did I read this right? Tony Blair being compared to Winston Churchill?

News commentators here in the SF Bay Area are saying to check out Blair's speech to the House of Commons. It's supposed to be amazing, and they're predicting it will be studied for years as a great speech. Well done, Tony Blair!

Sorry, I'm just not all that chatty this week. I think all this talk of war is putting me into a bad mood. I support the president and our troops, but I'm starting to become frightened of all this talk of retaliation from Al-Queda and Iraq. I know most of it is talk and rhetoric, but still it's frightening.

And all these darn protests here, I don't know. Wouldn't it make more sense to protest in a city where people are more supportive of the war? Like how about NYC or DC or Dallas or Atlanta? It's a mystery. I just hope people support our troops, and don't treat them as badly as they did the Vietnam war vets.

Last night I went through my closet and threw out five shopping bags of clothing, and the whole process was so upsetting. I think I threw out $2,000 worth of clothes, and it freaks me out. It makes me feel like I've been misallocating my financial resources. I know that some of the clothes are being thrown out because I lost weight and the clothes don't fit anymore, but it still freaks me out. I feel like such a wasteful clotheshorse. I threw out 9 pairs of pants.

Some of the clothes I'm getting rid of are not my style anymore either. I threw out two pairs of wool shorts, that I used to wear in the winter time to work with a blazer and heels. I tried them on last night, and I felt so old fashioned. Do people still wear outfits like this? I know I wouldn't be caught dead in them anymore.

Some of the clothes being thrown out were just old and I was holding on to them for sentimental reasons. There were a couple of outfits I bought while on vacation, that I haven't worn since those vacations. You know, funky tropical clothes that look great on while you're on vacation, but look so touristy at home. I threw out belts, hats, and old scarves. I have belts that are now too big for me. What a trip!

I think I need to be more careful about my clothing purchases. I threw out clothes and a pair of shoes that I've never worn. I think I bought them on sale, but then never ever had an opportunity to wear them. It's so wasteful! I'm so wasteful!

And yes, can you tell I'm bummed about what I threw out last night? The only two good things that came out of this whole process is 1) I have more space in my closet and 2) charitable tax deductions.