Thursday, July 07, 2011

Resolution on war in Afghanistan calls for withdrawal of combat troops.

The Annual Conference adopted a Resolution the War in Afghanistan. The resolution was received from the Church of the Brethren Mission and Ministry Board, which had approved it during a partial-day meeting on July 2. The board forwarded the resolution on Afghanistan immediately the same morning to the Standing Committee of district delegates for Annual Conference consideration.

The last time the Church of the Brethren spoke on Afghanistan was when the General Board issued a resolution after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The current resolution has been made in part because of encouragement from the National Council of Churches and ecumenical colleagues to provide a peace church response to the war in Afghanistan.

The resolution calls on the President and members of Congress to began an immediate withdrawal of all combat troops, and to instead invest resources into the development of the Afghan people and infrastructure.

A list of six other recommendations urge the Church of the Brethren to become more engaged in areas such as humanitarian aid, alternatives to violence, ministry to those affected by the war, interfaith and intercultural dialogue, and study, prayer, and action related to just peacemaking.

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