Resolution on US-Iraqi Relations

The Presbytery of Albany adopted this resolution on October 1, 2002.
[posted here3 1-17-03]

Thanks to the Rev. Richard Symes, who sent this to us.

After discussion, the Presbytery adopted the amended resolution as follows:

BE it resolved that the Presbytery of Albany:

1. Communicate to the Moderator and Stated Clerk of the General Assembly its profound support for all their efforts in speaking forth the peacemaking position of the Presbyterian Church (USA) as it impacts the current situation in the Middle East. particularly with reference to Iraq;

2. As Christians called to be peacemakers, express to the denomination's leaders our sense of urgency regarding the need for timely and prophetic witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace;

3. Call upon the President and Congress of the United States to abandon all efforts to initiate preemptive war with Iraq;

4. Strongly affirm to the President of the United States and to elected members of congress within the presbytery's bounds our commitment to peacemaking, and our insistence that every avenue of diplomatic resolution of issues related to Iraq be explored in order to avoid warfare, and that political rhetoric of saber-rattling be minimized in this time of tension;

5. Strongly urge members of the congregations of the Presbytery to engage in constant prayer on this issue, and communicate their personal reflections to the elected members of congress and the President of the United States;

6. Call upon the government of Iraq to comply with United Nations resolutions relating to the inspection of sites of potential production and deployment of weapons of mass destruction, and to abandon all efforts to produce and deploy weapons of mass destruction.

7. Stand in prayer at the end of this meeting, offering up to God the life of the whole church and the peoples of the world for healing and reconciliation as the gift of grace in Jesus Christ, our crucified and risen Lord.