Presbytery of the James will be asked to affirm "call to
say no to torture"
[1-23-06]
The Session of Bon Air Church has overtured the Presbytery of the James to
"accept and affirm A call to say no to torture" etc. (POJ Overture
06-03):
The full text of the proposed overture is below, or
you can read it [in MS Word format] on the
Presbytery website >>
To be considered at the Presbytery meeting on Feb. 11.
POJ Overture 06-03 Regarding "A call to say no
to torture" - From the Session of Bon Air Presbyterian Church.
The Session of the Bon Air Presbyterian Church overtures
the Presbytery of the James to accept and affirm "A call to say no to
torture" and calls upon the congregations and members of the Presbytery
of the James:
TO PRAY.
We should pray for those who are detained and their
families, and for our troops and their families. Those who serve their
country must never be asked to treat prisoners in ways that are contrary to
the law, their own conscience, or basic human dignity.
We should pray for ourselves and our nation. We must
strive to create a climate of religious tolerance and respect, rather than
perpetuate a cycle of fear and vengeance. Requesting an end to torture in
all its forms is the first step.
TO STUDY.
Abuse and torture are complex and difficult issues, but
knowing the truth—even uncomfortable truths—can set us free to act. The
Public Ministries Board is hereby requested to design and lead a study
opportunity for the Presbytery at either an upcoming POJ meeting or at
another venue.
TO DIALOGUE.
We are called to be in thoughtful, respectful dialogue
with one another, seeking common
ground and listening carefully to one another when we
disagree. In so doing, we know that our witness as followers of Jesus Christ
becomes ever stronger and more faithful.
FURTHER, THE PRESBYTERY OF THE JAMES WILL:
1. Encourage her members to correspond with our elected
officials, calling on the United States and its allies to advance the goal
of eliminating torture and holding accountable any who are responsible;
2. Encourage her members to correspond with our elected
officials, sharing their concerns for those persons who have been detained
without being charged with any crime, that the accused may receive fair and
speedy trials; and
3. Communicate its acceptance of "A call to say no to
torture" with our elected officials and the Peacemaking Office of the
General Assembly of the PCUSA.
RATIONALE:
Making peace and affirming human dignity are recognized as central to the
message of Jesus, as is witnessed by the Bible and the Confessions of our
Church.
The PCUSA has repeatedly affirmed a commitment to
Peacemaking.
The Moderator of the PCUSA General Assembly, Rick Ufford-Chase,
and the Director of the Presbyterian Council for Chaplains, Ed Brogan, have
issued "A call to say no to torture".
US military experts and survivors of torture have declared
that torture of prisoners is an ineffective way to extract useful military
intelligence and is harmful to our own troops in the field.
