Peace & Conflict Resolution

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God."Matt. 5:9

"Make every effort to be a peace with everyone."Hebrews 12:14

At EMO, we believe that making peace with one another is fundamental to the Christian faith that we build our lives upon. In an increasingly polarized world, we seek to build bridges and break down the walls that divide us. By developing relationships through honest and respectful dialogue and acting together for the common good, we come to understand that our "neighbors"are like us: a part of the greater human family created by God. Though developing meaningful relationships we recognize differences and affirm our commonalities. This enables us to explore together the essential questions of our day: What brings us together? What gives us hope? How can we act together to heal our world?

Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon is committed to working for peace through public policy advocacy and by providing a unified voice for peace from the faith community. From the onset of the war, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon publicly opposed the use of military action in Iraq and supported finding peaceful alternatives to war. Since the winter of 2003, EMO has sponsored and participated in interfaith peace vigils, peace rallies and marches, letters and visits to the governor and legislators urging a timely withdrawal of American troops and a Portland resolution opposing U.S. involvement in the war. EMO continues to work with faith organizations and with the peace community to find ways to end the violence in Iraq and in other areas of conflict throughout the world.

For more information about how to get involved in interfaith peacemaking efforts, ecumenical and interfaith dialogue, advocacy, education and service, call EMO at (503) 221-1054 and ask for Jan Elfers, Director of Peacemaking Programs, or Kevin Finney, Director of Public Policy.

Examples of opportunities include:
•  Regular interfaith worship services
•  Monthly lunch meeting for religious peace leaders to deepen mutual understanding and enhance cooperation among religious communities
•  Oregon Interreligious Committee for Peace in the Middle East meets regularly to discuss actions that will promote peace in Israel and Palestine.
•  Interfaith Trips

End All U.S. Government Use of Torture
Torture is a moral issue. Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon is working with the National Religious Campaign Against Torture (www.nrcat.org) in urging members of Congress to apply the interrogation standards of the U.S. Army Field Manual, which prohibit torture, to all U.S. government agencies, including the CIA. A vote is expected on this issue in the U.S. Senate in January or February of 2008, when the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 comes up for a vote.

You can support this effort by signing on to an Oregon Interfaith Letter to Senator Gordon Smith Opposing the Use of Torture by Any US Government Agency. Read the letter.

E-mail kfinney@emoregon.org to let EMO staff Kevin Finney and Jan Elfers know that you would like to add your name to the letter. Please include your name, title and any congregational affiliation you would like listed.

Please also call one of the offices of Senator Gordon Smith, and tell them you are an Oregon resident and voter, that you oppose the use of torture by the U.S. government under any circumstances, and that you urge Senator Smith to support Section 327 of the Conference Report on the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, which applies the interrogation standards of the U.S. Army Field Manual to all agencies of the U.S. Government, including the CIA.

You can call any of the following offices for Senator Gordon Smith:
Washington DC – (202) 224-3753
Bend, Oregon – (541) 318-1298
Eugene, Oregon – (541) 465-6750
Medford, Oregon – (541) 608-9102
Pendleton, Oregon – (541) 278-1129
Portland, Oregon – (503) 326-338

End the Genocide in Darfur Now
"We call upon the U.S. Congress to enact the Darfur Accountability Act so that the African Union peacekeeping force might be expanded and given a stronger mandate to protect innocent civilians."
Bishop John Ricard, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
On the National Day of Action Sept. 21, 2005

The genocide in the Sudan is a humanitarian and moral crisis. Since 2003, over 400,000 human beings have died due to government sanctioned killing, raping and starving of the people in Darfur, an oil rich region in Sudan where many non-Arabic Sudanese live. The killings have been racially, religiously and financially motivated. Over 2.5 million human beings have been removed from their homes in Darfur by force. Many have fled to Chad and other countries in order to survive. Yet, despite a ceasefire agreement, the violence continues. The international community of nations, including the United States government, has not mustered the needed steps to bring the tragedy and suffering to an end.

In 2005, EMO helped to pass a bill in the Oregon Legislature that requires the state to divest funds from any companies conducting business with the Sudanese government. United States sanctions have not been regularly enforced. Several congressional bills are stalled. There is more that can be done. Your voice and prayers are needed to help end this human tragedy.

Below is a list of resources for congregations. Please use them and consider sending an offering of letters to Oregon’s US Congressional delegation and to local newspapers to raise awareness.

Save Darfur Coalition
Prayers of peace from different faith traditions
Faith Action Packet (PDF file)

Opposition to the War in Iraq
Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon wrote a letter to the Oregon congressional delegation in the fall of 2006 regarding our continued opposition to the war in Iraq. In the text, we reiterated both our grave concerns about preemptive military action in Iraq and the tragic on-going conflict that has resulted in the loss of lives on all sides, as well as devastating economic consequences. In the letter, we outlined a plan for a responsible transition out of Iraq taking into account the humanitarian needs of the Iraqi people. Eight Oregon bishops and executives signed the letter along with over 130 priests, ministers and interfaith religious leaders. View letter.