"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God." Matthew 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. 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.
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
Since January 2006, the more than 250 religious organizations comprising the National Religious Campaign Against Torture have worked together to end U.S.-sponsored torture. During 2008, the religious community advocated for a Presidential Executive Order ending torture. It happened. On January 22, President Obama issued an Executive Order halting torture.
Now the task is to make sure that U.S.-sponsored torture never happens again. To accomplish this goal, our nation needs to put safeguards in place to prevent its recurrence. We will better understand what safeguards are needed if we have a comprehensive understanding of what happened – who was tortured, why they were tortured, and who ordered the torture. As a nation we need the answers to those questions.
Therefore, NRCAT is calling for a Commission of Inquiry to investigate U.S. torture policies and practices. To bolster this call, we are asking you and other people of faith to endorse the statement "U.S.-Sponsored Torture: A Call for a Commission of Inquiry."
Please go to NRCAT’s website at www.nrcat.org and click on: Call for a Commission of Inquiry to find out how you can help.
Read "For the Soul of a Nation," by David Leslie, EMO executive director
"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)
“Who shall say what prospect life offers to another? Could a greater miracle take place than for us to look through each other’s eyes for an instant?” Henry David Thoreau
Common Ground is a coalition of peace activists, military personnel, counselors, veterans, health care workers and other concerned citizens who have come together around their shared concern for the well-being of veterans and their families. The group is working together to address the issues that arise from military deployment and reintegration. Some of Common Ground’s current projects involve the support of a Veterans Bridge Fund Project (VBFP), established by People of Faith for Peace. The VBFP provides small grants to returning Iraq and Afghanistan vets in transition. Other Common Ground projects include effort to find child care and bus passes for veterans and their families.
Other local veterans resources include:
Common Ground Annotated List of Member Service Providers
Returning Veterans Resource Project Northwest, info@returningveterans.com.
Military Families Speak Out, www/M.F.S.O.~oregon.org.
Oregon National Guard Reintegration Team, daniel.jon.thompson@us.army.mil.
Portland Vet Center, travis.wright@va.gov.
