WMJM Statement on War
The United Methodist Church has taken a strong stand against the use of military force as an instrument for settling international disputes. Our Social Principles declare:
The church deplores war and all other forms of violent conflict and urges the peaceful settlement of all disputes. We yearn for the day when there will be no more war and people will live together in peace and justice.
We reject the use of war as an instrument of foreign policy and insist that every peaceful and diplomatic means of resolution be exhausted before the start of armed conflicts. Similarly, we oppose the increasing reliance on preemptive strikes unless they can be clearly demonstrated to be proportionate in response, delimited in human casualties, and undertaken in response to clear and immediate threats to human lives. We grieve that in a world where so many live in poverty, governments continue to dedicate enormous resources to preparing for and conducting wars.
In light of these clear statements by our denomination, WMJM calls upon the governments of Israel, Iran, Lebanon, and the United States as well as Hamas and Hezbollah to bring an end to aggressive military activity in Gaza, Lebanon, Israel, and now in Iran.
Ongoing conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon, and Israel have brought untold suffering and death to thousands upon thousands of God's beloved children. The world is facing a humanitarian crisis of unimaginable proportions as victims of the war come to grips with the destruction of their homes and livelihoods, the leveling of their cities, villages and farms, and the slaughter of their family members and friends. Famine and epidemic disease, which have emerged as tragic consequences both of the conflict itself and of Israeli restrictions on humanitarian aid, are magnifying the suffering and death even further.
Now, Israel's attack on Iran and Iran's counter-attacks on Israel threaten to escalate into a regional (and perhaps global) conflict. The possibility of a prolonged and dangerous war is magnified by threats coming from the United States to intervene on behalf of Israel.
We call on the governments of the United States, Israel, and Iran to call an immediate cease fire and to negotiate toward an agreement for peaceful co-existence and cooperation. This is the only way to establish healthy and prosperous communities across the region. The threat of an all-out regional and perhaps global conflict is far too great for the current cycle of preemptive and retaliatory strikes to be allowed to continue.
We also continue our call for Israel and Hamas to negotiate a real end to the conflict in Gaza... not just a temporary cease fire, but a lasting treaty of peace. The October 7 hostages must be released. Humanitarian aid for the victims of the war must be allowed to flow freely. The rebuilding of Gaza must begin. And measures must be put in place with international support to bring reconciliation and healing, and to enable peaceful and prosperous co-existence for all the inhabitants of Palestine and Israel.
Please contact your elected officials* to urge them to take necessary steps to do the following:
Prevent the United States from becoming militarily involved in the conflict between Israel and Iran;
Urge the government of the United States to become meaningfully involved in negotiating a lasting peace between Israel and Iran;
Call upon the government of the United States to pressure Israel to allow humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza and to negotiate both an immediate ceasefire and a lasting treaty of peace in regard to its ongoing conflict with Hamas; and
Insist that the United States strongly oppose any efforts to permanently occupy Gaza, to remove the inhabitants of Gaza to another country, and to redevelop Gaza for the economic benefit of others.
* Congressional Switchboard is at (202) 224-3121.