PCUSA staff member going to Iraq to oppose U.S. action Institute on Religion and Democracy Thursday, December 26, 2002 WASHINGTON – A group of mainline church officials, led by National Council of Churches General Secretary Robert Edgar, is going to Iraq to demonstrate its opposition to U.S. military action to depose Saddam Hussein. The Rev. Victor Makari, the coordinator of Middle East/Interfaith Relations at the headquarters of the Presbyterian Church (USA) in Louisville, Ky., is a member of the delegation. Clifton Kirkpatrick, the PCUSA's stated clerk, has strongly opposed U.S. military intervention in Iraq as a response to Iraq's possible use of weapons of mass destruction. Calling the trip "ill considered and dangerous" in a Dec. 24 letter to Edgar, Diane Knippers, president of the Institute on Religion and Demcoracy, asked him to cancel the trip. "Such a visit by senior U.S. church officials already on record as strongly opposed to any U.S. military action can only give encouragement to Saddam Hussein and his supporters." The "ecumenical peace mission" will include 13 U.S. church officials, who will be in Iraq from Dec. 27 to Jan. 3. According to a United Methodist News Service report, the delegation will not meet with senior Iraqi government officials. Instead, they will meet with Iraqi religious leaders and groups working for "reconciliation, peace and justice, and the promotion and protection of human rights." Other reports mentioned that the group would seek to meet with UN weapons inspectors, though the purpose or goals of such a meeting were left unexplained. "We have seen plenty of pictures of Saddam Hussein holding up a rifle," Bob Edgar has explained. "I want the American public to see the people of Iraq who will be most affected by war – especially the children." Jim Winkler of the United Methodist Board of Church and Society, another delegation member, said, "Our board and the Council of Bishops, other boards and agencies, (and) most denominations in this country have concluded that this is not going to be a just war. The church is in the forefront of efforts for peace. It always should be in the forefront of efforts for peace." Other participants in this mission are two Unitarian Universalist representatives, Rev. Dr. John Buehrens and Robin Hoecker, and Virginia Paul, president of the Episcopal Women's Caucus. All have been strident opponents of the Bush administration's policies regarding the war on terrorism and now Iraq. Also participating is United Methodist Bishop Melvin Talbert, who was part of a similar NCC-led delegation to Iraq 12 years ago, when mainline churches were opposing the U.S.-led war to liberate Kuwait from Iraqi occupation. Knippers said this delegation, like the one 12 years ago, will be an embarrassment to U.S. church members whose officials are claiming to speak for them. "This peace visit will do nothing to forestall war or alleviate the plight of Iraqis who suffer under a brutal dictatorship," Knippers said. "These are perilous and difficult days," Knippers concluded her letter to Edgar. "I would hope that church leaders could face such times realistically. Instead, you are about to embark on an effort that is ill considered, foolish, and dangerous. Neither the church of Jesus Christ nor the people of Iraq will be well served by this ecumenical peace mission. Please stay home." Following is the text of Knippers' letter: The Rev. Dr. Robert Edgar President National Council of Churches 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 880 New York, NY 10115 Dear Dr. Edgar: I am writing to implore you to cancel your proposed trip to Iraq. I can see no good and a great deal of harm that could come from such a visit. It will be counterproductive. Such a visit by senior U.S. church officials already on record as strongly opposed to any U.S. military action can only give encouragement to Saddam Hussein and his supporters. No Christian wants a war. We all want peace, justice, and freedom for the people of Iraq, most especially the children you cite as justification for your trip. But be clear about this: The stumbling block to peace is the current Iraqi regime. Your trip will not help children. If the expedition has any effect at all, it will most likely put them in further jeopardy. How might war be avoided? One way would be for Saddam Hussein to comply completely with the demands of the international community. Failing that, one may hope that those around him will force him out of power. Such a scenario is more likely if Iraqi leaders see the firm resolve of the international community against Iraqi tyranny. You say that you oppose Saddam Hussein having weapons of mass destruction and that you "support rigorous UN weapons inspections to assure Iraq's effective disarmament." But you have no answer to the obvious dilemma – what if the Hussein regime refuses to disarm? You have opposed the very actions – military threat or sanctions - that could achieve the ends you say you seek. Your ongoing public advocacy sends exactly the wrong message to Iraqi leaders and the unintended consequence of your travels will be to embolden Saddam Hussein. We are not opposed to visits to fellow Christians or to humanitarian outreach. This could be done quietly. But you clearly intend to use your trip – including using contacts with people who cannot speak their minds freely – to influence American public opinion. We believe your domestic anti-war advocacy is inappropriate and wrongheaded. But to use the plight of the oppressed in a way that will strengthen the hand of their oppressor is contemptible. These are perilous and difficult days. I would hope that a church council could face such time realistically. Instead, you are about to embark on an effort that is ill considered and dangerous. Neither the Church of Jesus Christ nor the people of Iraq will be well served by this ecumenical peace mission. Please stay home. Sincerely, Diane Knippers President

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