NATIONAL MFSA BOARD OF DIRECTORS SPEAKS OUT AGAINST WAR AND COMMITS TO STRENGTHEN AND EXPAND MFSA WITNESS WITHIN THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Meeting in Chicago, Illinois from April 18-21, 2002, the National Board of Directors of the Methodist Federation for Social Action called for an end to U.S. military action in Afghanistan and for a just, sustainable and secure peace for the peoples of the Middle East.

“We believe the Palestinian people have the right to live in freedom and peace, in a nation unoccupied by an oppressive, foreign, military force and in Israel’s right to live within secure borders,” said a statement released by the Board. (see below)

The Board expressed its support for “Palestinians and Israelis who are pursuing the goal of a Palestinian state and an end to Israeli-Palestinian conflict through non-violent resistance.” The Board also affirmed the current stance of the UMC in the Book of Discipline 2000 which calls for a stop to “military assistance and arms exports to the region.” (Page 758).

Related to Afghanistan, the Board wrote a letter to President Bush urging him to immediately end “the military action in Afghanistan and halt our military aggression in the region.” The board also affirmed a recent letter written by Southeast Jurisdictional MFSA leaders to UM Bishops calling upon the Bishops to prepare a strongly worded statement indicating their opposition to the escalation of the “war against terrorism,” especially the consideration of using nuclear armaments.

The Board spent long hours in dialogue about the world situation including a presentation by Bishop C. Joseph Sprague and a working session with the Rev. Martin Deppe, a retired clergy member of the Northern Illinois Conference.

Recommitting themselves to the mission of MFSA as an independent, progressive voice within the church and society, Board members launched a campaign to increase MFSA membership by 2002 members in 2002. Celebrating the addition of the Desert Southwest Chapter to the MFSA network, the Board also affirmed organizing work that is going on in the Yellowstone and Oklahoma Annual Conferences.

New leadership of the Board was elected with Joe Agne of New York and Marcia Hauer of Oregon elected as the new Co-Presidents.

Additional actions taken by the board included:

• celebrating the recent release of the 100th former death row prisoner, Ray Krone of Arizona, and encouraging local MFSA Chapters and the UMC at large to continue to work toward abolition of the death penalty including working for a death penalty moratorium as a step toward abolition.
  
  
• stating that MFSA continues to abhor racism in all its forms including the evil of racial profiling whether it involves motorists on our nationals’ highways, young people in urban setting, immigrant workers or Middle Eastern people unjustly detained in the wake of the tragedies of 9/11.
  
  
• affirming the recent U.S. Senate vote to refrain from drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
  
  
• affirming and signing the “Christian Call to Peace” petition of Churches for Middle East Peace.

The Board also expressed its support for the vital work of Women’s Division of the General Board of Global Ministries and of the faithful work of the General Board of Church of Society. The Executive Director was instructed to write letters indicating MFSA’s support for these church agencies currently under attack by conservative movements within the church. Response Magazine, New World Outlook and Christian Social Action were highlighted as particularly helpful resources for use across the church.