An Advent call to the church As we enter this season of Advent the board of the Episcopal Church Publishing Company, The Witness' contributing editors and the staff of The Witness magazine and website call the Episcopal Church and all people of faith to prayer for the victims of the September 11 hijackings and attacks and for all victims of the "war against global terrorism." We also call for sustained reflection about the morality of the bombing of Afghanistan and national policies associated with the war that are affecting the welfare of global citizens, asylum seekers, economic refugees and the earth. We hope that this reflection may lead us to committed personal and public witness on behalf of justice and peace. To aid in such reflection, and in a spirit of Witness tradition, we offer these words of Martin Luther King, Jr.: "The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it. Through violence you may murder the liar, but you cannot murder the lie. Through violence you may murder the hater, but you do not murder hate. In fact, violence merely increases hate. So it goes. Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: Only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: Only love can do that." Recent discussions among board members, staff and contributing editors have led The Witness' editorial staff to begin making plans for an issue on "Faith and patriotism" for March 2002.

Responses The weakness of the liberal position by Alan Jones [posted 12/12/01] The heart of the matter is faith by Emmett Jarrett & Anne Scheibner [posted 12/12/01] Hatred is the acid by George L.W. Werner [posted 12/12/01] The violence of religious fundamentalism by John Bryson Chane [posted 12/12/01] Hesitating at the sanctuary door in funeral times by Julie A. Wortman [posted 12/06/01] Called to save the lives of innocents by Douglas Theuner [posted 12/06/01] Reflections by William E. Swing [posted 12/06/01] Let peace-making begin by Mary Hunt [posted 12/06/01] Losing control by Janet Chisholm [posted 12/06/01] First Sunday of Advent by Bill Wylie-Kellermann [posted 12/06/01]