I believe the deputies and bishops who will be representing the Episcopal Church at its 2003 General Convention next summer in Minneapolis must begin to discuss what, if anything, we will do or say given two realities related to the U.S. These realities are: (1) that the U.S. is in a state of armed, economic and political conflict with a range of persons, organizations and states in what is called a "war on terrorism," and (2) that the U.S. government seems determined to end the current regime in Iraq by whatever means necessary, including armed warfare. We must prepare ourselves and our church for a life and witness in a country at war, a condition already present. This preparation is necessary no matter the actual character of the future conflict between the U.S. and Iraq or, more generally, the future occurrences of terrorist attacks or the actions of other states against the U.S., or our responses before or after such attacks.

I am asking for consideration of the following question: What can we as the Episcopal Church do or say to prepare Christians for life and witness in a country at war?

It may be a question already under discussion in various committees and commissions of the church, in Executive Council, among staff at the Church Center. Certainly some independent organizations related to the church have done so, and there has been past witness to these matters. But I believe the question needs also to be discussed by all of us called to be the church assembled in that very peculiar gift called General Convention, both now and in next summer’s convention itself.

These are not easy times for such discussion. The government is calling for unity, and all questioners are seen as encouraging disunity. There is always the fear of being labeled unpatriotic, but we should not have a care for such fears. The issues are too large to be put aside because of a call for loyalty to the state, or even for harmony within the church. We must find ways to discuss this question and indeed come to common tasks and resolution. Not to do so is to fail the essentials of Christian life together.

Many of us have truly useful things to say. We all need to hear them.

I have a small suggestion: One of the lines of discussion toward knowing what to say and do to prepare us for life and witness in a country at war might be to raise the issue of the arrogance of power.

We in the faith know a lot about idolatry. One of the chief characteristics of idolatrous behavior is the arrogance of believing that God is ours – that we possess the Golden Calf, that our nation represents a chosen people, that we are the true church. The current realities, I submit, raise the specter of a U.S. unparalleled in its abilities to incarnate such arrogance of power. But we as deputies and bishops at the next General Convention will be called upon to stand with another Incarnation, one whose embrace is not arrogant at all.

Making that stand matters deeply. The time has come to begin talking about how.

To learn more
The Episcopal Peace Fellowship is a community of Christians working and praying for peace. EPF is urging Anglicans worldwide to join its Campaign of Conscience for the Iraqi People:
http://www.episcopalpeacefellowship.org/home.htm
Or contact EPF executive director, Jackie Lynn epfnational@ameritech.net or 312-922-8628