From War to Peace: Iraq and the Church’s Voice

The purpose of the resource is to draw attention to aspects of the war that are not often treated in other places. This resource gives church partners in the Middle East a chance to offer reflections from their perspectives (a number of contributions come from partners); it helps us to learn more about the impact on Iraqis who have been forced from their homes and are now living as refugees or internally displaced and the efforts by Middle Eastern and US churches to address this problem; it gives us a chance to understand the issues of chaplains and soldiers in various stages of their involvement and what can be done in the context of local congregations to offer care for them and for their families; and it offers ideas about advocacy and public policy. In addition, it provides a section on peace and war that delves into the basic issues from theological and biblical points of view.

Editor’s Note

• Editor’s Note
  The Iraq and Afghanistan wars have continued for several years.  The impacts of these wars on both countries, and on the US, have been quite stark in terms of social, political, and economic effects, as well as the most important, the human.
  
• From War to Peace Cover Letter
  Signed by Rev. Sharon Watkins, Rev. John Thomas, Rev. David Vargas, and Rev. Cally Rogers-Witte

The Voices of our Church Partners: Perspectives from the Middle East

• A Story from Iraq, by Khalied Koutmeh
• The Suffering of the Iraqi People, by Rev. Dr. Riad Jarjour
• A View from Jordan, by Ms. Wafaa Goussous
• The Churches of the Middle East and the Challenges of the War in Iraq, by Rev. Dr. Nuhad Tomeh
• Reflections on Iraq from Lebanon, by Dr. Arda Arsenian–Ekmekji
• The Impact of the Iraq War on the Middle East; or, a Call to Partnership, by Rev. Dr. Paul Haidostian
• A Call for Peace, Reconciliation, and Action: Reflections from Egypt, by Mr. Nabil S. Abadir

The Voice for Those Unheard: Internally Displaced and Refugees

• “One Iraqi Family’s Journey,” by Matt Hackworth, Church World Service
• The Middle East Council of Churches and its programs serving Iraqi Refugees in Jordan, by Ms. Wafaa Goussous
• An assessment of the Iraqi refugee situation in Syria, by Mr. Samer Laham
• A story from Damascus of an Iraqi Family, by Rev. Dr. Nuhad Tomeh
• Christians in Iraq since the American Invasion in 2003, by Rev. Dr. Nuhad Tomeh
• Some recommendations on what the UCC and Disciples can do to address the situation of Iraqi refugees and internally displaced, by Jennifer Riggs and Mary Kuenning Gross
• UCC 2009 General Synod Resolution: On the Situation of Iraqi Refugees and Internally Displaced (beginning on page 13)
• “They Fled from Our War” by Hugh Eakin and Alisa Roth (article about the situation of Iraqi refugees) 
• Iraq: The Ignored Victims

The Voice for our Compatriots: Those serving in the military and their families

• Moral Injury in a Time of War: Background
• Moral Injury and Spiritual Care in a Time of War (General Assembly Resolution)
• The War and Pastoral Care of Soldiers, Military Families, and Chaplains, by Rev. John Gundlach
• Before and After the Reunion: Pastoral Care in a Time of War, Contributed by the Disciples Peace Fellowship, by Dr. Jim Higginbotham
• Preventing Suicidal Actions Among Iraq or Afghanistan War Veterans – Open Forest

Making Our Voices Heard: Advocacy and Public Policy

• From War to Peace: Iraq and the Churches’ Voice—Advocacy and Public Policy, by Sandy Sorenson

Voices for Peace

• Reflections on Peace, Power and Prayer, by Lonnie Graves
• A Brief Examination of “Biblical” Justifications for War, by Rev. Craig M. Watts
• An Overview of Peace in Scripture, by Rev. Craig M. Watts
• Peace in the Era of Predatory Globalization and Global Terror: The Church as a Human Community of Peacebuilders, by Rev. Dr. Eleazar S. Fernandez
• Peace and War: A Biblical and Theological Bibliography, Prepared by the Disciples Peace Fellowship
• From War to Peace: Iraq and the Churches’ Voice—Web-based resources
• This “Behavioral Covenant,” developed by the Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ, is recommended as a helpful resource for groups and congregations to use when discussing difficult issues together.