START/IDOPP Action Alert
September 15^th, 2010

Friends, at the end of August, you heard from me about the Nuclear START treaty – and that the Senate Foreign Relations Committee would consider it upon returning from August recess.  They are now back, and the issue is even more urgent. The Nuclear START treaty was first proposed by President Ronald Regan in 1982, and was first agreed to by the United States and Russia in 1991. It has been supported by politicians, Democrat and Republican alike, diplomats, and

members of the Armed Forces.  In December of 2009, the first START treaty expired – and there is now a real chance that START II, agreed to by President Obama and President Medvedev in April.  We not only need to have the treaty pass out of committee tomorrow, but we need a commitment for it to come before the full Senate by the end of the year.

But at its root, this is not about political support. This treaty needs to be ratified because morally it is the right thing to do. It is a treaty about reducing stockpiles of nuclear weapons, and taking steps toward building a more peaceful world. As we turn toward the International Day of Prayer for Peace, one way you can take a step toward reducing the threat of violence in our world is encouraging your senators to vocally support the Nuclear START treaty. Click here to send your senator a message as a person of faith.

Our witness for a more peaceful world is grounded in a history of speaking words of peace as Brethren. We have witnessed for conscientious objection, providing alternative service opportunities through Brethren Volunteer Service. We have taken direct action, marching on Washington, D.C., and supporting the work of groups like Christian Peacemaker Teams. We have lived in partnership with the witness of On Earth Peace – including consistently praying with them on the International Day of Prayer for Peace. This September 21^st, the Brethren Advocacy office is inviting you to join us on the International Day of Prayer for Peace. Via Twitter (CoB_Peace), Facebook (Brethren Advocacy) or the Brethren Blog, we will post different things hourly that make for peace which you can hold up in prayer. Join with us whichever way is convenient.

Church of the Brethren Policy:

1991 Annual Conference Statement, Peacemaking: The Call of God’s People in History reads: The church and Christians are called by God to witness to the gospel of peace with such intensity that nations repent and history is changed. Less than a radical witness can only lead us to accept idols of materialism, personal and national security at the expense of justice, blind nationalism, the glorification of military strength, and dependence on technological solutions for human problems.

Therefore, the Church of the Brethren shall:

1. continue to commit funds, staff and energies to a presence in Washington, D.C., helping our members keep abreast of public issues and speak truth to the principalities and powers;
2. develop networks on the district and national level for study and action on public policies of concern to the church, and to mobilize the church to respond;
3. advance efforts toward a more peaceful world order through supporting the peacemaking efforts of the United Nations and recognizing the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice;
4. work for a more just international economic order in which all people are able to secure their basic human needs;
5. support policies and legislation which radically reduce military spending and convert our national priorities to peaceful and life affirming production;
6. encourage the demilitarization of international relations and promote non-violent forms of defense (civilian-based defense);
7. advocate the forging of bilateral and multilateral agreements and treaties which abolish nuclear, biological, chemical and conventional weaponry;
8. affirm policies which foster human rights at home and abroad.

For more information about the witness ministries of the Church of the Brethren, contact Jordan Blevins, Advocacy Officer for the Church of the Brethren:

Jordan Blevins
C/O National Council of Churches
110 Maryland Ave. NE
Suite 108
Washington, DC 20002
jblevins@brethren.org
202-481-6943

Church of the Brethren Action Alerts are a ministry of the denomination's Global Mission Partnerships and its witness and advocacy office in Washington, D.C., in cooperation with the National Council of Churches. Contact advocacy officer Jordan Blevins at jblevins@brethren.org . Contact Global Mission Partnerships at the Church of the Brethren General Offices, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120; 800-323-8039 or mission@brethren.org .

© 2010 Church of the Brethren.

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