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Greetings!
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Bishop Hee-Soo Jung
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This month, Chicago will host the meeting of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). During this month, we will hear many voices lifted in our city, some in opposition and some in support. My earnest hope is that this will be a time for us as Christians to give prayerful voice to our faith. As we pray for our city, we remember what our United Methodist faith has taught us.
We recall that NATO was constructed at the beginning of the Cold War in a response to the threat of nuclear proliferation. It was active in Korea. Most recently, we witnessed NATO acting in Libya and Kosovo. This month, the Group of Eight (G8) will be meeting as well at Camp David, Maryland. Many believe that by its actions NATO has reinforced the neo-liberal economic policies of the G8.
Our United Methodist Church has spoken about NATO directly in the Book of Discipline (2008), paragraph 165 and Book of Resolutions, 6094. We have urged NATO not to undermine the efforts of the United Nations and global bodies like the International Criminal Court. We support all movement to ban NATO's "first strike" policy and voice our unconditional 'NO' to nuclear weapons. Our Discipline is most clear when it says "we believe war is incompatible with the teachings and example of Christ." Instead, we support the work of United Nations in resolving disputes and ask that all multilateral efforts work in concert with, and not contrary to, its purposes.
During this month, we will hear the voice of many different groups. There are those who are concerned about the economic prosperity of a few while many go hungry. Others are concerned about the increasing militarism of our world. All who follow Christ should be concerned about such things. There will be seminars this month that will help to teach about those areas. My prayer is that our witness of faith lift up the humanity of all people. I pray that we may voice our care of God's world without resorting to violence to achieve our individual aims or our own sense of justice. Your Brother in Christ,
Bishop Hee-Soo Jung
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About the Chicago Summit
NATO holds a series of meetings that leads to an annual summit, which will take place in Chicago, IL, USA on May 20-21, 2012. The main venue will be McCormick Place, Chicago's sprawling convention center located on the lakefront in the near south of the city. In all, several thousand dignitaries, along with 3,000 members of the press will gather in Chicago. Attendees will include heads of state, cabinet ministers, other high-ranking government officials, and the Secretary General of both NATO and the United Nations (UN).
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Join in the Conversation
Resetting the Table - Economic Justice for All
May 06, 2012 4:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Location: First UMC Chicago Temple
77 W. Washington St
Chicago, IL 60602
The G8/NATO summits give us the occasion to reflect on issues of economic injustice and our response as people of faith.
What are the issues?
Why is this causing so much controversy?
Why does it matter?
What can we do?
These are some of the questions we will be addressing.
This event is sponsored by First UMC/Chicago Temple, IIRON (regional organizing network), SCUPE (Seminary Consortium for Urban Pastoral Education), the Northern Illinois Conference Church and Society, and the Office of External Programming at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary.
Download the Flyer
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