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 From across my desk . . .
South Carolina Christian Action Council Statement Opposing the Complex 2030 Plan and Any Additional Production of Nuclear Weapons
Religious communities in America have long advocated for a world free of nuclear weapons. The teachings of the Bible, the Qur'an and other sacred texts are clear that as people of faith, we must be committed to the task of peacemaking. Jesus told his followers, "Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called children of God" (Matthew 5:9). Psalm 34 calls us to "seek peace and pursue it." The Qur'an equates killing a single person unjustly with killing all humanity and saving a single life with saving the life of all humanity (5:32). Guided by texts such as these, we cannot envision a situation in which we could support the indiscriminate destruction of human life from the use of a nuclear weapon.
While we come from separate religious traditions, we speak with one voice to say that we oppose the construction of a new nuclear weapons complex or the production of any additional nuclear weapons. The production of nuclear weapons brings with it a legacy of health problems and environmental degradation, borne in large part by the poorest of the poor. The renewal of the nuclear weapons complex as described in the Complex 2030 plan would add to the devastation that these communities are already experiencing.
The impact of the Complex 2030 plan and any additional production of nuclear weapons would be felt internationally. The underlying premise of international efforts to stop the spread of weapons of mass destruction is that the U.S. and other nuclear weapons states will also work to reduce their own stockpiles. The U.S. cannot call on other nations to stop the production of new nuclear weapons while American scientists are spending billions to develop a new generation of deadly nuclear bombs. Given that the U.S. arsenal of nuclear weapons has the destructive power to unleash an estimated 50,000 times the devastation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki combined, the U.S. should be working to reduce its stockpile of nuclear bombs, not devising new ways to spend billions of taxpayer dollars to build new weapons.
--Adopted by the Board in May 2007
We have extended our deadline for adding signatures to this statement. If you will work to get a petition signed within your faith community or at work or in your neighborhood or college dormitory or campus click here. Petitions are due October 2, 2007.
Want to talk about it? See the article below about the upcoming public meeting on the moral and ethical questions of using nuclear weapons and consequences of making these weapons.
That's the view today. | |
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Seek and Pursue Peace
Complex 2030: Let's Talk About It
October 2, 10 am - 11:30 am
Reinartz Hall, Lutheran Seminary, Columbia
Presentations on the moral and ethical questions of building and using nuclear weapons and the resulting environmental issues in handling or storing radioactive waste products. Question and answer time.
Registration fee: $12 per person at the door; pre-registration received prior to the event: $10 per person. For printable registration form click here.
For more information contact Brenda Kneece at (803) 786.7115 or click here.
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Support YOUR Council
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The mission of the South Carolina Christian Action Council (SCCAC) is: |
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To promote and facilitate dialogue among diverse Christian traditions on matters of belief and practice; and |
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To work in partnership to: |
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Advocate for social justice,
Promote peace-making, and
Foster racial and cultural healing and reconciliation. |
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Because we believe: |
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That God is Lord over individuals, the structures of society, and all of creation. That Lordship includes our personal and community life, our institutions, our moral and ethical decisions, and our stewardship of the environment. |
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That the Gospel of Jesus Christ has both personal and social dimensions. Christians are called to be partners with God in those personal and social dimensions, making life full and free for all people. |
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That Christ's Church is one body. Christian denominations, congregations, and individuals must work together if we are to accomplish God's mission. |
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Our compelling vision: |
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South Carolina as a community where people of faith unite to glorify God through worship, social justice, peace, and mercy. |
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South Carolina
Responds to Genocide
October 6, 2007
2-5 p.m.
Volunteers are needed to spread the word about the Rally among college and high school students and to members of the faith community. A powerpoint presentation and other information will be made available in a training session on the evenings of September 10, 11, 17 and one weekend day TBD.
If interested or to learn more about this opportunity, call (803 233-2410 and leave your contact information.
Sudan: At War with Its People
After four years the conflict in Darfur has resulted in the deaths of an estimated 400,000 to 500,000 people. The conflicts have forced the removal of more than 2.5 million from their homes into refugee camps in neighboring countries or squalid internal displacement camps inside Sudan. The victims are Sudanese. The perpetrators are Sudanese.
In 2003, rebels from indigenous African tribes in Darfur attacked government military installations hoping to correct the ills caused by many years of neglect by the central government. Rather than limit its response to the rebel combatants, the government of Sudan, in concert with Janjaweed militia, adopted a scorched-earth policy against the civilian population. The actions of the government of Sudan and its Janjaweed allies appropriately have been labeled genocide by the United States.
The current phase of the genocide involves aid deprivation and violence directed at the populations within camps for displaced persons. Men are gunned down, children clubbed and burned to death, and women gang-raped. Humanitarian workers are threatened, attacked and robbed. This is the latest chapter in a continuing history of genocide in Sudan. How can we understand such brutality? Such disregard for human life, and such depravity? Who are those who use genocide as strategy?
Since Sudan gained independence in 1956, power and wealth have been concentrated in a few Arabic tribes who control the nation. Now Sudan is controlled by a few well-educated, intellectually capable, radically committed, evil men who rule through military dictatorship. Regardless of their ethnic, religious, or cultural identity, population groups on the periphery of power remain marginalized, largely destitute, and lacking development. Darfurians are only the current victims in a long line of those persecuted, maimed, and killed.
What Can We Do?
Roger Winter, Former Special Representative on Sudan to the Secretary of State, testified before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa that in the seventeen years since they came to power by an illegal coup, these Sudanese leaders have consistently defied the international community and . . . won. Winter identified posing a credible threat to their power and wealth as the key to moving these leaders of Sudan. We, along with the rest of the world, have not yet posed a credible threat to the power and wealth of the Sudanese leaders.
South Carolinians CAN threaten this Sudanese power by bringing the genocide in Darfur to the forefront of our U.S.A. 2008 Presidential race. Darfur Action Group of South Carolina hopes to do that at the Rally on October 6th. It will take all of us who understand the inhumanity and immorality of genocide to raise our voices together.
You CAN Make a difference!
1. Join the effort to stop the genocide in Darfur and wherever it is occurring.
2. This month or whenever fits your calendar, discussion groups, study groups, faith and religious studies, civic clubs, etc. are asked to discuss Darfur. For resources: http://www.dagsc.org. Site offers access or links to a variety of videos, reading materials, appropriate sacred texts, and worship materials. Please note: some of the images are quite graphic and may be disturbing to younger teens and children.
3. Rally on October 6, 2-5 p.m., at the Statehouse support of those who have been and continue to be victimized in Darfur.
phone: 803.233.2410 fax: 803.252.2016
1411 Gervais Street, Fifth Floor, Columbia, SC 29201
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Do You Remember
February 15, 2003?
October 8, 2007
An Interfaith Fast for Peace
February 15, 2003 was a month before the war in Iraq began and people across the world gathered in local communities for candlelight vigils for peace. No, it didn't stop us from going to war. It was, however, one of the most poignant demonstrations of people power seen in a long time. Since that day many such community events have taken place across our nation. This past March, Christian Peace Witness (a coalition organized by Rick Ufford-Chase) brought over 3,000 people together in Washington, DC, on the fourth anniversary of the start of the war.
On October 8th, we have the opportunity to continue this tradition. The National Council of Churches of Christ is calling communities to gather in an "Interfaith Fast." This is a call from "conquest to community; from violence to reverence" and a call to join with the Muslim community who will already be fasting for Ramadan.
Please let us know if your community observes this Interfaith Fast by clicking here.
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Opportunities to Note:
- September 10. The Darfur Action Group of South Carolina is recruiting volunteers to spread the word about its October 6 Rally among college and high school students and to members of the faith community. A powerpoint presentation and other information will be made available in a training session on the evenings of September 10, 11, 17 and one weekend day TBD. If interested or to learn more about this opportunity, call (803) 233-2410 and leave your contact information.
- September 14. DAY OF CARING 2007. The Day of Caring demonstrates community support and commitment through acts of volunteerism. During last year's community service day, hundreds of volunteers completed dozens of service projects in the Midlands. This year's service event will be just as successful and larger--providing more services and touching more lives! For more information about United Way's Day of Caring or for registration information: call 2-1-1 or (803) 758-6987 or email: eroberts@uway.org.
- September 24. Green Is Good For Business: Climate Protection Action Conference. One-day conference which will showcase exhibits and ideas from SC that can help grow your business while caring for the environment. Get ahead of the curve! Speakers include Senator Lindsey Graham, Senator John Courson, Mayor Bob Coble, Jim "Soni" Sonefeld of Hootie & the Blowfish and representatives of government and business from across the nation. Sated is limited! For more info and to register go to columbiachamber.com or call 545.3780.
- October 8. Jam for Care. 6-10 PM. Wild Wing Cafe -- Downtown Spartanburg. Tickets are $4 at the door. Ticket sales and donations benefit the HIV and AIDS prevention and care programs of Piedmont Care. For more information, contact Piedmont Care at (864) 582-7773 or click here.
- October 18. Respite Solutions: The Faith Community's role in family care giving. A conference for faith community leaders. To contact the Respite Coalition for more information and to register click here.
- October 19-21. My Boat Is So Small: Creating a Safe Harbor of Hope and Health Care for ALL Children. 2007 Interfaith National Observance of Children's Sabbaths (endorsed by the SC Christian Action Council). To order Children's Sabbaths Multi-Faith Resource Manual click here or call (865) 457-6466. Please let us know if you observe Children's Sabbaths this year by clicking here.
Listings in this space are done in conjunction with the Council's mission and as space allows. |
| The Reverend Ms Brenda Lynn Kneece
Executive Minister
SC Christian Action Council | |
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