2024 Resolutions

Resolution 2024-01: “Becoming PEACE MAKERS”
General Church Budget Implications: None
East Ohio Conference Implications: Yes

This resolution calls the people of the East Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church to explore, to promote, and to work at becoming peace makers in our churches, our communities, our nation, and the wider world.

Whereas: Christianity itself is rooted in the concept of peace and peace making (Matthew 5:9); and

Whereas: Jesus—often referred to as the Prince of Peace—modeled being a peacemaker, taught peace-making in parables (e.g., The Good Samaritan; Luke 10: 25-27), and guided his disciples to also live as peace makers; and

Whereas: the ancient prophets were “seers” (esp. Isaiah and Micah) who envisioned a NEW world order aligned with God’s plans, different from the contentions and disparities of war, hunger, need, and greed.  They envisioned a new social environment where guns used to kill were turned into tools for planting crops to feed the people, where orchards and fields weren ’t hoarded for a few, but thrived as orchards to feed us all. Isn’t that the world we want, too? and

Whereas: throughout civilizations, some have called for, modeled, and led us toward peace, while others appealed to childish temptations to hoard, fight, even kill one another, despite God’s commandments; and

Whereas: John Wesley called early Methodists to recognize, respect, and even serve community needs so that ALL might prosper rather than having some suffer; and

Whereas: both the early Methodist and more recent United Methodist Church bodies composed and ratified “social principles” specifying actions and practices that promoted peaceful communities of shared resources and respectful co-existence; and

Whereas: the organization of United Women in Faith grew from recognition of and commitment to providing medical and educational resources to benefit the lives of impoverished female adults and children they had not even met, a broadened commitment that has continued over 150 years; and

Whereas: the many ministries supported by UMC funds, direct work, and numerous physical and human resources reflect a centuries’ old commitment to relieve, or alleviate, suffering resulting from hostile actions of war, famine, and actions of repressive political regimes; and

Whereas: the accumulated actions described above articulate the commitment of the people called “Methodist,” who seek to serve as peace makers, and peacekeepers.

Therefore: We resolve to renew our commitment, our mission, as Christians further informed by United Methodist principles and inspired by John Wesley and his vision, to sustain the Message of Jesus the Christ to be peace makers in the ways, the places, by the means we have, to promote peace in our time.

Rationale:
This resolution calls us to work towards peace making by engaging in and promoting these actions:

  • to read, consider, and explore the vision of peace articulated by Jesus, Isaiah and Micah;
  • to reflect on how both individually and collectively we might become “co-conspirators” for peace;
  • to engage in study, reflection, and dialogue exploring actions and attitudes that support and promote peace;
  • to speak for and take actions, individually and collectively, that model and promote peace;
  • to commit to better understanding of the means of promoting, encouraging, and making peace, working toward fulfilling Jesus’ continuing ministry, Micah’s vision, and Wesley’s “call to action.”

Resources and References:

  • ”Engendering Democratic Transition from Conflict: Women's Inclusion in Northern Ireland's Peace Process” (Linda Racioppi & Katherine O ’Sullivan See)
  • “United Women in Faith: Our 150-year legacy began with a few bold women determined to change the world for the better”
  • ”Camp David Accords and the Arab-Israeli Peace Process”
  • “ 1908 Social Creed” of the Methodist Church
  • “Our Social Principles” [of The United Methodist Church]
  • “Universal Declaration of Human Rights” (UDHR): The Preamble

Submitted by: East Ohio Methodist Federation for Social Action, East Ohio United Women in Faith, and East Ohio Reconciling Ministries Network