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2009 Resolutions Committee:
The articles below are helpful background to the resolution
passed at the Central District Conference annual assembly on June 28,
2008. There is more information on the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) , Women's Action for New Directions (WAND), and Voter's for Peace web sites.
Inside Iran: first person encounters by Richard Kauffman For such a time as this: An MCC perspective on Iran by J Daryl Byler From Wally Shellenberger: Evie and I lived and studied in Qom, Iran for about two and one half years. We made friends with many Iranians, we learned about Islam and Iran and we enjoyed the mystical Persian poetry. Some of our professors had learned to know about Christianity and Mennonites several years before we came. They knew about MCC sharing in relief work with the Iranian Red Crescent Society, they had some personal acquaintance with Christians and Mennonites and they read about Mennonites and MCC on the internet and in books. The day before we left Iran our professors invited us to a farewell meeting. One of our professors spoke kindly about the Mennonites and told this story: Islamic tradition says that Abraham lived among an idol worshiping community, although he himself worshiped the One Creator God. One night while the community was busy elsewhere Abraham went into the room where the idols were kept and he broke them. The community soon concluded that Abraham had done this and that he deserved to be burnt to death. They built a large fire and were preparing to catapult Abraham into the fire. But God sent a flock of nightingales, each with several drops of water in its beak, to cool the fire for Abraham. Our professor went on to say that the world is inflame with injustice and oppression and the Mennonites are like the nightingales, carrying water to cool the flames. |
An Invitation for Resolutions to CDC Annual Conference 2009
The
Resolutions Committee of CDC invites all CDC congregations to consider
initiating resolutions for the upcoming 2009 Annual Conference. This 2009 year
is the first full year for a new permanent Resolutions Committee within CDC.
Formerly, the Resolutions Committee was appointed for each annual conference.
The Committee then worked diligently, often in a rather impromptu manner, at the
conference meetings to bring appropriate resolutions to the delegate body. The
committee was disbanded each year after the annual conference. The result has been that Central District Conference has not had a strong tradition of resolutions created by congregations and discussed by congregations prior to the annual assembly itself. Because of that, we have lost part of our potential for expressing a strong,vibrant conference voice to our congregational members and also to the larger church. We seek to change that. Thus, the new Resolutions Committee invites all congregations to consider initiating resolutions for the upcoming Sugarcreek assembly. Furthermore, we invite you to send these resolutions to the Committee prior to June 1 such that we can shape them into the form and format most helpful to all attending. If resolutions are submitted early, we can send them out to member congregations such that they can be discussed as communities of faith prior to the conference meetings. Our hope is that we will affirm resolutions that worship God
and also speak with faith and truth to our communities around us. We see
multiple possibilities for resolutions for this year including creation care,
compassion and economic justice in the midst of the current recession,
evangelism and mission, torture, and more ... These and others will embrace and
support our conference focus of
Engaging the Empire: Anabaptist identity for the
everyday
The following resolution was approved on June 28, 2008 at Central District Conference in Wheaton, Illinois.
Iran Resolution for Central District Conference Assembly June 27, 2008 Be it resolved: It is Time to Talk with Iran The situation: Tensions are mounting between the governments of the United States and Iran. In fact, it appears the U.S. is positioning itself for more aggressive action toward Iran, including the strong possibility of military strikes within the coming months. Our Faith: In the spirit of our assembly theme: “For such a time as this:” *We know that all are created in the image of God, U.S. and Iranian citizens alike. *We know that we are called to be bearers of peace in the world. *We call for the following response, Our Response: The delegates of Central District Conference pledge to: *Respectfully call on all our elected leaders to talk (pursue diplomacy) with Iran and refrain from military action. *Pray weekly with our families and congregations for peace with Iran *Educate ourselves regarding U.S.-Iranian relationships and support Mennonite peacemaking efforts with Iran. For more information and resources: www.centraldistrict.mennonite.net; www.mennoniteusa.org/peace; www.mcc.org |
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