Episcopal leader says US must become ‘superservant’

-10/09/06

On the fifth anniversa


Episcopal leader says US must become ‘superservant’

-10/09/06

On the fifth anniversary of the events of 9/11, the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church has called on the US to become a ‘champion of peace’ in the world.

In a video statement, Frank T. Griswold said that the US must play the role of ‘superservant’ as much as ‘superpower’ in the Middle East, as well as addressing the ‘vast disparity’ between the wealth of the US and the ‘extreme poverty of nearly half of the world’s people.’

“Now, five difficult years have passed, and our nation and our world are beset by fear and wracked by violence of almost unimaginable proportions” Griswold said.

“The war in Iraq is well into its third year and a peaceful resolution seems more distant than ever. Over the past two months violence in the Middle East has escalated. A growing divide separates rich from poor, both within this nation and in the nations of the world, a dynamic that breeds further conflict and instability.

“We remain threatened ñ as last month’s foiled airline plot reminded us ñ by a well-organized and unpredictable network of human beings whose goal is to inflict slaughter and destruction.

“And, very sadly: religion is being used not to reconcile, but to divide.

“I can think of no better way to observe the passage of five years since the horrific events of September 11, 2001 than to commit ourselves, individually, as a church and as a nation to looking for new ways to pursue healing and restoration in the world God so loves.”

Echoing the call of Episcopal Bishops who laid down a challenge to “wage reconciliation” in the world, Griswold said that the US needed to “reclaim its historic identity as a champion of peace in the world.”

“At the present moment” Griswold continued, “this is nowhere more necessary than in the Middle East. Our nation must play the role not just of a superpower but also of a super-servant ñ willing to work in a sustained and focused way for lasting peace. This means examining our own nation’s relationship to the Muslim world as recommended by the 9/11 Commission. It means understanding how the U.S. is perceived abroad. It means and working to foster mutual understanding ñ within our own nation and between nations ñ among all who share a common heritage as the children of Abraham.

“Second, I believe it is more urgent than ever that the United States address the vast disparity between the wealth of nations such as our own and the extreme poverty of nearly half of the world’s people. The United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals give to the governments of the world a clear and workable plan for how this can be achieved.

Criticising the invasion of Iraq, Griswold continued; “Particularly in working for resolution to the war in Iraq, I pray that hubris not provoke our nation to stay a course that does not appear to be working, and that pride not blind our eyes to alternative strategies.

“I pray that in the Middle East we will be willing to try ñ knowing in all humility how great the task ñ to bring the parties together to find the peace that has so long eluded the suffering people of Israel and Palestine.”


Episcopal leader says US must become ‘superservant’

-10/09/06

On the fifth anniversary of the events of 9/11, the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church has called on the US to become a ‘champion of peace’ in the world.

In a video statement, Frank T. Griswold said that the US must play the role of ‘superservant’ as much as ‘superpower’ in the Middle East, as well as addressing the ‘vast disparity’ between the wealth of the US and the ‘extreme poverty of nearly half of the world’s people.’

“Now, five difficult years have passed, and our nation and our world are beset by fear and wracked by violence of almost unimaginable proportions” Griswold said.

“The war in Iraq is well into its third year and a peaceful resolution seems more distant than ever. Over the past two months violence in the Middle East has escalated. A growing divide separates rich from poor, both within this nation and in the nations of the world, a dynamic that breeds further conflict and instability.

“We remain threatened ñ as last month’s foiled airline plot reminded us ñ by a well-organized and unpredictable network of human beings whose goal is to inflict slaughter and destruction.

“And, very sadly: religion is being used not to reconcile, but to divide.

“I can think of no better way to observe the passage of five years since the horrific events of September 11, 2001 than to commit ourselves, individually, as a church and as a nation to looking for new ways to pursue healing and restoration in the world God so loves.”

Echoing the call of Episcopal Bishops who laid down a challenge to “wage reconciliation” in the world, Griswold said that the US needed to “reclaim its historic identity as a champion of peace in the world.”

“At the present moment” Griswold continued, “this is nowhere more necessary than in the Middle East. Our nation must play the role not just of a superpower but also of a super-servant ñ willing to work in a sustained and focused way for lasting peace. This means examining our own nation’s relationship to the Muslim world as recommended by the 9/11 Commission. It means understanding how the U.S. is perceived abroad. It means and working to foster mutual understanding ñ within our own nation and between nations ñ among all who share a common heritage as the children of Abraham.

“Second, I believe it is more urgent than ever that the United States address the vast disparity between the wealth of nations such as our own and the extreme poverty of nearly half of the world’s people. The United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals give to the governments of the world a clear and workable plan for how this can be achieved.

Criticising the invasion of Iraq, Griswold continued; “Particularly in working for resolution to the war in Iraq, I pray that hubris not provoke our nation to stay a course that does not appear to be working, and that pride not blind our eyes to alternative strategies.

“I pray that in the Middle East we will be willing to try ñ knowing in all humility how great the task ñ to bring the parties together to find the peace that has so long eluded the suffering people of Israel and Palestine.”