Committed to God's Way of Shalom

Almost forty years ago, in 1987, the Central Pacific Conference declared itself a Just Peace Conference. In that resolution, the Assembly urged all churches and members of the conference to study the book A Just Peace Church edited by Susan Thistlethwaite. 

In that book, the authors say this about our faith:

"The basic biblical vision is the vision of shalom, which means 'peace.' But shalom means peace in a much fuller way than the English language conveys. Shalom means wholeness, healing, justice, righteousness, equality, unity, freedom, and community. Shalom is a vision of all people whole, well, and one, and of all nature whole, well, and one."

Just Peace is an English translation of the Hebrew word shalom. And when we declared ourselves on the side of Just Peace, we were recommitting to following God's way of shalom. 

The prophet Hosea said, "because you have trusted in your way and in your many warriors. Therefore, the noise of war will rise against your people." (Hosea 10:13-14 CEB) However, almost three thousand years later, the United States Government leads its people away from the advice of Hosea and the other prophets by waging wars of convenience with its newly-named Department of War. It follows a path of violence and destruction that is in direct opposition to our God of shalom. All these centuries later, God's people still suffer under governments that insist on following their own way, governments who expect war to fix things, and who therefore subject their people to further cycles of violence. 

By pretending that ‘might makes right,’ the White House declares itself in opposition to the Christ who Paul says taught us by example: "Though he was in the form of God, he did not consider being equal with God something to exploit." (Phillipians 2:6 CEB) A hyperviolent Department of War is not just a bad idea that makes us all less safe, it is also an affront to the Christ who declared, "Blessed are the Peacemakers." 

As the Conference Minister of a Just Peace Conference, and as a follower of Jesus, I have no qualms declaring unequivocal opposition to what our government is doing in Iran, has done in Venezuela, and threatens to do in other parts of the world. This leads me to another topic, I'd like to address. 

I regularly get asked when the Central Pacific Conference will declare its opposition to whatever latest atrocity or policy the Administration has perpetrated. When will the conference say people from other countries should be welcomed and respected? When will the conference say trans people are God's beloved children? When will the conference oppose the war with Iran? The fact is the Assembly of the Central Pacific Conference has declared all these things, and I as the Conference Minister regularly do as well. 

As I already said, the CPC declared itself on the side of Just Peace almost forty years ago. More than thirty years ago, in 1993, the Assembly declared the conference Open and Affirming of lgtq+ people. Ten years ago, in 2016, the CPC became officially Immigrant Welcoming. All of these votes were taken by members of the Assembly who relied on our two-thousand-year-old faith as their guide, and who prayed to our God who has been inspiring prophets for as long as humans have been on this earth.

I'm not a Pope who has a retinue of reporters who broadcast my every word, but I am grateful that as your Conference Minister I can join public actions, advocate in private rooms, and sign our name to amicus briefs without ever having to turn to the Assembly for guidance. The Central Pacific Conference has been on the side of God's shalom for a very long time. We have and do speak for peace, for queer inclusion, and for the welcoming of people from other countries. Our commitment is long and clear, and has nothing to do with the current Administration. 

Unfortunately, in our current political environment, when we advocate for God's shalom, we also get accused of having a derangement syndrome, of being suddenly woke, or of being tied to a political party. We are none of these things. We are a conference of the United Church of Christ that was pro-peace, pro-lgbt, and pro-immigrant long before this president or his party ever declared themselves in opposition to our values. We are members of a religion that is two thousand years old, and our God has been calling us to the way of Just Peace since before the dawn of time. 

Thank you for all the ways you show up for shalom in this world. Thank you for continuing to be the church God needs for this place and this time. Thank you to each of you who prophesies for peace on street corners, at family tables, in workplaces, in your churches, and in all the spaces you inhabit.

I'm grateful and proud to be your Conference Minister, and to be your partner in the struggle for Just Peace.

Blessings, 
Tyler