An Appeal from Common Global Ministries for Darfur

As your churches are in the midst of the One Great Hour of Sharing special Lenten offering, I share this update from Common Global Ministries regarding the humanitarian crisis in Darfur. Rick

Dear Disciples and UCC Friends of Global Ministries,

The resolution “Promoting Peace for All in the Sudan,” passed by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ in 2005, called for the Sudanese government to cease what has been recognized as genocide against its own citizens, and to engage with the international community in efforts to obtain a comprehensive peace that includes Darfur.

The May 2006 Darfur Peace Agreement promised to stop the horrific violence in western Sudan, yet it was too limited to be effective and has been ignored by Khartoum. Sudanese leaders continue to hamper humanitarian aid and support the raiding and burning of villages and the rape and murder committed by the militia group, the janjaweed.

A pastoral letter released March 7, 2007 and signed by UCC and Disciples General Ministers and Presidents John Thomas and Sharon Watkins, Global Ministries Co-Executives David Vargas and Cally Rogers Witte, and Africa Office Executive Sandra Gourdet, expresses “As Christians, we realize that we must share in the responsibility to protect human life.”

To read the pastoral letter, click on "An Appeal from Common Global Ministries for Darfur" title at the beginning of this posting.

To focus members of the UCC and Disciples on the urgent need to respond to the crisis in the Sudan, we are beginning an emphasis called Sudan: A Responsibility to Protect. This is a place where background materials, worship resources, updates and opportunities for action will be posted.

Our UCC and Disciples church leaders conclude their March 7 letter with an appeal for action:

Participate in our two churches’ Dear Sudan campaign.
Give generously to Week of Compassion (WOC) and One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) special appeals to support efforts to deliver humanitarian relief and supplies to the region and efforts to aid the internally displaced in Sudan/Darfur.

Both WOC and OGHS support the work of ACT/Caritas in Sudan/Dafur.

Visit regularly the Global Ministries website for updates, resources and links to other sites.

Join Church World Service’s letter writing campaign. Church World Service brings much needed relief to persons fleeing the violence in Sudan.

Sign up for the Disciples Justice Action Network and the UCC Take Action through Justice and Witness Ministries.

We firmly believe that 1 John 3:18 is calling us to love not only in word or speech, but in truth and action and that God’s spirit is calling for peace and justice on behalf of the people of Sudan/Darfur. Let us heed God’s call for lasting peace during this Lenten season.”

Grateful for your partnership in global mission,

Jan Aerie and Bob Shebeck

Please contact us, if you want any further information:

For Disciples:

bshebeck@dom.disciples.org
Bob Shebeck
Executive, Mission Interpretation
and Constituency Relationships
DOM/Global Ministries
PO Box 1986
Indianapolis, IN 46206
317-713-2571

For the UCC:

aeriej@ucc.org
Jan Aerie
Executive, Mission Interpretation
and Education
WCM/Global Ministries
700 Prospect Ave.
Cleveland, OH 44115
216-736-3204

Through Global Ministries, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ are committed to a ministry of Critical Presence around the world. Our challenge is to timely and appropriately meet God’s people and creation at the point of deepest need: spiritually, physically, emotionally, and/or economically.