Church Assembly Appeals For World Peace

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27441, 30 August 1954, Page 11

Church Assembly Appeals For World Peace

(WJZ. Press Association—Copyright) EVANSTON (Illinois), August 28. An appeal to the world not to lose heart in the face of seemingly irreconcilable differences* between the nations was made by churchmen meeting here tonight. The second Assembly of the World Council of Churches approved a 4000-word report from its section on international affairs, in which it said that it was, possible for nations and peoples “to live together at least for a considerable period of years” without recourse to war. The report gave the minimum conditions of peace as: (1) Vigorous efforts to end social and other injustices. (2) Scrupulous respect for the pledged word. (3) Continuing effort in international reconciliations, and a readiness to submit all unresolved questions to impartial international authorities, and to carry out their decisions.

Such “cdtexistence,” the report continued, would not mean for the Christians submission to the freezing of present injustices and “the unnatural division of nations.” But it would mean renouncing coercion as a means of securing or redressing them. “Through the witness of faithful and obedient and suffering Christians- the purposes of God will not be denied, but will be fulfilled in His time.” “Grave International Crisis” The report discussed, what it called the “grave international crisis,” and declared that opposing ideologies were in competition for the minds of souls for men. Rival power blocs imperilled the peace of nations, large and small. “An arms race of unprecedented dimensions casts its 'ominous shadow over the face of the earth,” the report added./“Natural and human resources, intended by God for the enrichment of society, are diverted to purposes alien to His holy will. “Science is conscripted. Hydrogen weapons carry the threat of mass destruction on a scale-hitherto unknown,” the report said. The report said the nations arbitrarily divided by war and the aftermath of war . were praying for the restoration of their solidarity, as free and sovereign peoples. Nations and peoples “whose primary desire is to dwell In peace, live in fear lest they will be destroyed by the power conflict between East and West.” The report said ignorance of Go<A and rebellion against Him from generation to generation had resulted in. greed and an insatiable lust for power. War j and its evils were the consequence. “Basically the problem is a spiritual one and economic and political measures will not alone solve it,” the report said. “Men’s hearts must be changed.

Peace and Fear “The development of nuclear weapons makes this an age of fear. True peace cannot rest on fear. It is vain to think the hydrogen bomb or its development has guaranteed peace because men will be afraid to go to war, nor can fear provide an .effective restraint against the temptation to use such a decisive weapon either in hope of total victory or in the desperation of total defeat.” Nuclear warfare had served to quicken public concern, and had intensified awareness of the urgency of finding means of prevention. “War’s consequence can no longer seem remote to any individual—all mankind is vulnerable to a disaster from which there may be no escape,” the report said. It appealed to Christians to pray more fervently for peace, repent more earnestly of their individual and collective failures to further world order, and strive niore urgently to establish world contacts for reconciliation, fellowship and love.” Churches must study afresh* Christian approaches to peace, taking into account both Christian pacifism as a mode of witness and the conviction of Christians that in certain circumstances military action was justifiable. The report said that an international order of truth and peace would reqia)e “Under effective international inspection and control,” the elimination and prohibition of atomic, hydrogen, and all other weapons of mass destruction, as well as the re.duction of all armaments to a minimum. (2) The development of methods for peaceful change ‘‘to rectify existing injustices.” t r . The World Council said a stalemate had been reached on atomic and nuclear weapons control. As a way out of the deadlock, it called on all nations to pledge that they would refrain from the threat of the use of hydrogen, atomic, and all ©titer weapons of mass destruction as well as any other means of force ‘‘againist the territorial integrity or political independence of any State.” “If this pledge should be broken, said the council, the Charter of the United Nations provides for collective action and, pending such international action, recognises the right of national self-defence. ", “We believe that any measures to deter or combat aggression should con- ' form to the requirements of the United Nations Charter.” ’ . The report ufged the. churches to press for the automatic stationing of United Nation? peace observation teams in areds of tension “to identify any aggression if it takes place.”