As the world waits for the war that President George Bush seems determined to wage with Iraq, Canada's largest Protestant denomination, The United Church of Canada, is calling on its congregations to respond to this crisis by being witnesses for peace.
Local churches, which number close to 3700 in Canada, are being encouraged to open their doors as gathering places for people who wish to pray for peace. In many communities, local congregations have already made plans to organize prayer vigils in response to the imminent threat of war.
Both churches and individuals are also being invited to display pale blue "peace" ribbons in clear public view on their properties, around trees, on front porches and in windows.
"We chose blue as a colour for the ribbons because it is identified as the colour worn by peace-keepers," explains Choice Okoro, the human rights staff person with the Justice, Global and Ecumenical Relations Unit.
The United Church is also asking its members to communicate directly with the Canadian government to applaud the government's courageous stance in refusing to join with the United States in waging war on Iraq. The church is asking that all messages to Ottawa include a call for the government to challenge the U.S. administration on its actions against Iraq, which are clearly a violation of international law.
The primary vehicle for communicating this call to action will be the United Church's Web site, which can be found at www.united-church.ca. There, churches will find a wide range of liturgical and pastoral materials that may be used by congregations that are looking for resources to support this call to action.