2000

A. PEACE, WAR, AND STRATEGIES OF VIOLENCE TO SETTLE DISPUTES [1267,1270]

B. JUSTICE, EQUALITY, HUMAN RIGHTS [1266, 1267, 1270, 1272, 1273]

E. CONFLICT, DOCTRINAL/THEOLOGICAL DISPUTES, PLURALISM/DIVERSITY, RECONCILIATION [1267, 1269, 1273]

F. EXCLUSIVISM, INCLUSIVISM, SOCIAL/ETHICAL ISSUES [1266, 1269, 1273]

[1266] April 5, 2000 Jubilee 2000

Whereas, the theme of the 2000 World Conference is “Jubilee!”; and

Whereas, Every seventh year Israel, a freed slave people, was commanded to forgive debts and set slaves free (Deuteronomy 15:1-2, 12-13); and

Whereas, At the end of every seven times seven years a Jubilee was celebrated with the proclamation of liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants and the return of family lands to the landless (Leviticus 25:8-10); and

Whereas, Jesus of Nazareth announced a Jubilee at the beginning of his public ministry by announcing good news to the poor, proclaiming liberty to the captives, and declaring the year of the Lord’s favor (Luke 4:18-19); and

Whereas, Instruction which has been given in former years is applicable in principle to the needs of today (D & C 147:7); and

Whereas, The world's poorest nations in Africa, Asia and Latin America continue to struggle under a crushing burden of debt repayments, a significant portion of which is owed to multilateral development agencies and to governments of wealthy nations like Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the USA;1 and

Whereas, Much of this results from borrowing that has benefited primarily the rich while the burden of repaying the debt falls heavily on the poor people, and cannot be paid without causing environmental harm and great social suffering to the most impoverished members of society, weakening civil society and inducing a downward spiral of economic, social, political and environmental decline;2 and

Whereas, Past World Conferences have clearly expressed their concern for the well being of all persons and especially the poor globally (WCR 1148, WCR 1161, WCR 1151 and WCR 1184); therefore, be it

Resolved, That this 2000 World Conference challenges all of the members, friends and congregations of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to join with others of good will in the world-wide Jubilee 2000 Campaign, and invites them to take the following specific actions:

Study quality resources as individuals, groups and congregations on the issues related to local, national and international poverty, including the indebtedness of poor nations, in the context of the imperatives of the gospel of Jesus; and

Campaigning and writing to governmental representatives and leaders, particularly in wealthy nations, urging the release of these impoverished nations from their indebtedness by the end of the year 2000, with clear conditions which ensure that the economic and social conditions of the poor of these lands are improved.

Make a concerted effort to work for the cause of the oppressed throughout the world by improving corporate and individual commitment to organizations such as Outreach International, RLDS Medical-Dental Association, the Children’s Peace pavilion, World Hunger Fund, GALA, Ethnic Ministries, Urban Ministries, WoRLDService Corp, and other organizations deemed worthy by members that further the cause of peace and justice for the poor and oppressed.

Notes

1. Based on figures taken from World Bank World Development Indicators, 1999, Washington, DC ; World Bank Global Development Finance, 1999, Washington, DC; 1999 World Bank Data Base On-line, www. worldbank.org; cited in The Jubilee 2000/USA World Debt Chart June 15, 1999, Washington, DC.

2. New Internationalist Magazine, May 1999, summary pages 18-19 using World Bank sources.

[1267] April 5, 2000 World Peace Committee 

 Whereas, The conclusion of the current RLDS vision statement says, “We will be an international community of prophetic vision, faithful to the risen Christ, empowered by hope, spending ourselves courageously in the pursuit of peace and justice,”; and

Whereas, The RLDS church recognizes in its vision statement that it cannot pursue external peace without also pursing justice; and

Whereas, External peace without justice is a “counterfeit” peace that does not lead to reconciliation and healing of the spirit; therefore, be it

Resolved, That the “Committee on World Peace” established by WCR 1177 and commonly referred to as either the “World Church Peace Committee” or the “World Peace Committee”, be renamed the “World Church Peace and Justice Committee” and its focus broadened to include the pursuit of justice, as well as the pursuit of external peace in the world; and be it further

Resolved, That this World Church Peace and Justice Committee continue its pursuit of external peace and justice, recognizing that external peace and justice are closely related and may be pursued throughout the world in a diversity of ways; and be it further

Resolved, That the diverse ways recognized by the RLDS church in which external peace and justice are pursued should include, but not be limited to, the personal and corporate means such as reconciliation, negotiation, mediation, and the use of justifiable force for peacekeeping, protection, and defense.

[1269] April 7, 2000 Interfaith Relations

Whereas, It is believed by many persons involved in Peace & Justice issues that interfaith dialogue is of crucial importance, and

Whereas, The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is a Christian denomination and since the time of Vatican Council II various other Christian denominations have taken differing positions in regard to the overall issue of interfaith relations; and

Whereas, The Restoration movement has had an active interest in relations with other faiths; and

Whereas, In the present context of diverse "Christian" reactions to these issues it would be helpful for members and church administrators to have a reference resource, including a policy statement from the church along with recommendations on how individual and congregational efforts may enhance mutual understanding; there fore, be it

Resolved, That the First Presidency appoint a committee to study the issues of RLDS-interfaith relations and make recommendations to the First Presidency and the next World Conference; and be it further,

Resolved, That the committee report include:

a survey of RLDS publications to determine how the church has fostered inter-religious dialogue;

a historical account of the RLDS relationship to other faith;

recommendations to initiate a program of ongoing dialogue between the RLDS Church and world religions;

a proposal for the church’s relationship to world religions;

recommendations for individual and congregational programs of mutual understanding,

a bibliographic listing of educational resources dealing with scriptural texts that may have been inappropriately used to foster prejudice;

a description of positions taken by other Christian denominations; and,

recommendations on how the RLDS Church may best extend relations with other faith traditions.

[1270] April 8, 2000 Personal Use of Firearms

Whereas, Firearms cause much death and pain worldwide: and

Whereas, We are called to be peacemakers, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the church encourage in its members a thoughtful and reflective stewardship regarding the use of firearms for professional or for sports purposes; and be it further

Resolved, That the church encourage its members to renounce the personal use of firearms for all other purposes as a response to the call to recognize the worth of all persons.

[1272] April 8, 2000 Practical Peace and Justice for Youth and Young Adults

Whereas, the church has dedicated itself to peace, justice and reconciliation and

Whereas, This is a practical as well as a spiritual exhortation and a call to involve ourselves in our local community and

Whereas, The Young Peacemaker’s Clubs have been a successful tool in reaching out to children in our communities and

Whereas, There is not as yet, any such program for youth and young adult;, therefore, be it

Resolved, That a similar program be established for youth and young adults to supplement existing activity groups; and be it further

Resolved, That these groups focus on furthering the cause of peace, justice, and reconciliation in their local communities through education, discussion and practical projects.

[1273] April 8, 2000 Healing Ministry and Capital Punishment

Whereas, An increasing amount of research clearly documents the ineffectiveness of the use of the death penalty as a viable means to deter violent crime, and

Whereas, Application of the death penalty often discriminates against the poor, minorities, uneducated, and the mentally impaired, and

Whereas, In this century we have seen dramatic examples of the redemptive value of unconditional love, based on the teachings of Jesus (e.g., Gandhi, M.L. King), and

Whereas, A growing number of nations and faith groups including Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, Jewish, and other traditions have either already rejected or urged extreme caution in using the death penalty as a means of punishment or as a deterrent for violent crime, and

Whereas, As a faith movement we humbly affirm that "one being is as precious in God’s sight as the other" (Jacob 2:27), and

Whereas, The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints reaffirms that as disciples we seek to be faithful living expressions of the life and teachings of Jesus, therefore be it

Resolved, That we stand in opposition to the use of the death penalty, and be it further

Resolved, That as a peace church we seek ways to achieve healing and restorative justice.