The Presidium of the Conference of European Churches, meeting in Palermo from 4-7 October, agreed to send to its constituency the following letter on the current international situation after the tragic events of 11th September.

To the
CEC MEMBER CHURCHES,
CENTRAL COMMITTEE,
ASSOCIATED ORGANIZATIONS
and
EUROPEAN NATIONAL COUNCILS OF CHURCHES

Geneva, 8 October 2001

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
Dear Friends,

When the Presidium met in Palermo from 4 to 7 October, it reflected on the tragic and terrible atrocities which took place in New York and Washington on 11 September. Its members were also conscious of the plans being made for international responses to those events, and military action on Afghanistan has in fact now begun as members of the Presidium were leaving Palermo.

The Presidium recalled that there had already been comments from CEC. The General Secretary had immediately sent a letter of solidarity to the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America.

At the meeting between Christians and Muslims (organised by the joint Islam in Europe Committee of CEC and the Council of Bishops' Conferences in Europe) in Sarajevo from 12 to 15 September, participants from both communities from throughout Europe made a declaration which expressed deep pain and sorrow for the victims. It went on to say:

We unanimously condemn this act of violence, as well as any other destruction of human life, as a violation of God's will and a sin against humanity. Recognising the potential for violence that resides in us all, we pray that this senseless deed may not provoke indiscriminate retaliation. We commit ourselves, in the spirit of this conference, to be instruments of dialogue, to contribute to building justice and peace, and to work for reconciliation in our societies.

The General Secretary and programme staff of CEC's Church and Society Commission, meeting in Brussels on 21 September a few hundred metres from the meeting of the European Union heads of state and government, prayed for wisdom to be given to that meeting as it considered the European Union's response.

The Presidium endorsed these actions, particularly emphasising the importance of deepening inter-faith dialogue in the present situation.. It also discussed the more general context with which CEC and its member churches are faced. Terrorism has been and is a reality in many parts of the world, affecting several parts of Europe. It is part of a general growth of violence in the world. There is a need to reflect on the reasons why people turn to violence as a means of achieving political ends. The Presidium is also clear that religion should not be used to justify acts of violence.

A second element is that CEC has on numerous occasions expressed the position that political and peaceful solutions are always to be preferred to violent and military solutions. This has been affirmed in common with representatives of the Roman Catholic Church in the European Ecumenical Assemblies in Basel (1989) and Graz (1997). The Charta Oecumenica launched at the European Ecumenical Encounter in Strasbourg in April 2001 includes a commitment to "work for structures of peace based on the non-violent resolution of conflict".

The Presidium is concerned that violence should not be automatically met with a violent response. It underlined the risk that disproportionate retaliatory and vengeful responses could lead to a vicious spiral of violence. Nevertheless, acts such as those of 11 September do demand a response, not least in justice to the victims and their families.

In the light of these considerations, the Presidium decided that we should write on its behalf to the member churches of CEC to encourage them, in their contacts with governments and international political institutions and organisations, to underline the need for certain principles to be maintained in any response. Responses to terrorist violence should be reflective, focussed, measured and proportionate. In seeking justice for victims, they should seek to produce a result which is more just after the event than before. Responses should also be in keeping with international law.

The Presidium was also concerned that the serious situation which flowed from the events of 11 September should not become so dominant that other tragic and demanding situations both in Europe and globally are forgotten:

• conflicts are still happening in Europe and elsewhere some involving terrorism and the threat of terrorism;
• in particular, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains unresolved;
• climate change and global warming remain a threat following the unsatisfactory outcome of the Kyoto process;
• poverty, oppression and conflict continue to lead to movements of migrants and refugees.
• there are increasing disparities of income and wealth between different parts of the world.

While recognising the gravity and importance of the issues raised by the events of 11 September, the Presidium asks member churches not to lose sight of these other issues both in their prayers and in dealings with public authorities.

In these difficult and dangerous times, the Presidium recalls the title of the European Ecumenical Encounter in Strasbourg in April 2001 "Lo I am with you". May we all continue to walk in the faith and hope which is the gift of God and express this in all of our actions.

Yours in Christ,