Just Peace

We, the members of First Congregational United Church of Christ, Huntington, WV, affirm that we are a Just Peace church and vow to work to bring peace, justice, compassion, and freedom to all.

The charge of a Just Peace church is grounded in the scriptures:

1. Peace is a gift from God and has been made possible through the actions of Jesus Christ.

I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant. I will establish them and increase their numbers, and I will put my sanctuary among them forever. My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people.  – Ezekiel 37:26-27

2. We have been charged with the task of defending the weak and uplifting the poor.

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy. – Proverbs 31:8-9

3. We have been tasked with stewardship over God’s creation.

The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden to till it and to keep it.   – Genesis 2:15

4. All are equal in the eyes of God and worthy of love and compassion.

‘Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?’ Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. – Matthew 22:36-40

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. – Galatians 3.28

As a Just Peace church we pledge to:

• Advocate for equality, safety, and freedom from oppression for all people

• Create ways to meet the basic human needs of all people – including housing, health-

care, clean water, and healthy food

• Seek an end to the institution of war and violence in all of its forms

• Work toward economic justice

• Protect the ecological integrity of the Earth

We are called to align our hearts, our minds, and our actions to advance these causes and hope to inspire others to do the same (And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. – Hebrews 10:24) – for faith without action is dead.