Methodist pastor embarks on mission to raise opposition to war

[Khephra]

NEW MILFORD, Conn. -- A Methodist minister has lofty goals for a mission to raise opposition to the war in Iraq.

The Rev. Wayne Lavender, pastor of the New Milford United Methodist Church, plans to launch a four-month peace mission on Jan. 1 that he hopes will include visiting Iraq and meeting President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney, who are both fellow Methodists.

snip..........

"Ever since the days of Cain and Abel, human history has been written in blood and tears," Lavender told The News-Times of Danbury on Wednesday. "Today, I truly believe we have it in our power to change all that."

snip......

"I've always opposed the war in Iraq," Lavender said. "Now I'd like to go out and try to stop it and prevent any future wars. It's time for all churches to unite in fighting for peace and justice."

Lavender is calling his campaign "Passing the Peace" and will start in his own denomination. His plans call for creating a Web site, forming a support group and promoting his efforts.

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-ct--pastor-iraq1216dec15,0,6267454.story?coll=ny-ap-regional-wire


Let see...they have Falwell and we have Lavender. I think we got the better end of that deal.

:-)

[Dem2theMax]

1. Oh is this going to be fun to watch.

The 'peace' Christians vs the 'war' Christians.

Can you imagine it? The fundies are not going to like this one bit.
How dare uppity 'peace' Christians get in the way of the
'war' Christians and their constant attempts to force the Rapture to happen and make Jesus come back before He is ready. LOL.

At the end of the article, the Reverend says, "I'm not a naive fool," Lavender said. "I don't claim to know all the ins and outs of the way to peace, but I believe all of humanity wants peace. Sometimes it's a case of getting the politicians out of the way and letting the people speak."

Boy do I wish him luck.

On edit: Not only do I wish him luck, I'm going to write to him and thank him and ask how I can help.

If anyone else wants to join in:

Pastor Wayne Lavender

[email protected]

68 Danbury Road, New Milford, CT 06776
Route 7, Across from the Pettibone School

Office: [phone] Fax: [phone]

http://www.nmumc.com/

[neweurope]

2. A brave man. I hope they won't be getting him out of the way.

Maybe it should be asserted now that he isn't suicidal?

He deserves all the support we can give him.

[Dem2theMax]

5. "He deserves all the support we can give him."

Yes, he does. Wouldn't it be wonderful to see a PEACE wave take off across this nation? One thing I can say for church communities, they can get things done. Wouldn't take much to get all the denominations (other than RW fundies) together on this. The more I think of it, the more I really like this idea. Promoting peace and showing up the fundies for what they really are at the same time. No true Christian is FOR war/invasion/murder of hundreds of thousands of innocent people.

A win/win situation for all of us.

[ImADeanDem]

19. Another good organization to support...

Is http://www.faithfulamerica.org. They have a broader focus beyond simply "Peace," so it's not necessarily something Lavender would want to get involved in. But it's definitely right up most of our alleys -- it's an interfaith organization that's basically trying to become a "religious left" to counter the religious right. Their goal is "to build a more just and compassionate nation." If you're not already familiar with them, I'd suggest checking them out!

[Dem2theMax]

21. Thank you VERY much for that link. I had not heard of them before.

Have already checked out the site. Looks very promising. After I get a few hours of sleep (when will I EVER learn to get off this dang board and go to bed?) I'll go back and do some more reading and sign up with them. I like the inclusiveness of that site. :)

[PassingFair]

33. Hey, ImA!

Welcome to DU, I have a shirt with your name on it! Always great to see another Dean Dem on the boards!

[Bush was AWOL]

26. It's a great idea

if the Churches around the nation suddenly decided to oppose the war, called for a peace movement we'd be outta there real quick. They have great organization and dedication from their members.

[Khephra]

4. Thanks for the info!

I'll be sure to contact him as well.

[Khephra]

7. I just wrote him

I'll post if he returns my mail.

[Dem2theMax]

11. I'll be writing as soon as I change screen names.

'Dem2theMax' isn't very subtle. lol. If I hear back, I'll post as well.

I wrote to MichaelMoore.com and Americablog.org and asked them to cover the story.

Anyone reading this, please help by passing this story and contact info on to any sites you frequent. And pass it on to your friends.
I'm not kidding, this could work.
Pressure put upon the White House BY Christians FOR peace --
it's perfect.

(Still cracking up about 'Hedley.' Now I want to go watch it. lol.)

[Just Me]

31. I want to thank both of you!!!

For the post and the info.

I have been needing to witness the more tolerant, inclusive and loving facet of spirituality at work. I am very weary of the forced imposition of anger-filled intolerance and destruction.

I'll be writing and giving my support momentarily.

Again, thank you both, kindly.

:grouphug:

[Sugarbleus]

10. Thanks for this info.............

I'll contact him also. I'm looking for people like him who are willing to stick their neck out and create a "movement".

Glad I stayed up to read this! I'll pass this info around too. :hi:

[chuckrocks]

3. get Hedley in charge

I want you to round up every vicious criminal and gunslinger in the west. Take this down: I want rustlers, cutthraots, murderers, bounty hunters, desperados, mugs, pugs, thugs, nitwits, half-wits, dim-wits, vipers, snipers, con men, Indian agents, Mexican bandits, muggers, buggerers, bushwhackers, horse wagglers, horse thiefs, bullbags, train robbers, bank robbers, ass kickers, shit kickers, and Methodists!

[Dem2theMax]

6. Boy, it took me a few.

lmao!

[shadowknows69]

8. Christians with common sense Whoo hoo!!!

as a "pagan" American you can imagine what a relief that is to me on a couple levels ;)

[Khephra]

9. Yeah, I was on a 5-second delay in getting that post too

:evilgrin:

[xchrom]

12. brilliant!

[0007]

15. You forgot Nazis & the KKK.

[Dem2theMax]

16. Hey, take the name of the (removed word) out of there.

It's more fun to imagine people sitting there trying to figure out what in the heck that post is about. LOL. ;)

I know what I must have looked like sitting here going 'wha?' :crazy:

edited to drive people nuts. :crazy: :)

[0007]

18. ' tis vemoved

[Dem2theMax]

20. lol!

Suddenly I hear the words to a song...

"I'm so tired." ;)

[Blue_Tires]

37. "Could you repeat that, sir??"

[xchrom]

13. we'll see

i think he'd do better addresing the oozing boil that sits right on the face of christianity today -- called conservative christianity or fundamentalism or orthodoxy or whatever.
i'm christian -- but right now the faith is sick.

[Dem2theMax]

14. I'm Christian too. And yes, we have a LOT of huge problems in the

Christian community. All of which need to be changed. But let's be simple here. If we don't save this country, there won't be anything else left to work on. Now the fundies are trying for THAT particular angle as it is. And we don't want to let them get away with it, do we? So, first we get peace, then we go to work on the rest of the problems. When people who don't normally see eye to eye on issues have the chance to work together, on something they DO agree on, it can build bridges to understanding and acceptance. I'm SOOOO tired right now. I hope this is making some sort of sense. lol?

To steal a line from John Lennon, all I'm saying is, give peace a chance. Yes, a lot, but not ALL of the faith out there is sick.
So those of us who are not sick work with those who are. (NOT the wacko fundies. They are beyond help). Who knows what can happen? If we are lucky, we get peace, we educate a whole lot of people during the process, that oozing boil goes away, and we have a chance for a better future for all of us.

If we don't stop the RW fundies, this country is finished.
As a Christian, I don't think Jesus would like it if I just sat here and did nothing to stop 'them' from using His name to destroy everything that He believed in when He was here. If I have to use a bridge to do it, I'm going to do so. I think peace is worth it.

[Bridget Burke]

30. Let him oppose the war while you take care of the bad....

christians. As a minister, he really doesn't need to be attacking other ministers--richly as many deserve it.

Study up on Christian Reconstructionism, Dominionism and/or Theonomy. There's lots of work to do.

[Soth]

17. No! Crush the infidels!!

We must blow them all away, in the name of the Lord!!

Remember, Jesus said "Blessed are the warmongers." At least, I'm pretty sure that's what Jesus said. Hell, I'm a fundamentalist, I don't read the New Testament.

[LynnTheDem]

22. bush's own minister opposed Iraq invasion.

As did the vast majority of religious leaders in the USA (and around the world).

But bush & the rightwingnuts know better than their own religious leaders as to what's "just" and "moral".

They cherry-pick from their religious leaders just as they do from their bibles and their Intell.

'Iraq Hasn't Wronged Us,' Bishop From Bush's Church Says

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/0131-02.htm

Why War? Iraq War Not Justified, Church Leaders Say

The heads of more than 60 Christian organizations issued a statement opposing a preemptive war on both moral and practical grounds. They included leaders of Bush's and Blair's own denominations — the United Methodist Church and the Church of England, respectively — as well as other major Protestant groups, Catholic men's and women's orders, humanitarian agencies and seminaries.

http://www.why-war.com/news/2002/10/12/iraqwarn.html

Religious leaders condemn war in Iraq -

After Rabbi Lindsey bat Joseph noted that Bush's own church, the Southern Methodists, have denounced the looming war

http://www.expressnews.ualberta.ca/expressnews/articles/news.cfm?p_ID=4033&s=a

Iraq war 'unjustifiable', says Bush's church head

President George Bush's own Methodist church has launched a scathing attack on his preparations for war against Iraq, saying they are 'without any justification according to the teachings of Christ'.
Jim Winkler, head of social policy for United Methodists, added that all attempts at a 'dialogue' between the President and his own church over the war had fallen on deaf ears at the White House.

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/iraq/story/0,12239,815693,00.html

[yellowdogintexas]

27. Southern Methodists? What are those?

And is correct that the United Methodists have stood against this war from the get go and denounced it at General Conference this year.

[Just Me]

32. The misuse of "Christ" is what has been my greatest source,...

,...of frustration/disappointment/anger. How can anyone with a conscience twist one of the most profound spiritual "visions" into such venom and vindictiveness and violence? It's awful!!!

[LynnTheDem]

23. oops dble post nt

[arwalden]

24. This Is Encouraging.

[GOPBasher]

25. I love Christians who actually follow Jesus' teachings.

[Barkley]

39. Know Jesus, Know Peace!

When has the US ever 'turned the other cheek'?

[njdemocrat106]

28. The Religious Left rocks!

Best of luck to Reverend Lavender!
"Give peace a chance..."

[NorthernSpy]

29. good for him!

:yourock:, Wayne Lavender!

:)

[prayin4rain]

35. Ooooops I replied the exact same thing as you accidently.

I guess I should read down before I make comments... tee-hee

[NorthernSpy]

36. I own that phrase. You now owe me $457,469,129,492.83 in royalties!

It's okay, dude! You have just as much right to say "Good for him!" as I do.

:)

[prayin4rain]

34. Good for him.

[Dem2theMax]

38. Giving this post a kick because it deserves one.

Hopefully more people will contact the Pastor and let him know we appreciate what he's trying to do. And ask how you can help too. :)


:kick: