A STATEMENT TO THE CONGREGATION OF
FOURTH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, CHICAGO

ON THE CRISIS IN THE PERSIAN GULF
BY JOHN M. BUCHANAN, PASTOR

JANUARY 13, 1991

At the conclusion of the Senate debate and vote which approved by a 52
~ 47 margin the use of force in the Gulf, a television commentator observed
that a chill had descended over the Capitol.

So, this morning, American Christians, along with the rest of the
country are faced with the necessity of dealing with this new reality, this
new possibility, in the context of their faith.

That is not easy to do. It is never easy to be faithful and to be
involved in the life of the world. In this matter, people of good will and
high intelligence and deep conviction have very different ideas about the
various strategies our political leaders have been discussing and the very
difficult decisions they must now make.

We wish for certainty and clarity. But there is very little of either.
Yesterday's Senate and House debate was powerful and emotional and
impassioned. And people who have experienced armed conflict in the past,
World War II, Korea and Vietnam, were led by their personal experience to
differing conclusions.

We wish for simplicity, and there is none. Some of us do not believe
military force should be used, ever. Some of us believe military force
is justified when every other conceivable means of resolving conflict has
been exhausted. Some of us believe that use of military force now will
prevent its further and more massive use later. All of us wish the
alternatives themselves were clear.

Fourth Presbyterian Church, as it has during critical moments in the
life of the nation in the past, wishes to stand, at this critical moment
with its members and friends in ways that are supportive and helpful. The
church aspires to be faithful to its Lord above ali else: to listen for
God's word, to try to discern God's will and, to the very best of its
ability, to do it.

And so, in response to this critical moment, the following...

Since Christmas we have been sponsoring daily prayers for peace,
Monday through Friday at 5:30 p.m. in the sanctnary. ‘These 15-minute
services are led by staff persons, and they will continue dally. You are
invited to attend, to pray... for peace, for the young men and women in
our Armed Forces, for our President as he makes the very difficult
decisions which lie ahead.

Various educational opportunities focusing on issues of the Near East,
and faith issues for Christians, Jews and Moslems, are being planned by our
Adult Education Committee.

And you are encouraged to express yourself to our Government,
particularly the President. Whatever your position is, let your voice be
heard. Appropriate addresses and post cards will be available this morning
after worship, at a table outside the south transept, beside Blair Chapel.

The Counseling Center is establishing a support group or groups for
families of those involved in any way in the Gulf situation. These groups
will provide a forum to express feelings and concerns and to experience the
support of a caring community. They will be led by the director of the
church's counseling center, Dr. John Boyle.

Each morning the staff begins the day together in prayer, and we have
been praying for family members and church families we know who are in the
Gulf. Please call the church office with names of loved ones and friends
and they will be remembered daily at staff prayers at 9:00 a.m. in Blair
Chapel,

The Executive Presbyter of the Presbytery of Chicago, Paul Rutgers, in
a communique to all the churches about our responsibilities in this crisis,
concluded eloquently: "No one can predict what will happen in the coming
days. We pray for a just peace. We live in hope. And we aspire to
faithfulness. The Morning Star shines in the darkness."

So it does. Thanks be to Gad.