GA and Beyond: On the War in Afghanistan

by Roger Powers

The 219th General Assembly (2010) finally broke our denomination’s silence on Afghanistan, making the clear declaration that “the PC(USA) opposes the war in Afghanistan.” It was the first time a Presbyterian General Assembly has spoken out about the war. Now in its ninth year, the war in Afghanistan is the longest war in American history. Presbyterians, like a growing number of Americans, are becoming war weary and are beginning to question the wisdom and efficacy of relying predominantly on military strategies to solve political, economic, and social problems in the international arena.

In recommending the overture to the Assembly, the Peacemaking and International Issues Committee expressed “deep appreciation for the patriotic loyalty of our nation's citizens and service personnel for the extreme sacrifice they paid and will continue to pay to support our effort to achieve peace and stability in Iraq and Afghanistan, and to protect the citizens of our nation. However, we believe further sacrifices and services will not serve the purposes for which we have been engaged.”

The Assembly urged the United States government to use peaceful means for pursuing its national interests, “concentrating upon diplomacy, international collaboration, interfaith dialogue, material aid for education, reduction of poverty, and the broadening of political enfranchisement in Afghanistan,” instead of engaging in further combat operations there.

Perhaps most importantly, the Assembly encouraged “congregations and individual Presbyterians to pray for the people of Afghanistan and all fighting forces there—particularly those who have been wounded or who have lost loved ones—and to engage in advocacy and actions for peace.” We have to take action – in the halls of Congress and in the streets – if the war in Afghanistan is to end anytime soon. Presbyterians have to picket and pray. Otherwise, the General Assembly’s anti-war statement will have little impact.