United Church Social Policy Positions

WHEREAS Christ calls the church to be concerned for this world; and

WHEREAS the ways of peace and reconciliation are preferred to acts of violence and the perpetration of hatred; and

WHEREAS negotiation and mutual recognition of issues can lead to justice; and

WHEREAS the representatives of religious communities from the areas of the former Yugoslavia ask the governments and international organizations do all in their power so that war ceases and a just peace is established; and

WHEREAS we understand the following to be our working definitions:

• Peacemaking as action to bring hostile parties to a cessation of overt conflict (through mediation and negotiation, referral to the World Court, international assistance embargoes or sanctions, or as a last resort, forceful separation of combatants);
• Peacekeeping as intervention between hostile parties with the consent of all involved to prevent overt conflict and to provide opportunity for negotiated settlement; and
• Peace-building as action to identify, support, and help build structures which will strengthen and solidify ongoing peaceful life without intervention and without overt conflict;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the 35th General Council

1. Communicate support to Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali of the United Nations for his initiatives concerning the United Nations providing peacemaking and peace building efforts along with the United Nations; traditional peacekeeping ventures; and
2. Communicate support to the government of Canada for continued involvement in United Nations peacekeeping efforts in Bosnia-Hercegovina; and encourage Canadian support for future United Nations peace-building endeavours in the same region.

General Council: 35th General Council, 1994

Record of Proceedings Page Ref. 1994 ROP, p. 146, 468-469