Why these messages?
Churches representing over 550 million Christians world-wide have been invited for the first time to mark 21 September as an International Day of Prayer for Peace.
In the framework of its Decade to Overcome Violence, the World Council of Churches (WCC) has called on its member churches to pray for peace on 21 September by organizing 24-hour observances or vigils on that day, as well as prayers for peace in services on the Sunday before or after 21 September.
More than a dozen well-known Christian leaders and peace-makers from all over the world are supporting that call with these inspiring two-minute video messages intended as an affirmation of the churches' and faith communities' work for peace and justice.
This year, the WCC's Decade to Overcome Violence is focusing on the United States, under the theme "The power and promise of peace". The video messages thus also recognize and encourage the struggle of US churches to witness to peace and justice, both domestically and internationally.
The WCC initiative links to the International Day of Peace declared by the United Nations General Assembly, a world-wide effort intended as a day of global cease-fire and non-violence, and as an opportunity for education and raising public awareness.
Last edited on
September 20, 2004
by
Olivier Schopfer
/ WCC