Karen Hamilton
General secretary, Canadian Council of Churches
Bio and press contact: see below.

Greetings and blessings in the name and the peace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Greetings on behalf of the Canadian Council of Churches.

Jesus speaks to us so much about peace. He speaks to us in the Gospel of John, Chapter 14 in these words: "My peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives it, do I give it. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."

These are powerful words and they are even more powerful when we remember the context in which they were spoken. Jesus spoke these words to his disciples; he speaks them to us now, in the consciousness of his imminent death, knowing he was going to suffering and death, and then resurrection for our sakes, as the risen Christ. But he gives us this peace, not as something to hold to ourselves, but as something we are to call for, speak for, act for and indeed pray for; something that we are to share and make possible for all of God's children of this world.

The US churches, so many of them, have been doing just that, following the Christian imperative to speak for peace, act for peace and pray for peace. Let us indeed this day, as we mark the International Day of Prayer for Peace, September 21st, let us all so commit ourselves to speak, to act, to pray for peace so that indeed, the vision proclaimed to us in Isaiah 65 that every person on earth shall indeed live in peace and justice of their own vine and fig tree and live without fear, may indeed be fulfilled.

Blessings this day and every day in the name of Jesus Christ.

Message delivered on 21 September, 2004, to mark the observance of the International Day of Prayer for Peace.

Biographical summary

As its general secretary, the Rev. Dr Karen Hamilton works within the Canadian Council of Churches (CCC) to end racism and promote social justice in Canada. She has facilitated efforts of Canadian churches in speaking against anti-semitism and has been involved in the CCC's campaign for just global trade and equal health care for the people of Canada. Recently, many of the CCC churches participated in a letter-writing campaign to encourage the prime minister to avoid involvement in the war in Iraq and to commend him for doing so.

Media contact: +1-416-972-9494 hamilton@ccc-cce.ca


Last edited on September 20, 2004 by Juan Michel / WCC