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The Central Committee of the World Council of Churches has issued a comprehensive statement in the aftermath of the Iraq war, calling for the United Nations to be allowed to work with Iraqis to form a representative, participatory government free of external control.
According to the WCC, there should be an "immediate and orderly withdrawal" of occupying forces, and transitional administration should be handed over to the UN.
While condemning the human rights violations of the previous regime, it reiterates its position that the war was "immoral, ill-advised and in breach of the principles of the UN Charter".
The WCC also expresses "dismay" at the fact that the actions of the UN Security Council after the war - such as giving the occupying powers the right to administer Iraq - had "the propensity to undermine its role as primary upholder of international peace and security".
It opposes the establishment by the occupying powers of military bases in Iraq, and any attempts to make commercial gains from rebuilding the country. According to the WCC, the occupying powers should pay reparations for all damage caused by military action, and remove all un-detonated munitions.
Noting the problems of lawlessness, daily violence and poverty in Iraq, it calls for the United Nations to play a leading role in humanitarian relief and the reconstruction of the country. It also calls for the cancellation of "crippling" Iraqi debt, estimated at between $100 and $150bn.
The statement also expresses concern about the long-term consequences of the war, particularly for Christian-Muslim relations, and stresses the need for diplomatic efforts "to address outstanding conflict issues in the Middle East, most notably the need to end the illegal occupation of Palestine." It condemns acts of violence such as the killing of religious leaders and the attack on the UN headquarters in Baghdad.
Welcoming the stance of all the WCC member churches in opposing the war, particularly those in the USA, UK and Australia, it affirms the role of Iraqi churches in the reconstruction of the country, and re-emphasizes the importance of dialogue between religious communities.
On the first day of the Central Committee meeting, Rev. Dr Riad Jarjour, general secretary of the Middle East Council of Churches, expressed gratitude to the WCC for its leadership on Middle East issues, particularly Palestine, Cyprus and Iraq. He noted that the statements and actions of the WCC and churches around the world against the war in Iraq had "contributed to inter-religious dialogue in the Middle East".
In a separate minute, the Central Committee also welcomed the support shown by churches and church-related agencies for the WCC campaign to "End the Illegal Occupation of Palestine".
A year after the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel began, it also recognised the "courageous" witness of Ecumenical Accompaniers, reaffirming its commitment to the programme and asking all member churches to support it.
It expressed its concern about closures, curfews, extra-judicial killings and the Israeli "separation wall", and expressed its regret that the government of Israel had continued to refuse to recognise the election of His Beatitude Patriarch Irineos I as head of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
The WCC Central Committee also endorsed a report from the Commission of the Churches on International Affairs (CCIA), "The Responsibility to Protect: Ethical and Theological Reflections". Prepared as a follow-up to a previous study document, the report emphasises the growing fears of many people regarding attacks on civilians and responses by governments, and says, "These situations further underline the role of the United Nations and international law".
Noting that churches have divergent views on the use of military force, the Central Committee urged member churches to continue to study these issues and to share their insights with the CCIA, which would report back to the next WCC Assembly.
The full text of this statement will be available at: