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Kairos 2006



Contents: 1. Background, 2. Kairos 2006 Statement, 3. Kairos 2006 Discussion Questions, 4. Kairos 2006 Statement of Confession, 5. Kairos 2006 Resource Guide, 6. Kairos 2006 model resolution


Christianity stands or falls with its revolutionary protest against
violence, arbitrariness and pride of power and with its plea for the weak.
Christians are doing too little to make these points clear rather than too
much. Christendom adjusts itself far too easily to the worship of power.
Christians should give more offense, shock the world far more, than they
are doing now. Christians should take a stronger stand in favor of the
weak rather than considering first the possible right of the strong.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Sermon on II Corinthians 12:9


Background: This material was developed by a small group of people in the Seattle area with input from others around the country who were drawn together by a common concern: We sought to explore how we might respond to the anguish we each felt regarding the direction our nation has been pursuing in recent years. The community that came together around this issue felt led by the Holy Spirit to challenge themselves and our fellow Christians to address this situation as followers of Jesus Christ.
We offer “Kairos 2006,” our “Stand of Confession,” and discussion questions and resources with a sense of modesty and boldness. With modesty because we do not presume to speak for the rest of the Church nor do we see any of this work as definitive or final. With boldness because, led by the Spirit, we have struggled to be faithful to Jesus’ call to be peacemakers and justice seekers as we wrestled with these concerns and crafted these materials. It is our conviction that this is a time that above all calls for action, grounded in theological clarity and moral conviction.
We commit ourselves to hold one another accountable to this stand of confession and to finding effective ways to act.
It is our intention now to release ownership of this process. We challenge those who receive Kairos 2006 to take the concerns we have raised and to respond as the Spirit leads you. We ask you to use these materials in whatever way is appropriate for you. It is our hope that they will inspire discussion, reflection, and most of all action in the name of Jesus for the sake of the world. 4-8-06


Commenting on verse 1 of Psalm 82, Martin Luther says, "So, then, this first verse teaches that to rebuke rulers is not seditious, provided it is done in the way here described: namely, by the office to which God has committed that duty, and through God's Word, spoken publicly, boldly, and honestly. To rebuke rulers in this way is, on the contrary, a praiseworthy, noble and rare virtue, and a particularly great service to God. . . It would be far more seditious if a preacher did not rebuke the sins of the rulers; for then he makes people angry and sullen, strengthens the wickedness in tyrants, becomes a partaker in it, and bears responsibility for it."




Kairos 2006 statement

Inspired by the courageous faithfulness of the confessing church in Nazi Germany, South Africa, Latin America, and elsewhere, we are exploring the need for a similar confession in our time.

We challenge ourselves and our Church to ask if the situation in which we find ourselves is a Kairos moment: a situation so grave, so fraught with radical consequences that fence-sitting is no longer possible. We ask: Is this a time when it is necessary to be prophetic in order to rightly preach the Gospel and administer the sacraments? Is this a time when our confession of Jesus Christ calls into question the ideology that shapes our national life and challenges us to work for change?

Is this such a Kairos moment: a moment of truth, a moment of judgment, a moment of grace and opportunity, a time in which God issues a challenge to decisive action? It is our goal to encourage Christians and the Church to examine our situation, to find our voice, and to speak the truth in love to power for the advancement of God’s vision of Shalom: justice, peace, community, wholeness. 3

We do not intend to cause division or to foment needless or reckless debate. Rather it is our goal to listen to and proclaim the gospel and to allow the good news to speak to us in the midst of the challenges and temptations in our public life. In this process the Church is renewed and our discipleship deepens. 4

We hope that this statement will encourage discussion of the state of our world, examination of the effects of U.S. policies, and moral deliberation by people throughout the Church so that together we may discern the will of God for this time and place, and act faithfully and boldly. 5

We assert that the Church is called to reject idolatry, name evil, and seek the reign of God. We seek change in the hearts and actions of Christians, and also in public policies and processes (the latter are noted with an *). Therefore as members of the Church in the United States we believe we must speak with a prophetic voice. We must break our silence, end our complicity, and proclaim a common word on behalf of the common good, the good news of Jesus Christ and God’s vision of Shalom: peace with justice. 6

"Blessed are the peacemakers." (Matthew 5:9) 7 v
As Christians we are called to follow in the footsteps of Jesus who teaches us how to be in the world yet not of the world by seeking to love God with our whole heart, mind, soul and strength. 8
The brutal attacks of September 11, 2001 galvanized us as a nation as we came together to mourn, find hope and respond. Yet in the wake of September 11 the U.S. chose another path, based on fear and revenge, and we squandered the compassion that brought us together at home and renewed our kinship with peoples abroad. As followers of Jesus we are compelled to choose another way. 9
Ý We reject all acts of terror. We reject "preemptive" war and a perpetual "global war on terror." We reject U.S. foreign policies which have caused hatred and disdain to grow, and also made our future less secure. We reject America’s unilateral approach to war which has damaged our ability to work with other countries and which has proved to be fraught with risk. 10
Ý We oppose the enormous and rapidly expanding U.S. military budget. This is especially distressing compared with miniscule spending to address root causes of conflict like poverty and hunger, or spending on nonviolent responses to conflict like peacekeeping. 11
Ý We reject efforts to play on public fears, control information, manipulate the media, and silence critics to mislead the public and to sanction the misuse of power. These endanger the functioning of a democracy. 12

"But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." (Matthew 5:44) 13
Jesus’ teaching is clear and profound and calls humans to their noblest and best. We witness this teaching lived out in our age by such leaders as Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, Dorothy Day, Cesar Chavez, and Desmond Tutu. Jesus and these contemporary leaders demonstrate for us God’s way of peace and nonviolence and we assert that all Christians are called to this divine path. 14
Ý We reject the naming of other peoples, religions, and nations as "evil" in order to rationalize the brutal treatment inflicted on "enemies" – including innocent civilians. 15
Ý We reject the use of torture and the abandonment of the Geneva Convention regarding the treatment of combatants; these actions are an assault on fundamental legal and moral standards. v

"I, your God, have called you and given you power to see that justice is done on earth. Through you I will make a covenant with all peoples; through you I will bring light to the nations." (Isaiah 42:6, TEV) "Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it." (Psalm 34:14 and I Peter 3:11) 17
We embrace servant discipleship: The cross of Jesus Christ calls us to give our allegiance to God ahead of nation, family, or church. We accept our Christian calling to love our neighbor as our self, and to pursue Shalom – in our community, our nation, and our world. 18
Ý We believe that every person on earth deserves the basics of human life. We subscribe to the United Nations Millennium Development Goals and the UN Declaration of Human Rights as powerful moral documents that point the way for nations to collaborate in creating a future marked by global justice. 19
Ý We reject US policies which serve to isolate us from our neighbors and distance us from thoughtful international collaboration for global justice. We reject our nation’s use of its superpower status to advance its interests while other nations struggle to meet the most basic needs of their people. 20
Ý We are alarmed that the democracy we cherish is being threatened by the large and growing influence of money in political campaigns, and in legislative and regulatory processes. 21

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because God has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. God has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." (Luke 4:18-19) 22
Just as Jesus confidently proclaimed his mission, the Church is called to follow confidently in his footsteps. We bring the good news of God’s liberating love to the world and continue Jesus’ work by serving and befriending the poor, the captives and the oppressed. We proclaim that through the compassionate eyes of God, this year, like all years, is the year of Jubilee – the season of God’s justice. This is good news for all people and all of creation. 23
Ý We reject both U.S. policies and the actions of multinational corporations that advance the comforts of the American public at the expense of the world’s poor. We abhor policies and practices that increase the wealth of the few at the expense of the many. 24
Ý We reject U.S. government and corporate policies that refuse to cooperate with the vast majority of other nations in the healing of the environment. We condemn the reckless pursuit of natural resources at the expense of sustainability, and the abandonment of international treaties like the Kyoto Accord. We condemn a culture of greed that selfishly spends our grandchildren’s inheritance. 25

"My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior." (Luke 1:46-47) 26
The Church, like Mary, rejoices in God, our Savior. We rejoice knowing that the God of creation is a God of justice whose heart is biased for the poor. We believe, with Mary, that the God of history casts the mighty down from their thrones and uplifts the humble of heart and that God will fill the hungry with good things and will send the rich away empty. 27
We confess our complacency and complicity in the times our nation has exercised its national power at the expense of our sisters and brothers in other parts of the world. 28
"For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39) 29
So let us move out with great courage and claim our voices as Christians and as the Church in the U.S. Let us join together with other people of good will in nonviolent social movements that historically have been crucial means for bringing about lasting change. We will not let our fears outshine our faith. We will boldly proclaim to our communities and to the powers and principalities that God is love. With humility and the grace we have received, we will do whatever we can to advance the coming of God’s way of Shalom on earth as in Heaven. 30 4/8/06



Kairos 2006 Discussion Questions

Strive to create a climate that encourages respect for and expression of diverse
viewpoints. Each of us has a piece of the truth; none of us has all the truth.

1. As you read and discuss “Kairos 2006,” what speaks to you most clearly? Does any part trouble you?

2. Have you had conversations about politics lately? How does your faith influence how you understand or participate in politics?

3. Are we in a “Kairos moment” as described in the opening paragraphs of Kairos 2006? Why or why not?

4. Share examples of individual or community fears or anger that created opportunities for peace, love, justice…

5. How can we respect views different from ours while encouraging each to be true to our conscience and our call to discipleship?

6. What concern raised by Kairos 2006 would you like to learn more about?

7. What action do you feel moved to take, if any? What examples of social movements offer insight on how we might make needed changes?

8. How can we continue to support, encourage, and challenge one another about what we have discussed?

A quotation to introduce the discussion: “As a community of moral deliberation, the Church is a setting of freedom and respect where believers of different perspectives may learn from one another;” and also that “the church is a disturbing presence when it refuses to be silent and instead speaks the truth in times when people shout out ‘Peace, peace, when there is no peace’ (Jeremiah 6:14)… when it names and resists idols that lead to false security, injustice, and war, and calls for repentance.” (ELCA social statement For Peace in God’s World, page 5)

The Kairos 2006 Resource Guide offers reliable, helpful websites, activities, articles, and books on Kairos 2006 issues. 4-8-06


Kairos 2006 Stand of Confession

As citizens of the United States and as followers of Jesus Christ, we anguish over our country’s use of military might and corporate profit. Knowing that we have been complicit in this global enterprise, we take a stand of confession today and commit ourselves to a renewed way of life.
1) We confess that we have often been afraid to take our discipleship seriously, to forfeit our own comfort, or to jeopardize our own security, and we commit ourselves to live more simply, more equitably, more boldly, and more faithfully.
2) We confess that we have been silent too long and we commit ourselves to speak out and demonstrate against our country’s use of weapons of war to get our way in the world, and against our corporate drive for profit above all other considerations.
3) We confess that we have been discouraged by thinking that we are alone in these concerns. We commit ourselves to join with others in a community of faith to express our grief and outrage regarding the aggressive and oppressive policies of our country, and to do so with courage that is grounded in our love for both neighbor and enemy.
4) We confess that we have been paralyzed by our apathy and complacency, and we commit ourselves to hold each other accountable in this community of faith to the commitments that we each make in addressing the evils of our lives, our church, our society and our nation.
The Kairos 2006 statement explains how we see the situation in which we are living and the rationale for this confession. We invite you to read this document and if moved by the Spirit, to join us in taking this stand of confession. 4-8-06

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Kairos 2006 Resource Guide comments appreciated Sources for Discussion Leaders

Reliable, helpful websites, tactivities, “articles,” and books for adult and youth groups, classes and personal use.
Moral Deliberation, Public Church

ELCA Advocacy, www.elca.org/advocacy articles and examples of Christian advocacy and participation in public life
tWhat is Christian Peacemaking? Widely used Biblical activity for an adult forum or group to explore together the full power of Biblical Shalom: justice, peace, community, wholeness, www.lutheranpeace.org (1, 2, or 5 sessions)
Cynthia Moe-Lobeda, Public Church (AugsburgFortress) brief, eye-opening survey, great for group discussion; Karen Bloomquist and Ronald Duty, Talking Together as Christians about Tough Social Issues (AugsburgFortress)

Christian Perspectives on Shalom: Justice, Peace, Community, Wholeness (e.g. paragraph 3)
Journal of Lutheran Ethics, www.elca.org/jle; Lutheran Peace Fellowship, www.LutheranPeace.org; Sojourners: www.sojo.net; Fellowship of Reconciliation, www.forusa.org Equip4Peace, www.elca.org/nonviolence;
“Potential of a Distinctly Christian Perspective on Conflict,” tWhat Is Christian Peacemaking, www.LutheranPeace.org
Roland Bainton, Christian Attitudes Toward War and Peace (Abingdon), a very helpful, eye-opening survey; John Howard Yoder, The Politics of Jesus (Eerdmans), an illuminating exploration of nonviolence in Luke
Robert Herr and Judy Zimmerman Herr, eds., Transforming Violence (Herald), peacemaking, local to global; Glen Stassen, ed., Just Peacemaking: Ten Practices (Pilgrim) threat reduction and conflict resolution to direct action.
Jim Wallis, God’s Politics (Harper SF) insightful perspective on faith and public life; Sharon Welch, After Empire: The Art and Ethos of Enduring Peace (AugsburgFortress); Jimmy Carter, Our Endangered Values (Simon & Schuster)…
Walter Wink, Engaging the Powers (AugsburgFortress), a gold mine of creative insights and examples. Wink’s The Powers that Be (Doubleday) is a short version; Jesus and Nonviolence (AugsburgFortress), focuses on a key issue

Policy Concerns Raised in the Kairos 2006 Statement (by paragraph number)

On Ethics and Foreign Policy: Journal of Lutheran Ethics, www.elca.org/jle; Sojourners: www.sojo.net; Lutheran Peace Fellowship, www.lutheranpeace.org; Fellowship of Reconciliation: www.forusa.org
Walter Wink, The Powers that Be (Doubleday), a superb overview for a forum series, class or personal reading
paragraph 10. Preemptive War, War on Terror: tJust War activity and “The Invisible Option” www.lutheranpeace.org; Foreign Policy in Focus, www.fpif.org; Sojourners, www.sojo.net, great sources for reliable current analyses
Andrew Bacevich, The New American Militarism (Oxford) ; Chalmers Johnson, Sorrows of Empire (Holt); John Howard Yoder, When War is Unjust (Augsburg); Walden Bello, Dilemmas of Domination (Metro), Bennis? Roy?
11. Military Spending, Budget Priorities: tWhat Brings Security? computer-based budget priorities activity with leaders guide on a CD or at www.lutheranpeace.org, includes 40 annotated sources/links for further information
National Priorities Project, www.nationalpriorities.org; Center for Defense Information, www.cdi.org; Arms Trade Resource Center, www.worldpolicy.org; Frances Fox Piven, The War at Home; Jane Midgley, Women & the US Budget
12. Information Control, Playing on Fears, Media Manipulation, Silencing Critics: American Civil Liberties Union, www.aclu.org; Center for Public Integrity, www.publicintegrity.org; Fairness & Accuracy in Media, www.fair.org; Bill of Rights Defense Committee, www.bordc.org; Friends Committee on Nat. Legislation, www.fcnl.org; others??
Elaine Cassel, The War on Civil Liberties (Lawrence Hill); David Dadge, Casualty of War (Prometheus); Lewis Lapham, Gag Rule?; Nat Hentoff, The War on the Bill of Rights and the Gathering Resistance (Seven Stories Press)
15. Prejudice, Enemies, The ‘Other’: tInside/Outside Circle Game (LPF) www.lhra.org; www.cair.org other sites??__
Donald Shriver, An Ethic for Enemies: Forgiveness in Politics (Oxford), insightful, lucid exploration with 5 case studies; Daniel Smith-Christopher, Subverting Hatred (Orbis) interfaith survey; Chalmers Johnson, Blowback…
16. Torture, Treatment of Prisoners: Human Rights Watch, www.hrw.org; Amnesty Intn’l, www.amnestyusa.org; Rachel Meeropol, ed., America's Disappeared (Open Media); Jennifer K. Harbury, Truth, Torture, and the American Way (Beacon); Mark Danner, Torture and Truth (NY Review Bks); Peter Uvin, Human Rights and Development (Kumarian)
19. Hunger and Development: Bread for the World, www.bread.org; The One Campaign, www.one.org; Jubilee USA: www.J2000usa.org; Oxfam, www.oxfamusa.org; Food First, www.foodfirst.org; Interaction, www.interaction.org
tHunger Awareness Meal (LPF); Craig Nessan, Give Us This Day (AugsburgFortress); Bob Dole, et al, Ending Hunger Now (AugsFortress); Jeffrey Sachs, The End of Poverty (Penguin); Stephen Smith, Ending Global Poverty (Palgrave)…
20. International Cooperation: UN Association, www.unausa.org; Global Exchange, www.globalexchange.org, US Institute of Peace, www.usip.gov; Gregory Baum and Harold Wells, eds., Reconciliation of Peoples (Orbis), Michael Edwards, Future Positive (Earthscan), 21. Democracy: Center for Public Integrity, www.publicintegrity.org; Public Citizen, www.citizen.org; Common Cause, www.commoncause.org; Michael Sifry and Nancy Watzman, Is That a Politician in Your Pocket (Wiley)
24. Economic Justice: Global Exchange, www.globalexchange.org; Interfaith Center for Corporate Responsibility www.iccr.org; United for a Fair Economy, www.ufenet.org; Intn’l Forum on Globalization, www.ifg.org? Corpwatch?
Cynthia Moe-Lobeda, Healing a Broken World: Globalization and God (AugsburgFortress); John Kavanagh and Jerry Mander, eds., Alternatives To Economic Globalization; David Korten, When Corporations Rule the World
25. Environment, Simplicity: Worldwatch, www.worldwatch.org; Earth Ministry: www.earthministry.org; Friends of the Earth, www.foe.org; Michael Schut, Simpler Living Compassionate Life (LIGN), www.simpleliving.org ___

General sources of commentary on public issues: www.commondreams.org; www.fpif.org; www.oneworld.org; www.truthout.org; www.ips-dc.org; www.thenation.org; www.afsc.org Others? Drop any?

Nonviolence, Social Change

Fellowship of Reconciliation, www.forusa.org; Pace e Bene, www.paceebene.org; Sojourners, www.sojo.net
ELCA Equipping for Peacemaking Network, www.elca.org/nonviolence, view resource links including a page for joining the “equip4peace network” to receive up-to-date information and links on resources, trainings, and support
Lutheran Peace Fellowship, www.LutheranPeace.org offers a wide range of nonviolence tactivities, workshops, and resources
Pace e Bene, Engage and From Violence to Wholeness, tcurricula geared for small groups, www.paceebene.org
World Council of Churches, www.overcomingviolence.org; UN Culture of Peace site, www3.unesco.org/iycp
Richard Deats, Martin Luther King, Jr.: Spirit Led Prophet (New City), brief, well-written, emphasizes spiritual dimension of King; James M. Washington, ed., I Have a Dream (HarperCollins), the best brief MLK anthology
Paul Loeb, The Impossible Will Take a Little While (Basic Books) 60 inspiring essays; Roger Gotlieb, Joining Hands (Westview), and Charles Marsh, The Beloved Community (Basic Books) on people of faith acting for justice
Walter Wink, editor, Peace Is the Way (Orbis), outstanding anthology offering a wide array of insights

Social Movements, Practical Aspects of Change (e.g. paragraph 30)
tWall of Hope activity, exhibit, or project on nonviolence movements throughout history: www.LutheranPeace.org
William Ackerman & Jack DuVall, A Force More Powerful (St. Martin’s), PBS series examines successful nonviolent movements on five continents. Book offers additional case studies and analysis, www.aforcemorepowerful.org; Robert Cooney and Helen Michalowski, Power of the People (New Society), illustrated history of nonviolence in US
Kim Bobo, et al, Organizing for Social Change, and Art Simon, 52 Ways to Make a Difference – practical manuals
Harry Boyte, Everyday Politics: Reconnecting Citizens and Public Life (Penn) and other books on citizen action; Bill Moyer, et al, Doing Democracy (New Society), on how social movements are successful,

Kairos Moment, Kairos Statements

Larry Rasmussen, “The Steep Price,” Sojourners, 2-06; Jerry Pedersen, War on Iraq – A Kairos Moment
Robert McAfee Brown, ed., Kairos (Eerdmans), an examination of Kairos statements from South Africa, Latin Ameica, Asia, and North America with a useful introduction by Brown on the nature and characteristics of such declarations. Victoria Barnett, For the Soul of the People (Oxford), Protestant opposition to Hitler; Larry Rasmussen, Dietrich Bonhoeffer--His Significance for North Americans (AF); biographies by Bethge, Robertson; anthologies by deGruchy, Kelly & Nelson

Worship and Devotional Resources
Equipping for Peacemaking, www.elca.org/nonviolence, links to ELCA worship resources; Lutheran Peace Fellowship, www.LutheranPeace.org, peace worship packet; Institute for Peace and Justice, www.ipj-ppj.org
Bill Kellerman, Seasons of Faith and Conscience (Orbis) shalom throughout the church year; Jim McGinnis, A Call to Peace (Liguori) 52 meditations; Cindy Pile, ed., Our Prayers Rise Like Incense (www.paxchristi.org) fifty complete shalom liturgies
. 4-8-06
to share comments and suggestions: Lutheran Peace Fellowship, 1710 11th Ave. Seattle, WA 98122, 206.720.0313, [e-mail]


Kairos 2006 model resolution



Christianity stands or falls with its revolutionary protest against
violence, arbitrariness and pride of power and with its plea for the weak.
Christians are doing too little to make these points clear rather than too
much. Christendom adjusts itself far too easily to the worship of power.
Christians should give more offense, shock the world far more, than they
are doing now. Christians should take a stronger stand in favor of the
weak rather than considering first the possible right of the strong.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Sermon on II Corinthians 12:9


Whereas the gospel declares, “Blessed are the peacemakers” (Matthew 5:9), calls us to repent, and challenges us, “Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed.” (Romans 12:2)

Whereas the biblical prophets call us in each generation to speak the truth in love to the powers and principalities of our time, for God says to us, "I have called you and given you power to see that justice is done on earth." (Isaiah 42:6)

Whereas the ELCA social statement For Peace in God’s World reminds us that “as a community of moral deliberation, the Church is a setting of freedom and respect where believers of different perspectives may learn from one another;” and also that “the church is a disturbing presence when it refuses to be silent and instead speaks the truth in times when people shout out ‘Peace, peace, when there is no peace’ (Jeremiah 6:14)… when it names and resists idols that lead to false security, injustice, and war, and calls for repentance.” (page 5)

Whereas this is the 100th Anniversary of the birth of Dietrich Bonhoeffer who instructs us that "The followers of Christ have been called to peace…. And they must not only have peace but make it…. to renounce hatred and wrong…. and in so doing overcome evil with good, and establish the peace of God in the midst of a world of war and hate." (The Cost of Discipleship)

Whereas 31 ELCA synods including this Synod adopted a resolution endorsing the UN Decade for a Culture of Peace and Nonviolence (2001-10) urging education and action on every level of society.


Therefore Be it Resolved that the NW Washington Synod in Assembly encourages its members, congregations, clusters, and other groupings to enter into moral deliberation and discussion concerning our nation's foreign and military policy, making use of resources and activities from "Equipping for Peacemaking" of the ELCA, Lutheran Peace Fellowship, and other sources.

And be it further resolved that individuals, congregations, clusters, and other groupings prayerfully consider becoming involved in studying, developing, and signing "Kairos 2006" as one step in being “Public Church,” following God’s command to be peacemakers.




financial impact: none
personnel implications: none
This resolution enhances and forwards the mission of the church and synod by fostering moral deliberation and encouraging responsible action as individuals and as "public church."