From The Rt. Rev. Jennifer A. Reddall
The current military action against Iran by the United States and Israel has weighed heavily on my heart since I woke up to the news on Saturday. I yearn for peace, and as much as I yearn for peace, I yearn for a world where we go beyond caricatures in how we see our fellow human beings and how we are seen by them.
But against this backdrop, and on this topic, I encourage members of our diocese to learn, pray, and act.
Learn
For a cultural window into Iran, I encourage you to watch Rick Steves’ special on Iran here.
In January, I listened to a four-part podcast on the fall of the Shah that delved into the history of Iran and the rise of the Ayatollahs, and helped provide insights on how we got to where we are today. If you have the curiosity to learn more, it’s The Rest is History, and the series on the fall of the Shah is available here.
And for a theological reflection on this violence and the season of Lent, I encourage you to read this reflection by Michael DeLashmutt, a professor at the General Theological Seminary.
Pray
Our Diocesan Staff has committed to praying for those killed in this conflict each week at our staff meeting, and to praying by name for those U.S. Servicemembers who have been killed. Today we prayed for:
- Captain Cody A. Khork
- Sergeant Nicole M. Amor
- Sergeant Declan J. Coady
- Sergeant Noah L. Tietjens
I ask you to join me in praying for peace; for all of those who have been killed; for the safety of our American service members; for world leaders to make wise choices on behalf of justice and for the sake of the common good; and for a path forward to emerge that offers true peace with justice for all.
O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Act
If you wish to express your thoughts on this military action, you can do so to your elected representatives. A congressional directory is here.
If you wish to support Anglicans in places that are currently experiencing violence, the Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf is the Anglican diocese that includes the Arabian Peninsula, Iraq, and Cyprus. They have an American non-profit, the American Friends of the Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf, to which you can contribute if you feel called to do so. The Anglican Diocese of Iran is a separate diocese, and I do not know of its organizational structure. Both are a part of the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East.
