“Pursue peace with everyone” (Hebrews 12:14a).
In response to the United States bombing of three Iranian nuclear facilities early on Sunday, June 22, 2025, the Church of the Brethren expresses deep concern and issues a call for the peaceful resolution of conflict.
For more than three centuries, the Church of the Brethren has opposed war, consistently proclaiming that “war or any participation in war is wrong and incompatible with the spirit, example and teachings of Jesus Christ” (“1970 Church of the Brethren Statement on War”) (1).
This was reflected, for example, in our responses to the war in Afghanistan, including the General Board’s “Resolution on the Events and Aftermath of September 11, 2001” (2) and the 2011 Annual Conference “Resolution on the War in Afghanistan” (3), and Annual Conference resolutions opposing the war in Iraq in 2004 (4) and 2006 (5).
Now, in this moment, the Church of the Brethren again expresses its opposition to military action that risks involving the United States in a larger conflict in the Middle East—a conflict that could invite involvement by other nuclear powers and exact catastrophic human costs.
The acts of war carried out by the US military this past weekend were not provoked by military action against our country. We call for the immediate de-escalation of this conflict. We encourage Church of the Brethren members to join with denominational staff in contacting congressional representatives to advocate for peace.
Considering our denomination’s 2021 Compelling Vision Statement that called individuals and congregations alike to be “Jesus in the Neighborhood” (6), we encourage Brethren to share the peace witness in our own communities. This is a time to declare that a commitment to peace is an expression of faithful Christian discipleship, and to demonstrate that commitment by serving and meeting human needs in our neighborhoods.
We also invite church members and congregations to offer Christian caring to Iranian Americans and others from Middle Eastern backgrounds, as well as local Jewish and Muslim faith communities, who may be feeling anxiety or even fear. We may find this national and international crisis to be an opportunity to build and nurture respectful relationships among neighbors.
In the Beatitudes, Jesus told his followers, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9). Later in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus urged Christians to renounce revenge and love enemies (Matthew 5:38-48). In Romans 12:17-21 the Apostle Paul counseled, “If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. . . . Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” These are just a few of the Bible verses urging believers to “seek peace and pursue it” (Psalm 34:14b).
In these troubled, violent times, we call on world leaders to pursue peace, and we recommit the Church of the Brethren to do the same.
David A. Steele
General Secretary
Church of the Brethren
Footnotes:
- www.brethren.org/ac/statements/1970-war
- www.brethren.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/2001-september-11-aftermath.pdf
- www.brethren.org/ac/statements/2011-resolution-on-the-war-in-afghanistan
- www.brethren.org/ac/statements/2004-iraq
- www.brethren.org/ac/statements/2006-resolution-on-an-end-to-the-war-in-iraq
- www.brethren.org/ac/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2021/12/2021-Vision-Statement.pdf
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