Seventh-day Adventist Church Statement On War in Congo

Silver Spring, Maryland, United States - The Seventh-day Adventist Church expresses its grave concern about the ongoing violence in North-Eastern Congo, which continues to bring loss of life, misery and suffering to innocent men, women and children. The church is concerned about the well-being of its members and the operation of the church's organizations in the region, and is equally concerned about the worsening humanitarian situation in Congo and elsewhere in the region. Hundreds of thousands of innocent people live in fear, and are displaced and homeless.

Seventh-day Adventists join the calls on all those engaged in the conflict in Congo to cease military activities and resort to peaceful methods of resolving any issues that might be causing the hostilities. Dialogue and negotiations are preferable to violence and the cry for war.

The church also urges the international community to intensify efforts to end the crisis. Christian, moral and ethical principles of human rights and good faith negotiations that are fair to all concerned prompts this appeal.

Apart from its commitment to participate in humanitarian response, the church also calls upon all those who are touched by the war situation in Congo to respond sympathetically to alleviate suffering and misery in the region.

Some media reports have claimed General Laurent Nkunda, leader of the National Council for the Defense of the People is affiliated with the church. He never served as a Seventhday Adventist pastor. While at times he has chosen to attend the church, he is not regarded as an active church member. His conduct and reported involvement in the conflict does not represent Adventist values and lifestyle.

--------
This official statement on behalf of the Seventh-day Adventist Church was released on December 2, 2008, by the Communication Department, General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States.