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Mennonite World Conference leaders mourn death of CPT worker |
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by Paul Schrag
PASADENA, Calif. – A gathering of the worldwide Anabaptist group that helped give birth to Christian Peacemaker Teams mourned the death of CPT worker Tom Fox on March 11.
The Mennonite World Conference General Council, composed of about 100 Anabaptist leaders from around the world, expressed “deep grief” at Fox’s death in a letter to CPT.
Word was received during the council’s triennial meeting March 9 through15 that Fox, 54, a Quaker from Clear Brook, Va., had been found dead in Iraq after being held hostage since November.
“We mourn with you the loss of this courageous man, whose life and words testified to the power of the nonviolent love of God in Jesus Christ,” stated the letter to CPT.
It was signed by MWC officials Nancy R. Heisey of the United States, president; Danisa Ndlovu of Zimbabwe, vice president; and Larry Miller of France, executive secretary.
MWC General Council delegates represent 95 member churches in 51 countries.
The letter noted MWC’s connection to CPT’s beginning.
“We recall that the challenge to begin the work of Christian Peacemaker Teams was given at the Mennonite World Conference assembly in Strasbourg, France, in 1984,” the MWC officials wrote.
That challenge was made in an address by Ron Sider, now president of Evangelicals for Social Action. He challenged Christian peacemakers to be willing to take the same risks for peace that soldiers take in war.
CPT was founded two years later, in 1986, with the support of Mennonites and other peace churches.
The MWC letter to CPT was accompanied by handwritten notes of sympathy and support from General Council members.
The letter noted that Anabaptists around the world can identify with those who suffer and die for their faith.
“During our gathering, we have heard other stories of sisters and brothers in other places who suffer as they share the good news of God’s love and as they work for justice and peace in communities wracked by many forms of violence,” the letter stated.
“Thus, many of us have in a deep, personal way experienced the mourning you now experience and share in your ongoing, profound commitment to God’s way.”
Two North American Mennonite leaders – Jack Suderman, general secretary of Mennonite Church Canada; and Jim Schrag, executive director of Mennonite Church USA – prayed during the council’s time of remembering Fox.
“We mourn the death of Tom Fox, your servant,” Suderman prayed. “We pray for the peace and justice he died for.”
Schrag prayed for all in Iraq who suffer due to “the terrorism of the war itself.”
He prayed for Christians who face persecution in many countries, noting that “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.”
Paul Schrag is editor of Mennonite Weekly Review, which gave Mennonite Church USA permission to use this release. |
