Global Justice Institute Bishops Call for Peace & Diplomacy

June 21st, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

While international politics are fraught with danger and complexity, and no decision ever made on a grand scale will satisfy all people who are impacted by it, and, moreover, while it is natural to celebrate the apparent defeat of a foe, it is also true that peace is the fruit of the Spirit, that Jesus of Nazareth imagined peace that is unlike what the world (empire of his day) could offer, and that enemies in one tale (e.g. Moabites) can become heroes in another (e.g. Ruth the Moabite).

From both spiritual and humanistic perspectives, the news of any attack, such as the U.S. action against Iran on June 21, 2025, is met with profound sorrow and concern. 

Such acts of aggression are a grievous wound to the collective human spirit. They sever the bonds of shared humanity that ought to unite us, replacing compassion with conflict, and understanding with destruction. Violence, in any form, begets more violence, sowing seeds of resentment and perpetuating cycles of suffering.

Past U.S. involvement in the Korean Conflict, Afghanistan, and Iraq has demonstrated that acts of aggression are rarely “one and done” but rather lead to years and even decades of chaos, deprivation, violence, and heartache. In hindsight, such actions can often be considered moral failures.

True spirituality transcends national borders, political ideologies, and the fleeting ambitions of power. It recognizes the inherent divine spark within every individual, regardless of their nationality, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or religion.

Our shared spiritual values call us to pursue peace, justice, and reconciliation. What we consider to be supremely good or sacred beckons us to see the reflection of the sacred in the eyes of every human being, even those we perceive as adversaries. All acts of war stand in stark contrast to the universal spiritual principles of love, interconnectedness, and the sanctity of life.

Let us pray for healing, for an end to bloodshed, and for the wisdom to build a world founded on mutual respect and enduring harmony.

Daring to believe that peace is possible, 

Global Justice Institute Council of Bishops

Presiding Bishop, Pat Bumgardner, GJI Founder

Bishop Jim Merrit (Eastern Europe)

Bishop Robert Griffin (Africa & Caribbean)

Bishop Durrell Watkins, Communications Director (& Trans* Advocacy)

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