The 2007 Pace-Warren LecturesRick Ufford-Chase October 13-15, 2007 Rick Ufford-Chase is the Executive Director of the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship, an organization that has a sixty year history of supporting Presbyterians who take bold action for the cause of peace. Rick has worked on the US/Mexican border for twenty years where he founded and directed BorderLinks and worked in a variety of efforts to support migrants and refugees in the borderlands. He and his wife, Kitty, are reservists with Christian Peacemaker Teams, and they continue to live on the border and volunteer to create humane border and migration policies. Rick served the Presbyterian Church as Moderator of the 216th General Assembly, the church's highest elected office, from 2004-2006. He continues to work with Presbyterian congregations and their mission partners around the world in support of their efforts to become effective multi-cultural communities of faith, to move their members into active peacemaking efforts, and to develop leadership for the next generation of the church. Read or hear Rick's sermon: "Unexpected Allies: Seeking Security in a Time of Fear"
On
his website,
Rick offers the following message for you if
Many of us in the U.S. have had to seriously question what we believe since the events of September 11, 2001. Unfortunately, as a society we've been encouraged to find security by striking out against others and by acting in violence. This is antithetical to everything that Jesus taught his followers. A friend of mine wore a pin this year that haunts me. It says, “When Jesus said to love your enemies, I think he probably meant, ‘don't kill them'.” This simple statement cuts to the heart of my faith, and my struggle to determine what it means to be faithful as a citizen of the most powerful nation in the world. We must have the courage to believe, as Jesus believed, that true security comes from being in right relationship with our neighbor, even when that neighbor is across the world.. We are not going to change our country's military strategy anytime soon. But if we in the Church are not willing to develop alternatives to violence as a way to respond to violence, no one else will. This is the time for our Church to think carefully about how war has changed over the last 100 years. As Walter Wink points out in his trilogy, civilians now die in far, far greater numbers than professional soldiers. It is time to rethink what we believe, and to lead the way out of the vicious circle of violence and insecurity and terrorism and war and rage. We have Christ's example to follow: it will take courage to stand against the wrong-headed responses that we know Jesus never could have supported. Most of us don't think twice about sending Presbyterian men and women into extremely dangerous wars as soldiers, but it wouldn't occur to us to do the same as nonviolent, unarmed peacemakers. The church must lead the way into a new way of thinking about war and about our security. All of this is why I've decided to dedicate my energy to the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship. PPF is asking the central questions, doing the faith-based organizing work and inspiring a new generation of Presbyterians of all ages. The challenge is to take genuine risks for peace. There is no more important work in our time. If not us, then who? "To effectively use Rick's great
mind, he should have a staff of 50 people and a huge budget to
implement all the wonderful ideas he has for the good of all. Rick
has a great passion for seeing the PCUSA progress into this next
century, he loves the young people of our denomination and desires
to make their faith meaningful as they live in a complex world. He
desires justice and peace for all and puts his money, his energy,
his own life where his convictions lie." "Rick is a breath of fresh air to the Presbyterian Church
(USA). He has brought life and hope to thousands through his work on
the border ministry, through his service as Moderator of the General
Assembly, and now as a leader of the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship.
I am sure that he will inspire and challenge the good folks at
Second to even greater Christian faithfulness." "I have been deeply grateful for Rick's solid and faithful
leadership for the church as he served as Moderator for two years.
His deep commitment for the church's mission locally and globally
has inspired many people throughout the church. His visit to the
Union-PSCE campus was an exciting event to our students and faculty.
I am sure that his ministry with the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship
is bringing much encouragement for the church to pursue our
commitment for peace and reconciliation nationally and globally." |