Response to War

THE EPISCOPAL NEW YORKER

Rallying for Peace

By Matt Heyd

On February 15, Luca Heidelberg experienced his first anti-war rally. At 8 months old, Luca joined his mother Hillary, 40 other members of Holy Trinity, Manhattan, parishioners from a number of other churches in the Diocese and an estimated 200,000 people in a rally to protest the looming war in Iraq. Participants faced bitter cold, barricades and sometimes-hostile police officers as they inched through Midtown streets usually quiet on Saturday mornings.

Protesters at Grand Central Terminal

The rally centered around the United Nations building on First Avenue and 50th Street, but none of the Holy Trinity group was able to get near the stage or hear the speakers. Instead, they stood with people from diverse backgrounds and viewpoints (e.g., “Flight Attendants Against the War”), all trying to stop a war they think is wrong.

“Our faith calls us to pray every day for the safety of our troops and the Iraqi populace, but we also have to be clear in our belief this war is unnecessary, unjustified and contrary to the United Nations charter,” said Steve Knight, chair of Holy Trinity’s Peace and Justice Committee. Knight has coordinated the congregation’s peace witness activities and organized the congregation’s participation in the rally.

Rally participants from Holy Trinity represented all ages and backgrounds. Baby Luca’s first rally contrasts with the experience of the Rt. Rev. Andrew St. John, a bishop in the Anglican Church of Australia, who just joined the clergy at Holy Trinity, located on East 85th Street. Bishop St. John recalled participating in protest marches against the Vietnam War in Melbourne.

Approximately 200,000 people attended a peace rally at the United Nations on February 15. Among the protesters was the Rev. Frank Alagna, St. Margaret’s, Staatsburg, top left.

Photos courtesy of the REV. FRANK ALAGNA

The rally was only one part of Holy Trinity’s struggle with Christian witness in a time of war. Clergy and lay leadership have made peace witness an active part of the congregation’s common life over the last six months.

“Our community has been supportive of a wide variety of activities,” said the Rev. Steve Smith, an associate at Holy Trinity who works with the Peace and Justice Committee. “The Peace and Justice Committee has offered ways that people can engage their faith — through prayer, education, and direct action,” he said.

For much of the fall, the entire congregation prayed for peace as part of the Prayers of the People. Smith preached a sermon outlining the tenets of Just War Theory and then sponsored a lively adult Christian education session that included discussion from various viewpoints. Several parishioners also traveled to Washington for earlier peace marches.

Through these activities parishioners expressed not only their opposition to the war but their expectations of U.S. foreign policy — to be diverse, just, tolerant and inclusive.

On Sunday evening, March 16, Luca Heidelberg participated in his first candlelight vigil. His mother read a Scripture passage to those gathered in the Holy Trinity parish hall. The group, an even larger group than had participated a month earlier, came together in response to the Presiding Bishop’s call for vigils against the inevitable war. The fight to stop the war had been lost, but Holy Trinity’s witness continues so that, one day, Luca’s children will have the chance to make their first march for different, more uplifting purposes.

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Preparing for War

By Mary Beth Diss

The Rev. Jerry L. Miller may not physically be in the Middle East, but many of his thoughts and prayers are there with his Army National Guard Troop Command members.

Miller, rector at Zion, Wappingers Falls, is chaplain (LTC) for the 53rd Troop Command of the New York Army National Guard, and members of his command have been sent to the Persian Gulf region. While Miller has only been staff chaplain for this Valhalla-based group of more than 3000 since January, he has already gotten to know many of them.

The Rev. Jerry L. Miller

When speaking to guard members being deployed to the Middle East, Miller noted, “Except for a few, morale was very high, and they were very eager to do this.” He added, “Soldiers don’t get political. You don’t hear any whining or complaining.”
As chaplain, Miller not only talks with the troops and holds religious services, but he also helps arrange family care plans, especially for members who are single parents with dependents that need to be taken care of while deployed.
The National Guard members in Miller’s troop perform support command work, making them responsible for the operations in the field, such as maintenance, accounting and any other support for the combat groups. Members of the Army National Guard are civilians who train twice a month and for 15 days in the summer and can be called to active duty for state or national defense work.
Miller has served as a military chaplain for many years and remembers working during the Vietnam War.
“During Vietnam, when they had the draft, the climate was very different [than it is now],” Miller explained. “Now everyone is a volunteer, and because of that the morale is very different. They take pride in their job. Certainly it can interrupt their lives, but when they enlisted, they knew they would be called up when needed.”
Miller said that there are important resources for deployed guard members, such as the family readiness group that provides various types of support.

Check the Diocesan Web site,
www.dioceseny.org
for up-to-date information and a list of our brothers and sisters serving in the military in the Persian Gulf.

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THE EPISCOPAL NEW YORKER
Rallying for Peace By Matt Heyd On February 15, Luca Heidelberg experienced his first anti-war rally. At 8 months old, Luca joined his mother Hillary, 40 other members of Holy Trinity, Manhattan, parishioners from a number of other churches in the Diocese and an estimated 200,000 people in a rally to protest the looming war in Iraq. Participants faced bitter cold, barricades and sometimes-hostile police officers as they inched through Midtown streets usually quiet on Saturday mornings. Protesters at Grand Central Terminal The rally centered around the United Nations building on First Avenue and 50th Street, but none of the Holy Trinity group was able to get near the stage or hear the speakers. Instead, they stood with people from diverse backgrounds and viewpoints (e.g., “Flight Attendants Against the War”), all trying to stop a war they think is wrong. “Our faith calls us to pray every day for the safety of our troops and the Iraqi populace, but we also have to be clear in our belief this war is unnecessary, unjustified and contrary to the United Nations charter,” said Steve Knight, chair of Holy Trinity’s Peace and Justice Committee. Knight has coordinated the congregation’s peace witness activities and organized the congregation’s participation in the rally. Rally participants from Holy Trinity represented all ages and backgrounds. Baby Luca’s first rally contrasts with the experience of the Rt. Rev. Andrew St. John, a bishop in the Anglican Church of Australia, who just joined the clergy at Holy Trinity, located on East 85th Street. Bishop St. John recalled participating in protest marches against the Vietnam War in Melbourne. Approximately 200,000 people attended a peace rally at the United Nations on February 15. Among the protesters was the Rev. Frank Alagna, St. Margaret’s, Staatsburg, top left. Photos courtesy of the REV. FRANK ALAGNA The rally was only one part of Holy Trinity’s struggle with Christian witness in a time of war. Clergy and lay leadership have made peace witness an active part of the congregation’s common life over the last six months. “Our community has been supportive of a wide variety of activities,” said the Rev. Steve Smith, an associate at Holy Trinity who works with the Peace and Justice Committee. “The Peace and Justice Committee has offered ways that people can engage their faith — through prayer, education, and direct action,” he said. For much of the fall, the entire congregation prayed for peace as part of the Prayers of the People. Smith preached a sermon outlining the tenets of Just War Theory and then sponsored a lively adult Christian education session that included discussion from various viewpoints. Several parishioners also traveled to Washington for earlier peace marches. Through these activities parishioners expressed not only their opposition to the war but their expectations of U.S. foreign policy — to be diverse, just, tolerant and inclusive. On Sunday evening, March 16, Luca Heidelberg participated in his first candlelight vigil. His mother read a Scripture passage to those gathered in the Holy Trinity parish hall. The group, an even larger group than had participated a month earlier, came together in response to the Presiding Bishop’s call for vigils against the inevitable war. The fight to stop the war had been lost, but Holy Trinity’s witness continues so that, one day, Luca’s children will have the chance to make their first march for different, more uplifting purposes. NEXT PAGE BACK	Preparing for War By Mary Beth Diss The Rev. Jerry L. Miller may not physically be in the Middle East, but many of his thoughts and prayers are there with his Army National Guard Troop Command members. Miller, rector at Zion, Wappingers Falls, is chaplain (LTC) for the 53rd Troop Command of the New York Army National Guard, and members of his command have been sent to the Persian Gulf region. While Miller has only been staff chaplain for this Valhalla-based group of more than 3000 since January, he has already gotten to know many of them. The Rev. Jerry L. Miller When speaking to guard members being deployed to the Middle East, Miller noted, “Except for a few, morale was very high, and they were very eager to do this.” He added, “Soldiers don’t get political. You don’t hear any whining or complaining.” As chaplain, Miller not only talks with the troops and holds religious services, but he also helps arrange family care plans, especially for members who are single parents with dependents that need to be taken care of while deployed. The National Guard members in Miller’s troop perform support command work, making them responsible for the operations in the field, such as maintenance, accounting and any other support for the combat groups. Members of the Army National Guard are civilians who train twice a month and for 15 days in the summer and can be called to active duty for state or national defense work. Miller has served as a military chaplain for many years and remembers working during the Vietnam War. “During Vietnam, when they had the draft, the climate was very different [than it is now],” Miller explained. “Now everyone is a volunteer, and because of that the morale is very different. They take pride in their job. Certainly it can interrupt their lives, but when they enlisted, they knew they would be called up when needed.” Miller said that there are important resources for deployed guard members, such as the family readiness group that provides various types of support. Check the Diocesan Web site, www.dioceseny.org for up-to-date information and a list of our brothers and sisters serving in the military in the Persian Gulf.