Stop The War — Statement

All Hallows Church expresses its support for the Stop the War coalition

War is not the answer to the atrocity of September 11. We also condemn the misrepresentation of our Muslim sisters and brothers and the great tradition of Islam in the media and the increased Islamophobia in society in general that the war has created.

  • We agree to affiliate to the Leeds Stop the War coalition
  • We agree to encourage people to join the November 18 demonstration against the war in London. And will sell tickets for coaches at church and through our community café.
  • We agree that as a sign of our commitment to this we will not have a 10.30am communion service* at All Hallows on Sunday November 18 but encourage folk to come on the demonstration and have a communion service in Hyde Park London when we arrive.
  • We agree that no one who wishes to come on the demonstration should be prevented from doing so because of cost and commit ourselves to subsidising places for people who are on benefits or low waged.

We commit ourselves individually and as a church community to become more informed about the faith of our Muslim sisters and brothers. We accept that it is our duty as people of faith to counter Islamophobia in society. We can best do that by ensuring we know the truth about the wisdom of Islam so that in arguments at work, home, community we can convincingly counter anti-Islamic propaganda. We also agree to educate ourselves more fully about the current world situation and to set aside special time for praying for peace and justice.

  • We agree that a regular section in our weekly bulletin should be given over to a column called Understanding Islam
  • We agree to arrange visits to the local mosques and to encourage both church members and volunteers and users of the community project to participate in these visits.
  • We agree to have weekly Prayers for Peace and Justice at All Hallows Church at 7.30pm on Wednesdays starting on 7 November followed at 8pm by teach-ins to educate ourselves about the different aspects of the current situation and that these will be open to the general public.

For Further Details contact Rev Ray Gaston Vicar All Hallows Church on 0113 242 2205

*In the event it was agreed not to cancel the 10.30 service but to have a lay-led service for those who were not going to the London demonstration

This page was last updated on Saturday, 07 May 2005

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