Resolved, That the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church, meeting in New York City, November 2-5, 1990, commends the statement of the Presiding Bishop issued October 5, 1990 and adopts the following statement on the current Persian Gulf Crisis:
We condemn the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq and the resulting havoc wreaked on the economies of developing countries and call for the immediate withdrawal of Iraq as delineated by the United Nations resolutions. We affirm the decision to apply economic sanctions against Iraq, excluding food and medicine, urging ample time be given for those sanctions to have their desired effect.
We support the United Nations, working in concert with Arab States, in efforts to bring a peaceful resolution to the crisis.
We ask that the crisis be seen in its larger historical context and that long standing regional problems be made a part of any solution, including commitment to a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian dispute in which we continue to support an independent Palestinian State and security for Israel.
We pray for President Bush and urge that he continue to pursue all means for a peaceful resolution of the crisis. We urge him not to commit any long term U.S. military presence in the Middle East beyond the period of this crisis.
We call upon all Americans to reflect on the reasons and motives for our nation's involvement in the crisis, especially our motive for unimpeded access to oil which feeds our overly consumptive lifestyle. We challenge ourselves and the church to use this moment to rethink our national priorities and our way of life.
Finally, we join with the Presiding Bishop in affirming the sacredness of human life and ask that we honor our young men and women serving in the Persian Gulf, as well as all people resident throughout the Arab States and Israel, by supporting cooperative and peaceful resolutions to the crisis.
