"Boots for Peace:" End the War in Iraq

In honor of the men and women who have served our country and in memoriam of the men and women who have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, a special “boots for peace” Memorial began on Veterans Day and is located at the New Mexico Conference of Churches office, 336 N. Camino del Pueblo, Bernalillo, NM 87004-0606.

Boots are being collected to honor each soldier that has died. Donors may simply leave a pair of any kind of boots in the side yard of the 720 Vassar NE property, or they may attach a name to the boots honoring a specific soldier. The donated boots will be covered with a tarp during inclement weather. At the end of the Memorial the boots will be donated to The Storehouse to be given to those in need.

In Advent 2002 the Bishops and Executives of the New Mexico Conference of Churches issued an official statement opposing the war in Iraq. Now we honor those who have been lost in the war by presenting a visual memorial. We do this in the name of the Prince of Peace who called us to “turn swords into plowshares”.

Veterans Day was proclaimed on June 4, 1926. The official Congressional Proclamation includes these words:

“WHEREAS it is fitting that the recurring anniversary of this date should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations.”

Visit www.AnySoldier.com if you “Want to send a care package to Any Soldier in Harm’s Way, but have no idea of what to send, who to send it to, or how to send it?” The project “started in August 2003 as a simple family effort to help the soldiers in one Army unit, thus our name. However, due to overwhelming requests, on 1 January 2004 our effort was expanded to include any member, of any of the Armed Services, in harms way. We now have 706 Contacts (596 Army, 3 Navy, 61 Air Force, and 46 Marine) helping approximately 35,510 soldiers!”

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Blessed Are the Peacemakers

Chiseled into the walls at United Nations headquarters in New York are words taken from the Old Testament prophet Micah: “They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” Here where the world leaders symbolically come together, the ancient prophet’s words speak to the entire world!

We live on the edge of discouragement and death. By mid November 2004 over 1148 American soldiers have been killed in Iraq and over 8251 have been wounded. We remember as well the over 100,000 Iraqi people including children, women and men have been killed and wounded. Death invades our homes everyday as the media records violence around the world. Death invades our souls and strips us of our courage and hope.

Advent always comes in the midst of death – Herod and the principalities of power hold reign until an unexpected birth! Our faith calls us to work for non-violence and peace. The prophetic vision of Micah and the promise of Jesus, “Blessed are the Peacemakers” rings in our ears as the Advent of the Prince of Peace draws near. Our vision of peace dates time immemorial and is enshrined in the world’s great faith traditions. Despite our frustration and despair we are called to be agents of our calling to peace.

• Continue to express the Christian message of peace.
• Continue to speak out against the unjust war in Iraq.
• Find ways this Advent season to support our troops and their families. (www.uso.org has suggestions)

Fr. John Dear reminds us, “The key to changing the world and pursuing justice and disarmament is to allow the God of Peace to disarm our hearts, make us instruments of peace, and lead us together on the road to peace”.

Click here to view a list of American War Casualties in Iraq

Expand Affordable Housing

Many New Mexicans pay 50% or more of their monthly income towards their rent or mortgage, or live in substandard housing that needs upgrades or repairs. 13,000 people are homeless in any given day in our state.

NM Conference of Churches, NM Human Needs Coordinating Council, NM Coalition to End Homelessness, Enterprise Foundation, Homewise, Lutheran Office of Governmental Ministry, Community Action Agency of Southern NM, and MFA are working together on an educational and outreach campaign to increase affordable housing in our state.

One effective way to increase housing statewide is through the creation and funding of a statewide housing trust fund. Trust funds are established to create an ongoing pool of public revenues, which can only be spent on housing.
Housing trust funds provide a secure and flexible way to fund needed and affordable housing in communities, and address the housing needs of low and very low income households. Safe, affordable housing is essential to the health of every community.

Funds support virtually any housing activity that serves the targeted beneficiaries and typically fund rehabilitation, new construction, as well as community land trusts, mobile home parks, and first time homeowners. More than 300 housing trust funds have already been created nationwide.
The active participation of community members statewide is vital to the creation of a state housing trust fund.

The Board of the NMCC has endorsed these plans for a New Mexico State Housing Trust Fund.

Join us! For more information about the State Housing Trust Fund Campaign, to get involved in spreading the word, and/or if you would like to advocate in the 2005 Legislative Session, contact HNCC at 265-5005 or hncc@hncc.org.