At the beginning of August, the executive committee of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches sent George W Bush a statement critical of the global role of the United States.

The statement voices concerns the Alliance shares with its churches "both in the United States and around the world" regarding "ongoing practices within the United States and certain recent decisions by the government of the United States".

"One of the functions of the Alliance is to hear and give expression to the concerns of the church bodies that make up its membership," the committee tells the US president.

It reminds Mr Bush that the Reformed theological tradition has always understood the role of the "magistrate" to be a calling, and prays that he will be guided in his responsibilities "with God's wisdom and blessing".

S Vasanthakumar (India) and Hermenegildo Méndez García (Guatemala)

In a letter to the Alliance's nine member churches in the United States, the committee notes that it is its regular practice "to learn about the conditions and concerns that its member churches in the host country are addressing, and where appropriate stand in solidarity with them". It prays that the witness for justice and peace of its US churches will continue and assures them of the Alliance's ongoing support.

The statement

The executive committee of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches meeting in Holland, Michigan, July 26 to August 4 2001, shares the Christian witness of the 214 church bodies found in 106 countries that are part of its fellowship. The World Alliance is grateful for the participation in its movement of denominations from the United States of America, and the support it receives for its worldwide efforts, particularly in the pursuit of justice and peace.

While appreciative of the hospitality and generosities of the host country, the executive committee shares the concerns of its partner churches both in the United States and around the world regarding ongoing practices within the United States and certain recent decisions by the government of the United States that have impact far beyond the country's borders and belie the democratic traditions that are looked to by the rest of the world. With trust in that democratic spirit we would share these concerns which rise out of the biblical mandate "That All may have Life in Fullness":

The decision by the United States to reject further negotiations on the reduction of greenhouse gases in the context of the Kyoto protocol, a necessary step in addressing a global problem, such rejection reflecting both a short-sighted view of the severity of the threat of climate change, and a disregard for the well-being of all peoples and the future of the planet;
The decision by the current administration to pursue the deployment of a missile defence system, that will, at best, provide a false sense of security for the United States, while increasing global insecurity, as such a deployment stands to undermine three decades of international effort and commitment to end the arms race;
The continued practice and use of the death penalty, by which states and governments arrogate to themselves the right to be the final arbiter over life that for us has been given by and belongs to God, and which ignores the trend in civilized societies to abolish the death penalty, a questionable practice with barbaric roots in the past;
The continued imposition of a unilateral economic embargo on Cuba, reflecting the frustrating past failures of the United States government to overthrow the government of its neighbour, while imposing severe and unjust consequences on the Cuban people;
The continued manifestations of systemic, organized and individual forms of racism that remain as bleeding wounds in the body politic and the social psyche, and that daily rend the spirits of countless victims.

The executive committee of the World Alliance promises its support for and solidarity with its member churches in the United States in their ongoing efforts to assure that the government will honour the Kyoto protocol and commit itself to positively address existing environmental concerns; in their clear opposition to the development and deployment of the missile defence system and their calls for greater arms control and disarmament; in their standing calls for a moratorium on the death penalty and its ultimate abolition; in their historic and continuing support of the Cuban people and their efforts to end the economic embargo against that country; and in their struggles to overcome the historic and contemporary evils of racism.

Because of the unique history of the United States, its position of power and leadership in the world community, and the many legacies of the past that have benefited humanity, we lift our concern regarding these decisions and practices which we believe have negative consequences for the whole world, as we also lift our prayers for the American people.