03/03/2026
Dear friends,
As headlines report expanding military action in Iran and rising instability across the region, many of us feel the weight of this moment. War weighs on us whether it lasts one day or many years. Grief and fear are not abstract. They are carried by families, by soldiers, by civilians, and by congregations in our own communities.
The Social Principles of The United Methodist Church ground our response. We affirm that every person is created in the image of God. We declare that war is incompatible with the teachings and example of Jesus Christ. We reject war as a normal or acceptable instrument of national policy. While governments bear responsibility for protecting their people, the use of force is always a tragic failure of the human community and must be limited, restrained, and measured by the protection of innocent life and the pursuit of just peace.
Scripture reminds us that human judgment is limited. “Where there is no guidance, a nation falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.” Proverbs 11:14. What one generation defends, another may grieve. This reality calls us to humility, to prayer, and to moral clarity shaped by Christ rather than by fear or nationalism.
As the body of Christ, our preemptive action is love. Our preemptive response to fear is repentance, prayer, holy conferencing, and faithful witness.
Jesus teaches, “Blessed are the peacemakers.” Matthew 5:9. Peacemaking is not passive. It requires courage and persistence.
In this season, we call our churches across the Central Appalachian Missionary Conference, the Kentucky Conference, and the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference:
Pray for an end to violence and for the protection of innocent lives.
Pray for political and military leaders, that wisdom and restraint will guide their decisions.
Care for veterans, active military families, immigrants, and refugees in your communities who may carry fear or trauma.
Teach and model Christian peacemaking shaped by the life and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
We live in unpredictable times. Our mission remains steady. We turn first to our Creator. We take our tears and questions into prayer. We seek the wisdom God gives generously. We embody sacrificial love where God has placed us. And we continue to proclaim the mystery of faith:
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
May the peace of Christ guard our hearts and guide our shared witness.
Grace and peace,
Bishop David Graves
