Church leaders intend to gather 100,000 endorsing signatures to the UCC's Pastoral Letter on the Iraq War before the first week of October, at which time they will travel to Washington, D.C., to present the statement and signatures to government officials.

The 700-word statement, which calls for the war's end, was first presented during the opening plenary at General Synod 26 by the five-person Collegium of Officers. The letter has been endorsed by all Conference Ministers and Seminary Presidents.

"Thousands of precious American lives have been lost; thousands more have been altered forever by profound injuries. We grieve each loss and embrace bereaved families with our prayers and compassion," the letter reads in part. "Tens of thousands more innocent Iraqi lives are daily being offered on the altar of preemptive war and sectarian violence. They, too, are precious, and we weep for them." 

A new campaign homepage was launched on August 14, where individuals are being urged to offer their individual names in support and to invite others to sign as well. Only about 6,364 persons have endorsed the statement thus far.

“It’s going to take a significant amount of work for all of us to reach the goal of 100,000 signatures before the beginning of October,” said the Rev. John H. Thomas, general minister and president. “But I believe the enthusiasm for the Pastoral Letter that we witnessed at General Synod demonstrates the deep concern about this war that exists across our church."