Joint statement on Ukraine

Across the globe people are horrified by the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

In a region that learnt the devastating lessons of war last century, the pattern has the tragic possibility of repeating.
It flies in the face of much of the progress in peaceful coexistence that Europe has made in recent decades.

Once again, on European soil, we see the rights and wellbeing of millions of ordinary people trampled on by an aggressive and entitled leader.

It also flies in the face of the Jesus values of peacemaking. In this instance, those values call us to stand against violence and stand with the oppressed.

Those values call for de-escalation and peace talks.

They call for humility and kindness.

As Christians we stand in solidarity with the vast chorus of voices calling for the aggression to end and the peaceful solutions to begin. 

Signed:

Right Rev Hamish Galloway
Moderator, Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand                 

Andrew Doubleday
President, Methodist Church of New Zealand

Cardinal John A Dew
Catholic Church Archbishop of Wellington, New Zealand    

Archbishop Don Tamihere & Archbishop Philip Richardson
Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia