GENEVA – Representing hundreds of millions of Christians worldwide, four of the largest global church communions have issued a rare joint statement calling for an immediate shift from military solutions to diplomacy, warning that the world is reaching a “dangerous tipping point” where violence is becoming the global norm.

The Anglican Communion, the Lutheran World Federation, the World Communion of Reformed Churches, and the World Methodist Council expressed profound dismay at the international community’s failure to prevent escalating tragedies in Ukraine, Sudan, Gaza, Myanmar, and most recently, Iran and the broader Middle East.

The joint statement takes a sharp aim at the current geopolitical climate, echoing recent warnings from the Vatican that peace is increasingly being sought through “dominion” and arms rather than as a “desirable good in itself.”

“Peace is not for sale,” the leaders declared. “It is not to be brokered by the highest bidder… The peace the world longs for is not only the absence of wars, nor one which is enforced by coercion and dominance.”

The communions argued that the current reliance on military might over dialogue “gravely threatens the rule of law” and the ability of states to coexist.

Calls for Accountability and Reform

The statement outlines a clear framework for what the churches define as “true peace,” centered on three pillars:

1. Accountability: Justice for victims and the prosecution of those responsible for atrocities and violations of international law.
2. Multilateralism: A renewed commitment to the United Nations and international cooperation, moving away from “jaded cynicism.”
3. Humanitarian Investment: A plea for governments to redirect vast resources from the arms race toward peace processes and the protection of the vulnerable.

Voices from the Frontlines

Adding local weight to the global call, leaders from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) criticized the domestic and international rush to conflict.

Rev. Khader El-Yateem, Executive Director of Service and Justice for the ELCA, told Milhilard.org that the church must be a “faithful voice” in a time of devastation. “True peace cannot be secured through weapons or domination, but through justice, dialogue, and respect for human dignity,” El-Yateem said.

Meanwhile, Presiding Bishop Yehiel Curry of the ELCA expressed specific distress over the United States’ engagement in recent hostilities without robust congressional authorization.

“This war does not represent the promotion of a just order but rather its failure,” Bishop Curry stated. “The costs in lives and safety of this failure will be borne by those least able to avoid it—children, families, and those without the means to flee.”

The timing of the statement coincides with the Christian season of Lent, a period of reflection on suffering and fear. Despite the “cycle of destruction,” the leaders maintained that “renewal and recreation are possible” if stakeholders choose to invest in peace over war.

The group concluded by urging the international community to heed the request of companions in the Holy Land: to pray fervently and advocate for the dignity and security of all people, regardless of the size or power of their nation.

below is a pdf of the full text of the statement