5 Responding through prayer, action and advocacy
The ongoing war and the absence of a clear way out can feel overwhelming for those of us at a distance. However, there are many ways in which we can respond.
Prayer
As people of faith, we believe that prayer has power. Even at a distance, we can continue to hold those caught in the conflict in our prayers, committing their safety to God, and pray for peace. For guidance, see the prayers from: the Methodist Church; the United Reformed Church; the Baptist Union; BMS World Mission and Christian Aid.
Giving
A number of humanitarian aid initiatives have been established to deliver immediate and urgent support to people in Ukraine and refugees in the surrounding countries. These include: Christian Aid; All We Can and the Methodist Church’s Urgent Appeal and BMS World Mission.
The Disasters Emergency Committee is a coalition of over 15 aid organisations. Their appeal will be matched pound for pound by donations from the UK Government’s funds.
Supporting refugees
Many of our members have become hosts through the UK government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme. The Baptist Union and the Methodist Church have entered into partnerships with CitizensUK to provide more direct pathways to matching for our members.
While many have been successfully settled, the conflict continues to displace large numbers of people. To accommodate those who have yet to be welcomed, more households will have to open their homes. Can you be part of this? Could you raise the conversation in your church community, explore how you can support those who are able and willing to host, or could you host yourself? To help you, resources are available from The Baptist Union and the Methodist Church.
Advocacy
There are steps the UK government could be taking to work more actively towards peace, such as:
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Support the United Nations Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, initially by engaging as an observer at meetings of state parties; follow through on the UN Secretary General’s New Agenda for Peace; and support a fourth UN General Assembly Special Session on Disarmament.
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Raise the international development budget to at least 0.7% of Gross National Income, to comply with UN targets and restore a leadership position for the UK in tackling rising global inequality.
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Increase support for conflict prevention by at least quadrupling the UK contribution to the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund, reversing the recent downward trend.
Do consider writing to your MP to ask for the support of their party and the Government for these or other measures that you would like to see to further global peace and development goals.
Stay informed
The invasion of Ukraine is a contentious topic, and it can be difficult to navigate polarising narratives – especially on social media. Disinformation around Ukraine has been prevalent for many years, growing ever more sophisticated and dangerous. Indeed, misinformation is a crucial part of ensuring Russia’s domestic support for the war. In this context, reading reports and news from a variety of reliable sources is an important way to stay aware and informed about the conflict. The resources listed below are a starting point for this.