Given that Philadelphia Yearly Meeting is a constituent member of the National Council of Churches (NCC), and that Thomas Swain, among others, represents us on the Governing Board of that body — and that he is now Clerk of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting — we propose that he be authorized on behalf of the Yearly Meeting to invite the member communions of the NCC (including certain other non-member religious bodies) to send delegates to a conference to be held at the historic Arch Street Meeting House in Philadelphia to consider what seems to be the current disastrous situation in the Middle East.

Of the many passages in Scripture dealing with the principle of love, we would highlight the injunction found in Romans 12:21 as being the most germane to the world situation today:

"Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

We hold that there is power in acts of goodness — of love — and that this power can transform hearts, minds and attitudes from enmity to friendship, from war to peace.

It could lead to a new response to terrorism.

For dispatch, we suggest that the committee to plan such a conference be named by the PYM Clerk.