Whereas, the life and teachings of Jesus and his disciples exemplified reconciliation, forgiveness, and nonviolence as integral to the Good News, and;

Whereas, the Holy Spirit empowered the disciples to suffer and die as they represented the way of the Kingdom of God rather than prospering and killing for any earthly kingdoms, and;

Whereas, the church did not participate in state sanctioned violence (except as the recipients of it) for the first two centuries after Jesus Christ, and;

Whereas, numerous early twentieth century Pentecostals recognized that the missionary message of the Good News necessitated nonviolence and racial reconciliation at local, national, and international levels of society, and;

Whereas, the dehumanization and abuse of people, whether because of ethnicity, nationality, gender, age, religion, etc., are directly contrary to the unifying power of the Spirit of Christ, and;

Whereas, Pentecostals and Charismatics are called to be and speak God's new language in the world, a language of forgiveness, transformation, justice, and peace;

Therefore, be it resolved, that Pentecostals & Charismatics for Peace & Justice be established

• to educate the hundreds of millions of Pentecostals and Charismatics in the world regarding their nonviolent and reconciliation focused Biblical and Pentecostal heritage, and
• to educate us in the practices of nonviolence, and
• to inform us of national and international issues regarding injustice, oppression, and exploitation, and
• to facilitate action that brings about peace through writing, speaking, demonstrating, civil disobedience, and other nonviolent methods of affecting positive change, and
• to serve as an association of Spirit-filled and Spirit-empowered followers of Jesus that allows and promotes discussions of war, capital punishment, human rights, racism, immigration, nationalism, and oppression, discrimination, or violence of any type, and
• to cooperate with other peace fellowships and organizations to build peace and work for justice.