The Rev. Dr. Thomas Wolfe, the President of the International Association of Methodist Schools, Colleges, and Universities (IAMSCU) issued a Letter in response to the invasion of Ukraine, its impacts in Eurasia, the risks of a war threatening the whole European continent, and its effects in other parts of the world. In this letter he affirms that IAMSCU stands with Ukraine and recognizes that “the global network of educational institutions founded in the Wesleyan tradition can serve as a global influence for justice and peace.”
This statement builds on a series of other public announcements issued by IAMSCU throughout the decades, when the association denounced conflicts in Ireland, South America, the Middle East, Korean Peninsula, and Africa. Confronted with these challenges, IAMSCU always affirmed the Christian commitment to peace, human rights, and democracy. IAMSCU was very explicit in its commitment for peace when it held its 2014 International Conference in Hiroshima, where association members from all over the world were able to visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, reflect on the nuclear bombings in 1945, learn about its impact on civilians, talk to survivors, and witness the resilience of the people and the current efforts to avoid that such unprecedented tragedy ever happens again – anywhere.
More recently, the association has also focused on global migration issues, which are often a result of violent conflicts, political persecution, economic hardships, climate injustices, and other challenges. As the conflict between Russia and Ukraine brings the danger of massive violence against civilians in both countries, new waves fueling global migration, and the threat of a nuclear conflict in Europe, the world not only watches with great concern, but also takes action to avoid a worsening of the situation. To this end, many churches and institutions in the Wesleyan and Methodist traditions in Europe – in places such as Estonia, Germany, Poland, Russia, and others – have issued statements and opened their doors to migrants and refugees. This generous gesture shows that Europe and other parts of the world are indeed capable of addressing the global migration crisis and promote peace on a wider scale, instead of closing its borders. Methodist-related schools, colleges, seminaries, and universities are opening their doors and expressing solidarity to people from around the world.
This is evidence that “the global network of educational institutions founded in the Wesleyan tradition can serve as a global influence for justice and peace.”