Adopted Unanimously by the NCC General Assembly November 17, 2000
Whereas, the United States Navy for almost sixty years has used the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico for its maneuvers with live ammunition; and
Whereas, 10,000 people live on the island of Vieques; and
Whereas, in these nearly sixty years of military maneuvers the bombing and the landing of military forces have endangered the lives of the citizens and have caused severe damage to the environment and the local fishing industry; and
Whereas, by U.S. presidential directive a local referendum in Vieques on the future presence of the U.S. military operations is to be held by early 2002, the exact date to be established at the discretion of the U. S. Navy; and
Whereas, the churches of Puerto Rico have requested the prayers and support of church members in the United States;
Therefore be it resolved, that the General Assembly of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA calls upon the member churches of the Council to lift up in prayer the residents of Vieques, Puerto Rico as they participate in the referendum on the future presence of the U.S. military forces on their island, and to pray that the judgment of the people of Vieques will be respected and protected as expressed in the referendum; and
Be it further resolved, that the General Assembly calls upon the member churches of the Council to share expressions of support and concern with their partner churches in Puerto Rico during this time of deliberation and judgment, and to consider participating in a visit to Vieques by a delegation of heads of member churches.