The False Peace of the Sword: An Episcopal Plea for Deescalation

“War as a method of settling international disputes is incompatible with the teaching and example of Our Lord Jesus Christ.” ~ The Lambeth Conference of Anglican Bishops, 1930

The Episcopal Peace Fellowship denounces the joint U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Iran launched on February 28, 2026, which have caused the deaths of hundreds of Iranians, including schoolchildren and other civilians, as well as the apparent targeted assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei. A wider escalating conflict has also quickly emerged, leading to missile strikes around the region, and we have already received tragic news of the deaths of U.S. service members – direct results of this unconstitutional, illegitimate, and immoral war.

As Episcopalians, our Baptismal Covenant calls us to “strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being.” War and militarism debase that pledge and destroy our understanding of a shared humanity.

We must be clear: peace built on fear is an illusion. True safety is not forged through power or military prowess, but through the pursuit of justice, mutual relationship, and moral courage. We mourn that these attacks will inevitably bring further hardship to the most vulnerable – the very people who do not make these decisions yet always bear their brunt.

As the Most Rev. Sean Rowe, Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church, recently reminded us, we follow the Prince of Peace. We reject the theological and political justifications that “baptize” war. Instead, we ground our perspective in the following:

The Sacredness of All Life: Every person in Iran, Israel, and the surrounding region is created in the image of God. The purported strikes at “military infrastructure” ignore the human families and communities – including our siblings in the Anglican Diocese of Iran – whose lives are now permanently shattered by the terror of weapons.

The Futility of Violence: History teaches us that war does not solve problems; it amplifies them, leaving wounds that take generations to heal. We have seen the failure of “maximum pressure” and military ultimatums before. For these and other reasons, the Christian just war tradition has consistently rejected preemptive strikes as unethical. Furthermore, these attacks authorized by the U.S. president ironically undermine the very political system the attacks allegedly defend, circumventing Congress’ constitutional responsibility for declaring war.

A Call for Restoration: We urge the United States government to immediately cease these military attacks and to recommit to negotiations it so recently abandoned. These negotiations must be multilateral – not bilateral – in collaboration with international partners. And in that context, as the international community works to ensure that Iran’s nuclear program is intended for peaceful purposes, we reassert The Episcopal Church’s longtime policy that calls on the U.S. and other nuclear powers to abolish their nuclear weapons stockpiles as well.

In this moment of “regime change” rhetoric, the Church must remain, as the Archbishop of Jerusalem, Hosam Naoum, said in his Feb. 28 pastoral letter, a “Bridge Builder.” We refuse to see our neighbors in Tehran as enemies. We pray for the leaders of the U.S., Israel, and Iran—not for their military success, but that they may be granted restraint, clarity, and wisdom to turn back from this precipice.

May we have the conviction to advocate for a world where no nation rises against another, but where we learn to live together as siblings, accepting one another in love.

Issued by the National Executive Council of the Episcopal Peace Fellowship

Media Contacts:

• Ethan Vesely-Flad, EPF Interim Executive Director, +1-510-701-5267, epf [at] epfnational.org
• The Rev. George Clifford, Chair, EPF National Executive Council, gmclifford3 [at] gmail.com

How to Proceed:

Take action through the Episcopal Public Policy Network (EPPN) through their Feb. 28 “Condemn Attack on Iran and Assert War Powers” action alert for Episcopalians on contacting your elected officials. Join EPPN to receive future Action Alerts and attend the Office of Government Relations’ weekly network call.

If you are not already a member of the Episcopal Peace Fellowship, we invite you to join us. Consider registering to receive our emails here, and make a tax-deductible donation here.