I must take issue with Barry Collins (Thought for the Week, November 4. 2010).

He writes: “The pacifist tradition is important, honourable and brave, but it can never be the dominant or orthodox Christian position.”

The early Christian church was pacifist for four hundred years until the emperor Constantine made it the state religion.

In 1914, at the start of the First World War, a British Quaker and a German protestant pastor agreed “We are one in Christ and can never be at war.” In 1948 the World Council of Churches (WCC) declared at its first Assembly, “War is contrary to the will of God.”

In December 1998 the WCC declared the first decade of this millennium a “Decade to Overcome Violence”.

There are three “historic peace churches” which have upheld the centrality of peacemaking to the Christian Gospel since their origins during and after the Reformation.

I believe more and more Christians and churches are now coming to recognise that churches are called - by Christ - to be peacemaking communities.

Of course there can be no peace without justice. I share Barry Collins’ passion for justice.

I agree that Christians and churches have a responsibility to work for justice as well as for peace. Jesus showed us how to go about doing that.

Read his “manifesto”, quoted from the Book of Isaiah, in Luke’s gospel (Luke 4.18-19).

And read his “Sermon on the Mount” in Matthew’s gospel (chapter 5). Jesus is speaking to a crowd of poor and oppressed people.

They would have understood that he was suggesting practical ways in which they could challenge injustice through active nonviolence. I look forward to the day when nonviolent peacemaking once again becomes the norm amongst Christians.

Gordon Matthews, Evesham Friends Meeting.