This June marked the 80th anniversary of the signing of the U.N. charter, the foundational document that outlines the structure, purpose, and goals of the United Nations. When the charter was signed in 1945, the world was shaken by the horrific events of World War II. Nations were in ruins, tens of millions of people faced displacement, and peace seemed like a distant — perhaps impossible — dream. Still, the world was able to come together. Guided by the shared principles of international peace and security, diplomacy and friendship, human dignity, the self determination of people and multilateralism, the United Nations was established.
Eighty years later, our world finds itself in a similar broken state. As we see war, famine, mass-displacement, human rights abuses and climate crises ravage communities across the globe, many of us are left wondering, “What is the point of still having a United Nations?” The U.N. itself is also grappling with this existential question. And, in addition to global turmoil, the U.N. faces major budget cuts, which threaten the organization’s operations.
Still, the U.N. stands as a beacon of hope amid a broken world. Just block away from the Church Center for the U.N., which houses the Presbyterian Ministry at the U.N., stands the “Isaiah Wall,” inscribed with the text of Isaiah 2:4: “They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; they shall not lift up sword against nation. Neither shall they learn war anymore.” The “Isaiah Wall” also serves as a popular gathering space for advocates and activists in the U.N. community who lead peaceful protests to show world leaders that their citizens remain committed to the same ideals upon which the U.N. was founded. In a time where walls are too often constructed to create division and hatred, the “Isaiah Wall” stands as a reminder of peace and solidarity with those whom Jesus referred to as “the least of these.”
The “Isaiah Wall” is not the same as the U.N., but its presence reminds us of why the U.N. was created in 1945, and why it continues to be important now. Let us be encouraged by the words of Isaiah 2:4, and continue to fight for, and believe in, a world where we shall “learn war no more.”
Clare Balsan, Advocacy Associate, United Nations Advocacy, Office of Public Witness and Presbyterian Ministry at the U.N.
Let us join in prayer for:
PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff:
Lindy Ebbs, Raiser's Edge Data Administration, Funds Development Operations, Administrative Services Group
Cynthia Embry, Senior Financial Reporting Accountant, Financial Reporting, Administrative Services Group
Let us pray:
God of justice and peace, we pray that you grant wisdom and grace to our world leaders as they make decisions about our world’s present and future. Give them the courage to be driven by the pursuit of justice, love, and peace, instead of power and profit. At the same time, guide us in our words and actions to help make this earth look and feel more like Heaven. Amen.
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