Stories

Submitted on May 3, 2002 by Anne Palmer. She is the DOV congregational representative for the Live Oak congregation in Live Oak, CA.
Several years ago our church formed a partnership with the local battered women's shelter and rape crisis center. We began to work to bring education and awareness regarding domestic violence, child abuse, and sexual assault to the community and encouraged our youth to become a part of that process. On April 19th, Kira Marriner, a student at the local high school, organized a community Family Violence Rally for her senior project, which took place here at the church. Special guest speakers include the Executive Director from the shelter and the Sargent in charge of the local Sheriff's substation. The rally also included special music, an original skit and music video. The event was a huge success with half of those attending being youth.

Submitted on March 25, 2002 by Clara Glover of the Stover Memorial Congregation in Des Moines, IA. Clara and Doris Covalt are the congregational contacts for the DOV.
This area is very involved in peace/justice issues. Some of the colleges have special events during the year, and there are frequent rallies around the Capitol about one issue or another. With WILPF (Women's International League for Peace and Freedom) and IPN (Iowa Peace Network) both operating in the city there is much of peace/justice information and events.

Today a couple of us are going to a lecture as part of the Grandview College ANNUAL VIOLENCE AWARENESS WEEK. Last year we had a booth at that event, but the notices came too late for that this year. We're going today to support the organizer who was both threatened and sued in court for staging this event last year. I've also talked with her about the possibility of doing some lectures in her classes about the Historic Peace Churches and how that impacts our culture.

Submitted on March 14, 2002 by Gerald Rhoades, pastor or the Harrisburg First congregation in Harrisburg, PA. He is the congregation's representative for the DOV.
We at Harrisburg, PA First Church of the Brethren have started a Junior High Peacemaker Team that teaches conflict resolution and anger management skills. We are considering officially participating in the Secure Dwellings Campaign. We have been educating the congregation on it in preparation for a congregational council vote. We open our building for use by Neighborhood Mediation Service. We helped organize a witness on the state capital steps the day the US began bombing in Afganistan. We provide meeting space for three Narcotics Anonymous Groups to help reduce drug related violence.

Submitted on March 13, 2002 by Kim McDowell, pastor of the University Park congregation in Hyattsville, MD. University Park is a DOV Congregation.
Our congregation has just become a participating one, so we're only starting to think about next steps. On March 7, we sponsored a showing of "THE GOOD WAR AND THOSE WHO REFUSED TO FIGHT IT", followed by discussion (and dessert.) On this past Sunday, we erected a peace pole at the front of our building to express both hope and commitment to turning away from violence. We invited the many community users of our building to join us for these two events (though none did) and we'll write up a brief description of the peace pole for our neighborhood newsletter.

Submitted on February 25, 2002 by Jeanesse Rodeffer of the Olympic View congregation in Seattle, WA. She is the Oregon/Washington District's Decade to Overcome Violence Representative (DOV23).

On February 9th the Oregon/Washington district had a youth retreat. Part of this time was spent in an insightful discussion on the purpose and organization of the DOV, the violence around the world/nation/cities/communities, and how the youth could make an impact and statement. They decided that since school is such a significant part of their lives, they want to direct their efforts towards overcoming school violence and its various forms. What they concluded was at the root of the "troubled teen's" actions was a lack of love, positive role models and support/influences in their lives.

In order to be effective in changing and prevailing over the multiple forms of school violence, the youth realize the change must come from within them. They have decided to become T.U.R.T.L.E.'s, standing for Tolerance, Understanding, Respect, Trust, Love, and Empathy, reaching out to those "troubled teens". The youth believe that by exhibiting these traits through their own characters, and in their relations with others, the barriers that are formed between the "troubled teen" and the rest of the world will crumble, to be replaced instead by positively impacting relationships. The youth have developed an image/visual statement, as is explained below, that they intend to present at district conference and possibly other congregations as well.

In the race between the Turtle and the Hare, slow as it is, the turtle prevails, by persevering along the pathway. Let us imagine the hare to represent violence, advancing in our society at increasing rates and modeling the actions for our people. Let us also imagine the turtle to be the youth and us, the people standing for tolerance, understanding, respect, trust, love and empathy in our relationships. The persevering efforts of the T.U.R.T.L.E. overcome the hare in the end of the race conquering violence. This race may take a decade or it may take longer, but in the end the T.U.R.T.L.E. will prevail.

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Send us your stories of how you reconcile with issues of violence in your homes, your communities, and your world.

Send to:
Bryan Hissong, DOV Program Assistant
On Earth Peace Assembly
PO Box 188, 500 Main Street
New Windsor, MD 21776