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The 2003 DOV Training Event:
Overcome Evil With Good
December 5-7, 2003
 Bernard Lafayette Jr., Matt Guynn & David Jehnsen |
As the snow gracefully settled on the rolling hills of New Windsor, MD, reality fell sharply on the unsettled. Those gathered at the Decade to Overcome Violence training event were greeted by the immediate beauty of the landscape, and yet not removed from the ugly images of violence that often lie beneath all things. The “unsettled” were the forty-eight participants in this second training event of the World Council of Churches inspired, Decade to Overcome Violence emphasis. Unsettled by the enormity of the job that lie ahead. Unsettled by the relative disregard by so many toward addressing and confronting the violence of our world. Unsettled in mind, heart, and spirit that the peace of Christ as recorded in scripture continues to be denied and abused by individuals and by nations. Unsettled, and yet committed. Committed to mobilizing their church and their communities through this decade to overcome violence.
 Lois, Matt, Phil, Fran, Rick & Amy |
 Barb, Rebekah & Sarah |
The Church of the Brethren General Board Witness/Washington Office and On Earth Peace co-sponsored this training event held December 5-7 in New Windsor. This workshop, seen as formative in organizing district and congregational representatives for the work of the Decade, was coordinated by Rachel Peterson, BVS staff person. In addition to staff leadership from On Earth Peace and the Brethren Witness office, Jeff Carter and David Radcliff provided worship resource. Central to the training event were the presentations provided on Saturday by Bernard Lafayette, Jr. and David Jehnsen. Lafayette was an instrumental member of the nonviolent organizing efforts of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He co-founded the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee in 1960 and was the leader of the Nashville Movement that same year. Jehnsen, currently a member of the On Earth Peace Board of Directors, has a long history as a social change activist and educator for democracy. He was active with King, Lafayette, and others in the Albany Movement of 1962. In 1980-82 he served as Deputy Director of the U.S. Congressional Commission charged with design of the United States Institute of Peace. Jehnsen and Lafayette challenged the group through historical analysis and strategic theory to embrace the Kingian philosophy and principles for nonviolence. Through their presentation the forty plus “unsettled” were offered hope, and a structured methodology for moving forward.
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Other events of the weekend included shared meals, shared stories, and a shared dialogue in how the Decade to Overcome Violence program could best be structured within the Church of the Brethren. Participants had opportunity to role play and develop strategies that might lead toward a new non-violent movement within the church.
The snow settled to the earth in New Windsor. The “unsettled” peacemakers of this training event received the blessing of its beauty, and were reminded of God’s hope. Not that things which are dirty can simply be covered up, but that which God creates can over and over again find renewal. The Decade to Overcome Violence was a training event and more. It was a time to consider renewal.
Read about the 2001 DOV Training Event
DECADE TO OVERCOME VIOLENCE REPRESENTATIVES GATHER IN NEW WINDSOR, MD
The Decade to Overcome Violence held it's first ever Training Event for the Church of the Brethren in New Windsor, MD on November 30-December 2, 2001. In attendance were the DOV23 who are representatives in each district to help raise awareness and educate about the Decade; youth who were invited to learn and share their knowledge; and leadership totaling 42 participants. The event proved to be a time of worship, idea-sharing, and discernment as those gathered conversed about short and long-term plans for the Decade responding to questions like, "how can we use the current biennial focus to get congregations involved?", and "what goals can we set for 2010?".
The current biennial focus, Our Brethren Peacemaking Heritage, was celebrated and studied throughout the weekend in the form of discussion and the DOV Study/Action Guide (DOVPak) that congregations who commit to the Decade receive. As well as information on the biennial focus, this comprehensive guide includes materials for worship, background on violence, background on DOV, action ideas and more. DOVPak will serve as a constant part of congregations throughout the Decade while still being an ever changing work-in-progress that will stay updated and purposeful to congregations.
Interested congregations can get involved in the Decade by signing the congregational commitment form and in turn receiving the DOVPak! Contact the DOV Program Assistant for more information or to receive a congregational commitment form.
The Decade to Overcome Violence, an ecumenical movement started by the World Council of Churches, was accepted by Annual Conference 2000 and is a program of Brethren Witness/Washington Office of the General Board and in partnership with On Earth Peace.