(via e-mail)
March 2, 2007

Greetings from the Brethren Witness/Washington Office:

1. World Day of Prayer Requests Delivered to House Speaker
   
2. Christian Peace Witness for Iraq- March 16, 2007 in Washington, DC
   
3. Exciting News From the Peace Tax Campaign!

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1. World Day of Prayer Requests Delivered to House Speaker

Since 1812 women have encouraged one another to engage in personal prayer and take leadership in communal prayer within their mission auxiliaries and associations. This emphasis on prayer led to annual days and weeks of prayer. By 1897 the women of six denominations formed a joint committee for a united day of prayer for home missions. In 1910-1911 women celebrated the 50th Anniversary or Jubilee of women’s missionary activity by organizing a series of speaking engagements across the United States that provided women with a powerful experience of what they had achieved in ecumenical cooperation, in local and global linkage, in prayer and information sharing, and in biblical reflection. All of this had been in the hands of women. Out of this experience many local interdenominational women’s groups were formed. After the devastation of World War I, women incorporated the conviction that world peace was intrinsically tied to world mission. In 1928 this statement came from the World Day of Prayer Committee:

It is with deep gratitude that we recognize the growing power inherent in our World Day of Prayer. The circle of prayer has expanded literally around the world. We have learned the great lesson of praying with, rather than for, our sisters of other races and nations, thus enriching our experience and releasing the power which must be ours if we are to accomplish tasks entrusted to us.

In 1941 the coordination of World Day of Prayer within the United States became the responsibility of an interdenominational movement now known as Church Women United. World Day of Prayer is recognized around the world on the first Friday of each March.

With this brief history and understanding of the origin of the World Day of Prayer it is appropriate that the Church of the Brethren delivered to the first woman House Speaker of our nation over 300 requests of prayer for an end to the Iraq war on this world day of prayer.

Brethren from across the nation requested of Speaker Nancy Pelosi the following: “Please pray that God will grant peace to all races, creeds, and nationalities worldwide. Please also honor your commitment to help end the conflict in Iraq and bring peace to this world we share, through your actions as one of America's political leaders.”

In delivering these prayer requests to Speaker Pelosi, Phil Jones, director of the Witness/ Washington Office, shared these thoughts, “The Church of the Brethren has a long and rich heritage of living out the Christian teachings of nonviolence. We share in the pain and anguish that the violence of war is bringing on our nation’s families as well as on the families of those of Iraq and Afghanistan. On this day of prayer we ask for committed prayers of peace and well being for all people. Speaker Pelosi we hope you will be diligent in searching for ways to guide our congress into an understanding of peace and nonviolence, dialogue and mediation, along with compromise and compassion as tools of foreign policy. Seek the way of unity, not division.”

2.Christian Peace Witness for Iraq- March 16, 2007 Washington, DC

Things continue to move forward with the planning for the Christian Witness for Peace in Iraq on March 16. We are glad to hear that a number of Brethren are traveling to DC for this event. If you have not yet registered please do so at www.sojo.org. There are currently over 2200 persons registered for the worship at the National Cathedral. Brethren are encouraged to watch for the Church of the Brethren banners at this event and join together following worship for the march to the White House. Denominational groups are asked to march under one banner rather than carrying individual signs. Persons who would like to assist as Peacekeepers for the march should contact Matt Guynn, staff member with OEP, mattguynn@earthlink.net. Training for Peacekeepers will occur Friday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. COB members considering risking arrest at this event are asked to contact our office and plan to attend nonviolence training events prior to the action. Schedules for these can be found at the Christian Witness for peace website. http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=action.cpw&item=cpw_main

Church of the Brethren members and friends are invited to join for a 9:00 a.m. breakfast in our building at 337 North Carolina Ave. SE, DC, 20003 on March 17. Art Gish, Christian Peacemaker Team member, will share with us stories from his very recent time spent in Iraq. Please rsvp to the BW/WO if you plan to attend, 1-800-785-3246 or washington_office_gb@brethren.org. If you are planning events in your home area to witness for peace in Iraq please let our office know.

3. Exciting News from the Peace Tax Campaign!

Peace Tax Fund lobbyist met with Michaeleen Crowell, who is Rep. John Lewis' Legislative Director. Congressman Lewis is ready to move the Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund bill into the 110th Congress. He will "drop" (reintroduce) the bill in mid-March, possibly on the first day of Spring. That gives local constituents 2 weeks to contact their local representatives and request they contact Representative Lewis' office 202-225-3801 asking that their represenatives be listed as original cosponsors. Visit www.congress.org for details.

We also urge you to work with a friend and call your local district offices to set up a time to discuss this bill directly with your Representative or Senator during their upcoming recess April 2-13. Call our office 1-888-PEACETAX if you need a little coaching.

Brethren Witness/Washington Office Contact Information