Paths to Peace
In the past 10 years, 20 million children have been killed, wounded or displaced by war. The damage to these little ones is the result of ethnic hatred, religious intolerance or greed. The key to a more peaceful future is a world with fewer weapons, more interchange between groups, greater justice for the poor and marginalized, and people of faith who respond to Jesus' call to be peacemakers. The Church of the Brethren has known and tried to practice these things for generations. That's why we're called one of the Historic Peace Churches. —Brethren Witness/Washington Office

Paths to Peace
Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women aged 14-44 in the United States. One out of four young women in our society will be abused in a dating relationship. Jesus respected women and taught against treating them—or anyone—as objects to use or abuse. Jesus' followers are invited to live in a new way toward one another, which includes treating those nearest to us respectfully. Being a peace church is more than just working for peace on distant battlefields—the job can begin at home. —Brethren Witness/Washington Office

Paths to Peace
Just because racism isn't legal any more doesn't mean it has gone away. In the United States, people of color are more likely to be denied loans, go to jail, or be quoted higher prices than white people with a similar background. In reaching out to Samaritans and in making a Samaritan the hero of his most famous story, Jesus sought to destroy barriers based on race. The ART (anti-racism) project of the General Board invites us to think about these things—and then to take steps to change ourselves and our society for the better. —Brethren Witness/Washington Office

Paths to Peace
What is a conscientious objector? It is someone who feels that by reason of conscience they cannot participate in warfare. The convictions of C.O.'s don't have to be religiously based, but they must be founded on deeply held beliefs. CO's don't get off the hook during a time of war, as they must perform other kinds of civilian service, usually living away from their homes and in very basic conditions. Many Brethren C.O.'s have served their alternative service through Brethren Volunteer Service. One can't apply to be a C.O. until there is an actual draft, but for ideas about what you can do to prepare see the Brethren Witness webpage at www.brethren.org. —Brethren Witness/Washington Office

Paths to Peace
With a budget of $396 billion, the United States spends more on its military than all the rest of the world combined. How much is $396 billion? A lot. Start laying $1000 bills end to end until you circle the globe. Then do it again. That's $396 billion. The United Nations says that for $6 billion a year, the 130 million of the world's children not in school could be educated. That's what we spend on our military in five days. Being a peace church sometimes means challenging the way things are—so that they can become something better. —Brethren Witness/Washington Office

Paths to Peace
Research has shown that throughout history, 95 percent of the soldiers in a given war would do whatever they could to avoid shooting to kill. They'd aim high, aim low, volunteer for kitchen duty. God has put something within the human heart that makes us recoil from the taking of another human life. So, when we work for peace, we are really on the side of the soldier, doing what we can to keep these young people from doing things that may haunt them the rest of their lives. Being a peace church doesn't mean being anti-soldier, it means being antiwar. —Brethren Witness/Washington Office

Paths to Peace
Jesus told us to love our enemies. Throughout history, church people have worked hard to find ways to explain away such a difficult saying. "He didn't mean our real enemies, but rather the people in our town who don't like us." "This teaching is meant for the future kingdom of God—not here and now." "It's a teaching that expects perfection—more of a goal then something we can actually achieve. So he didn't really expect us to follow it." Brethren have always taken Jesus at his word, and it has challenged us to love our enemies and live as peacemakers in our lives and world here and now. It's part of the burden—and special joy—of being a peace church. —Brethren Witness/Washington Office

Paths to peace
Violence doesn't always involve direct physical aggression. Violence can be anything that demeans the image of God in a person. For instance, poverty can be a form of violence. Being poor is the root cause of hunger, illiteracy, and sickness around the world. While some of us in today's world enjoy unprecedented affluence, nearly half of humankind lives on less than $2 a day. The Church of the Brethren is working to address this inequality. Global Food Crisis Fund projects in a dozen nations bring food, income and self-respect—all necessary ingredients for people to live fully in God's image. Our Washington Office advocates for efforts to minister to and equip the poor. Congregations support food pantries and programs to support the poor. It's all part of being a peace church in a world like ours. —Brethren Witness/Washington Office