Brethren Witness - People of God's Peace Newsletter

Decade Gains Mo
The Decade to Overcome Violence is gaining momentum across the denomination. Coordinators have been chosen in every district, nearly 80 congregations have made a commitment to participate, and a variety of DOV-related events are being offered by the Brethren Witness office and On Earth Peace. Special Annual Conference activities are being planned for district coordinators and DOV congregations. In addition, Fernando Enns, the German Mennonite who played a key role in launching the Decade, will be present in Louisville.

Laura Kreider continues her work as program assistant for the Decade, keeping the DOV website up-to-date with resource offerings and stories from congregations and maintaining contact with district representatives. Contact Laura to learn how to become a DOV congregation (202-546-3202; CoBDoV@aol.com).

2002/2003 CCS
Twenty-five adults from across the denomination took part in the April 11-15 Christian Citizenship Seminar sponsored by the Washington Office and Brethren Witness office. Beginning in New York and finishing up in Washington, DC, participants visited the United Nations, Ground Zero, the Iraqi consulate to the United Nations, and a variety of NY congregations; discussed Christian/Muslim relations, the role of UN Peacekeepers, peacemaking and the media, and US sanctions against Iraq. Each person also made a Congressional visit to press a peace-related issue.

In the meantime, the regular pattern of youth CCS's will pick up again next year with a May 3-8 event. The 2003 theme will be "It's a Small World After All" and will focus on globalization.

Peace Opportunities at AC, NYC
Two major summer conferences will provide a variety of opportunities for Brethren peacemakers. Annual Conference will offer the following Brethren Witness-sponsored Insight Sessions: Afghan Women Speak; New American Dream (consumption and spirituality); and I Pledge Allegiance (congregations dealing with post-Sept. 11 conflicts). In addition, this year's Un-Luncheon will feature a presentation by participants in the December delegation to Iraq, and Brethren Witness director David Radcliff will lead sessions for Elementary, Junior High and Youth age-groups.

National Youth Conference-goers will have plenty of peace-related opportunities. Once again there will be a vigil at a nuclear weapons silo. There will be workshops on globalization; youth and peacemaking (led by youth); and political advocacy. The Witness office also plans daily peace and environmental events at the entrance to Moby Arena.

Faith Expeditions
A new lineup of 2002-03 Faith Expeditions await registrants. Trips to Central America, Iraq, and within the US offer Brethren of all ages the chance to grow in their faith, learn about pressing peace and justice concerns, and support our global neighbors in their struggles to live decent and dignified lives.

Walking the Talk
Neither rain, nor injury, nor flying cans hurled from passing vehicles has kept Don Vermilyea from continuing his Walk Across America: Peacefully, Simply, Together. By early June, Don will have covered Arizona and much of California as he heads toward the Pacific Northwest and then eastward across the country. A BVSer, Don is being sponsored in his Walk by the Brethren Witness office and Brethren Volunteer Service.

Don's goal is to visit in any Church of the Brethren congregation along his route with interest in hosting him and hearing his message of Christian discipleship—as well as his growing repertoire of stories of life on the road. Follow Don's progress on the Brethren Witness webpage.

Westward Ho!
The 2002 Youth Peace Travel Team will make a westward swing this summer following initial stops in Southern Ohio and at Annual Conference. Along with Ohio's Inspiration Hills, the four-member Team will visit Camp Stover, National Youth Conference, Camp LaVerne, Camp Myrtlewood, Camp Peaceful Pines, and Camp Koinonia.

Making up this year's Team are Carle Gaier, Ben Kreider, Chris Palsgrove, and Daniel Radcliff.

Write for Life
Over 80 congregations have made use of the special Write for Life postcard campaign materials over the past three months. All 12,000 postcards originally printed have been requested by congregations or used in special mailings, and a second printing has been done. The Write for Life campaign calls on the US administration to use its influence at the United Nations to end the 11-year sanctions against Iraq, which according to UNICEF have led to the deaths of 500,000 children.

For an analysis of recent changes in the sanctions regime, see the Issues and Areas section of this newsletter.

Musselman Released
Nathan Musselman arrived back home in Roanoke, Virginia on May 27 after three weeks in detention by Israeli authorities. He had been arrested for his participation in a nonviolent witness outside the Church of the Nativity in early May. Prior to his detention, Nathan had been in Palestine studying Arabic. Nathan was also a member of the December Church of the Brethren delegation to Iraq.

Nathan is very interested in sharing his concerns about the ongoing Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories and about US support for Israel. Contact Nathan at: 540-772-0820 or nathanmusselman@yahoo.com. Nathan's written reflections can be found on the Peace and Justice page of the Brethren Witness website.

Iraq Sanctions: Revised Standard Version
A recent decision was made by the UN Security Council to put into place "smart sanctions" on Iraq. It is claimed that these revised sanctions will allow adequate food and medicine to the Iraqi people, so that any continuing suffering in Iraq will be a result of Iraqi government policies.

In reality, while the new sanctions regime will streamline the process for getting food and medicines into Iraq in exchange for oil revenues, Chris Fitz of the Iraq advocacy organization EPIC (and a member of the December Brethren delegation to Iraq) notes that the embargo will continue to: 1) prevent the speedy reconstruction of the public health infrastructure of Iraq; 2) prevent the revival of the Iraqi economy, needed to provide jobs and living wages for Iraqi families; and 3) prevent the development of the Iraqi oil industry, which would guarantee steady income for reconstruction and economic revival.

As Edward Esho of the Middle East Council of Churches told the visiting Brethren delegation, "Allowing us to import these foods and medicines is like breaking a person's legs and then giving them crutches. It is the economic sanctions that are killing us."

Brethren efforts to have the economic sanctions completely lifted will continue. Contact the Brethren Witness office for ways to become involved.

Nuclear Weapons (Trick or) Treaty
While a new nuclear weapons treaty between Russia and the United States has been hailed by President Bush as a means to "liquidate the legacy of the Cold War," in reality these reductions will do very little in this regard—and are hardly reductions at all.

Analysis by the Back from the Brink Campaign indicates that even after the treaty goes into force: nuclear weapons will remain on full alert; large numbers of missiles will remain targeted at Russia; there is no link to the contentious and destabilizing issue of missile defense systems; the 4,000 nukes being decommissioned will in reality be simply stored and can be returned to operational status at will; there will be no US assistance for Russia's expenses in decommissioning its weapons; and both sides can continue to possess 1,700 to 2,200 strategic (intercontinental) warheads each.

Ironically, and perhaps not surprisingly, the number of nukes agreed to by the two nations is precisely the number a Pentagon review recently recommended that the US needed for future security. The new configuration will disperse the US weapons by means of these delivery systems: 14 Trident missile-carrying submarines; 500 Minuteman III land-based missiles; 76 B-52H bombers; and 21 B-2 bombers.

New GFCF Efforts
A $40,000 Global Food Crisis Fund grant will be given through Church World Service to UNICEF for its work in alleviating child and maternal malnutrition in Iraq. Fifty-five percent of Iraqi children are malnourished—a rate that has soared in the 11 years of economic sanctions against Iraq. UNICEF has proven one of the few international agencies to effectively combat malnutrition among children and their mothers in Iraq.

An $87,582 grant for the people of southern Sudan has been pledged to the New Sudan Council of Churches. Projects to be supported by the gift—the largest ever by the GFCF to Sudan—will include boys and girls schools, women's development, a mosquito net project, and a large consignment of soap for schools and communities.

Already this year the GFCF has sent $30,000 for development aid to North Korea; $7,000 for stoves and cisterns in Guatemala; $25,000 for Bayview Citizens to Social Justice in Eastern Virginia; and $10,000 for emergency aid for Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Gifts to support these ministries are needed and appreciated. Send donations to: Global Food Crisis Fund, 1451 Dundee Avenue, Elgin, IL 60120.

A day in the life...
A report from Norwegian People's Aid staff in southern Sudan: "The Government of Sudan bombed an area between Mayam and Manken on Tuesday 22/05/02 at 2.00 a.m. People were sleeping and therefore taken unawares. The Antonov dropped 16 bombs in total—8 in one location and 8 nearby. Fifteen people were killed on the spot and 35 seriously wounded. The situation is described as carnage with bodies lying everywhere—legs and arms blown off. Most of those wounded were young boys aged 10 and 11 years."

Witness@web
The Brethren Witness section of www.brethren.org has recently been expanded and updated. Added to the site are a Just for Youth section, an Iraq page, an essay titled "Feeding the Multitudes," and illustrated descriptions of Global Food Crisis Fund projects.

Check out the Brethren Witness site, then let us know if you have suggestions for further improvements or expansions.

Resource Updates
The original 1,000-copy printing of Waging Peace has been depleted, and another 500-copy edition has been printed. The six-session study/action guide was authored by Audrey Osborne Mazur and David Radcliff last November in response to September 11 and its aftermath, as well as to the ongoing reality of injustice and war in the world.

Contact the Brethren Witness office for free copies.

Faith Expeditions 2003
Looking for a way to work for peace and justice, learn about the world, visit Brethren mission and service projects, and expand your own faith—all at the same time?

The Brethren Witness office is offering 2003 Faith Expeditions to Iraq (April—peace and reconciliation focus; David Radcliff, leader); Guatemala (June—environmental/ social justice focus; Tom Benevento, leader); Alaska (June—environmental/native rights focus; David Radcliff, leader); Honduras (August—social justice/work project focus; David Radcliff, leader); and perhaps an environmental trip to Central America in January. An Arizona environmental trip is also being considered.

Faith Expeditions are open to Brethren of all ages and experience levels. Requirements include respect for other cultures, openness to spiritual growth, and a willingness to endure very basic living conditions. Scholarship aid is available for youth and young adults.

People You Should Know
Training for Change offers workshops to equip people for nonviolent social action. Their bag of specialties include: teaching about diversity; helping nonviolence trainers build their skill level; and strategy workshops for agents of change. Contact them at peacelearn@igc.org or 215-241-7035.

20/20 Vision helps members see more clearly what's at stake in Congressional legislation. Mailings or e-alerts give guidance for action on issues ranging from environmental regulations to weapons programs to poverty legislation. Go to www.2020vision.org to find out more.

The National Campaign for a Peace Tax Fund is looking for grassroots organizers. Congressional District Contacts help generate support for the Peace Tax Fund Bill by encouraging advocacy by citizens and informing the local community about the NCPTF. Congregational Contacts serve as liaisons in congregations, working to involve church members in the campaign. People in both roles are assisted by the national office. Contact the NCPTF at 888-PEACE-TAX; peacetaxfund@igc.org. Kim McDowell represents the Church of the Brethren on the NCPTF Board.

Damascus Road
The Brethren Witness office will be coordinating the work of a new anti-racism program in the Church of the Brethren. Named Damascus Road, the program will help congregations better understand the dynamics of racism in our personal and institutional life.

Five Brethren are currently preparing to be denominational resource persons for the Damascus Road project. They are: Barbara Cuffie, Sharon Reich, Valentina Satvedi, James Washington, and Torin Eikler.

Just for Youth

Check out the Just for Youth section of the Brethren Witness webpage. It's new and just for you!

Tired of feeling helpless when military recruiters invade your school's hallways? Do something about it! Order copies of a new Brethren Witness flyer that reminds your classmates they don't have to join the military to learn skills, see the world, or gain experience. By checking out any one of a zillion volunteer agencies listed on a website named on the flyer, they can do all these things without having to learn to kill people or giving up their personal rights in the process.

Next stop: Anywhere you want to go! Get on board a Faith Expedition bound for some of the coolest places in the US or abroad. Scholarships available.

You raised money for the past four years to get your youth group to NYC—now it's time to do something for someone else! How about the Support a School project or the If a Tree Falls... project to help God's people and God's earth. Call the Brethren Witness office (800-323-8039) or go to the Just for Youth page of the Brethren Witness website for info.

What's a Christian Citizenship Seminar? Take 100 youth, throw in a few advisors, give them a topic related to being a Christian in today's world, and send them off for six days in New York City and Washington, DC Sound like a good thing? You'd better believe it! The theme for the 2003 CCS is "It's a Small World After All." The focus of the May 3-8 event will be on the effects of globalization on the earth and its people. Contact the Washington Office or the Youth Ministries office for more details.

Youth Peace Travel Team applications for the 2003 are now being accepted. If you're a young person between 16 and 22, have a deep commitment to Christian peacemaking, and are comfortable working as a member of a team and making presentation before groups of youth, this could be for you. Team members receive a stipend of $1000-$1500 and have all their expenses for the summer covered. Contact the Brethren Witness office or website for an application.

As one way of marking its commitment to the Decade to Overcome Violence, the Uniontown Church of the Brethren in Western Pennsylvania district selected the month of June as a special Peace Emphasis Month. During the month, the congregation plans to: focus on peace during children's Sunday School classes; have hymns and special music each Sunday that emphasize peace; host a performance by Kids for Peace from the Spring Valley Bruderhof; offer peace-related reading materials to members; and post information about the Brethren heritage of peacemaking. A special flyer offered church members answered the question "What can I do for peace?" with a list of 12 peace-related actions, ranging from praying for the world to going on a Faith Expedition. Brethren Witness director David Radcliff provided leadership on a kickoff Sunday for the month.

See the DOV page for more stories of how Brethren congregations are following through on their commitment to the Decade to Overcome Violence.