About On Earth Peace

M. R. Zigler founded On Earth Peace in 1974.

In 1974, M. R. Zigler brought together a group of people who wanted to strengthen the peace witness of the Church of the Brethren.  Held in New Windsor, Maryland, this meeting gave birth to the On Earth Peace Assembly.  On Earth Peace has always been a Church of the Brethren program, although the nature of the relationship to the denominational organization has changed through the years.  Since 1998, On Earth Peace has been directly accountable to Annual Conference, as one of the three program agencies of the church (with the General Board and the Association of Brethren Caregivers).

From the beginning, peace education for youth was a priority, and remains so today.  Other projects have been professional/vocational groups for peace, a peace resource book store and a series of peace assemblies held in New Windsor.

In 1990, the Ministry of Reconciliation, initially formed within the General Board program, was transferred to On Earth Peace.  In 2000, the board of directors chose to add peace witness as a third primary program area.

The main office of On Earth Peace remains in New Windsor at the Brethren Service Center, where it has been located since the founding of the organization.