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What Brethren are Doing
In order to submit news and events from YOUR local congregations,
please send the information to Matt Guynn through our handy Contact Form. For more stories of Brethren peace action, visit the Church of the Brethren Decade to Overcome Violence site. Click here. November, 2002 Church of the Brethren members Cliff Kindy, Peggy Gish, and Nathan Musselman are in Iraq to build relationships, send updates about what's really happening, and to serve as human shields in the event that U.S. military action should escalate. Christian Peacemaker Teams is continuing to organize future delegations to Iraq -- Are you called to go, or to support team members with your prayers or finances? Click Here to read letters sent from inside Iraq. August-September, 2002 From August 9 - September 3, 2002, Stephanie Schaudel (originally of the Lancaster Church of the Brethren, Lancaster, PA) biked from Washington, DC to the Mississippi River in Grand Tower, Illinois. Stephanie undertook the bike trip as a fundraiser for Voices in the Wilderness, a Chicago-based campaign working to end the US-led economic war against Iraq, where she serves as Co-coordinator. Additionally, she rode her bike 1235 miles to communicate a creative and invigorating form of protest to US oil dependence. Here are some of her reflections on the experiences. To read the rest of Stephanie's reflection, Click Here. September 27, 2002 
From Carrie Eikler (BVSer at School of the Americas Watch, Washington, DC), caeikler@yahoo.com: A bomb went off about an hour ago near your hotel." Welcome to Colombia, indeed. A Witness for Peace international team member stood at the front of the dark bus, telling us the news without quavering, as though it happens all the time. And it does. The thirty-five blurried eyed and weary travelers looked around at each other. Bienvenidos a Colombia. I recently returned from a thirty-five person delegation to Colombia, sponsored by Witness for Peace and School of the Americas Watch. I have been working at SOA Watch since last October through Brethren Volunteer Service and helped to coordinate a July 2002 delegation to this war-torn country. Colombia has been entrenched in a deadly 40-year internal war. Players include leftist guerrillas, right-wing paramilitaries, US-backed Colombian military, oil, drugs, land, poison, poverty, death, spirit, life, and resistance. This is the complexity of this beautiful and brutal country. To read the rest of Carrie's reflection, Click Here. June 8, 2002 From Christine Dull (Englewood, OH) (Lower Miami Church of the Brethren, So. Ohio District) dull@concentric.net: Ralph and I are going to attend the National Conference of the Fellowship of Reconciliation in NYC from June 15-19. It's theme is "The Power of Nonviolence, Exploring Alternatives." I'm on FOR's National Council so I must go to New York three times a year for meetings. Right after 9-11, our pastor, Ron McAdams and his wife, Bert, and Ralph and I attended a service at the Islamic Center in Dayton. We already knew several people from there. I'm part of the organizing committee of a very new peace coalition in Dayton, OH, which we call Partnership for Peace. Our committee of 12 is very diverse--2 Muslims, 4 black people, two college professors, the director of religious education in 2 Catholic parishes, the head of the National Afro-American Museum, 2 Church of the Brethren people (Liz Bidgood Enders and myself) and three Protestant ministers. Our Vision is to Create a Culture of Peace (from inner peace to world peace). We also have a Mission Statement with 4 goals, one of which is to hold a conference on Sept. 20-21. We have invited Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio (who is a strong advocate for peace in the House--has put forth bills such as to create a Cabinet position for Peace) and Jesse Jackson, Jr. Liz Bidgood Enders, Ralph and I are members of Dayton's 9-11 Coalition, which plans and executes frequent events in Dayton to show we are against violent retaliation. One of the events was a large rally--about 150 people--who stood with anti-war signs in an affluent area of Dayton on April 20, while some of our members were in Washington, DC. When we join together with Dayton Muslims, we have large rallies and marches. Every Wednesday since 9-11 several of us have stood at the back of Dayton's Federal Building from 5-6 p.m. with homemade banners and signs that say things like, "No to War, No to Racism," "Please be sensible." "Unexpected kindness is powerful." Each week we get more "thumbs-ups," which says to us that there is a large group of people out there who are nervous about where this endless war is going but might be afraid to speak out. We want to show them that there are others who feel the same way they do. May 1, 2002 From Jim Buckles, buckleja@earlham.edu: Richmond (IN) Church of the Brethren "Thumbs Up for Peace" I came prepared to see more anger than affirmation. But as I stood on the corner of 5th & A streets during the noon hour last Wednesday, holding a large, white banner proclaiming “Peace on Earth,” my expectations were proven false. Car after car drove by, carrying people on their lunch break past our group of perhaps two dozen peacemakers. Aside from the three words on our banner, we said nothing apparently we didn’t have to. I had been holding up the banner for less than 5 minutes when already I came to the realization that Richmond is tired of hearing about violence, tired of seeing violence, and tired of thinking only of violence. By one o’clock, when we packed up our banner, I had been the recipient of two-fingered “peace” signs, friendly waves, supportive honks, and many thumbs up. But what I liked best were the smiles, sometimes subtle, that I barely caught as people drove by in the cars. I think they were smiling because, finally, they were seeing news about peace. January 26, 2002 From Rick Polhamus, jrpolhamus@yahoo.com: I was visiting the "What Brethren Are Doing" page and thought I would let you know what I am doing. I am currently working in the Middle East with Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT). We live in the West Bank city of Hebron. We try to do things to help reduce the spiral of violence that is happening here. Much of the violence is a result of the illegal Israeli occupation of the Palestinian area. We work with groups and individuals on both sides of the conflict who are working to find nonviolent solutions. Tomorrow three of us CPTers will be going with Israeli groups to plant olive trees in a Palestinian village. This is being done because Israeli settlers and soldiers had destroyed many olive trees in the village where we are going. The olive trees are one of the main sources of income for the people of the village. So this planting of trees is a way for Israelis to reach out in peace to their Palestinian neighbors. I also noted that there was a January 4th story on the "What the Brethren Are Doing" page about another CPTer, Cliff Kindy and about his "Pilgrimage of Faith" from Goshen, Indiana to Columbus, Ohio. The CPTers in Hebron knew about Cliff's walk and we wanted to join him in some way. So on December 29 we walked from Hebron to Bethlehem where we lit "Candles of Hope" in the Church of the Nativity and said prayers for peace at the birth site of the Prince of Peace. I really appreciate being able to share with others and it is great to see what everyone is doing. January 20, 2002 Esther Ho (Hayward, CA), estherho@worldnet.att.net: Our Fellowship in Christ (Fremont, CA) congregation is very small and meets as a separate body only once a month, and the nearest other Church of the Brethren is two or three hours away. However, the group has started to realize that the very fact that we have neither a building to keep up nor a full-blown program to maintain gives us a certain freedom to carry out some very specific projects for peace. We put a one-fourth page ad in the local newspaper for several days at Thanksgiving time urging people to give creative rather than violent toys to their children. We have also decided that we want to help the UCC congregation with whom we worship to be more of a peace church. Along that line, we gained permission to plant a Peace Pole in front of the church building. In February we are sponsoring a dialogue with a Muslim leader with the UCC congregation attending. A few months ago we sponsored a discussion with Rachel and Bob Gross on the Death Penalty which they also attended. We have a sent youth from both congregations to a district peace retreat, and one of our young people participated in a Faith Expedition to Honduras sponsored by our national offices. On a more personal level, my congregation has offered me support in my ventures with Christian Peacemaker Teams, most recently at a project with native people in New Brunswick, Canada, who are trying to exercise their treaty rights to fish for a living, and a trip to Ft. Benning, GA, to demonstrate at the School of the Americas, where many Latin American human rights violators have been trained. In relation to my position as the Pacific Southwest District liaison to Northern California Ecumenical Councils, I am working with 4 or 5 different ecumenical and interfaith groups in a wide range of projects in relation to war and peace. For example, I serve as secretary of the Ecumenical Peace Institute, which was part of Clergy and Laity Concerned, a group co-founded by Martin Luther King, Jr. I am on the executive committee of the Northern California Interreligious Conference and co-chair of its Peace with Justice Commission. Since I do not consider myself a powerful individual "mover and shaker" (I'm more of a team player), I'm not sure this work lends itself to snappy enough reporting for your web site. However, my hunch is that there are other Brethren across the denomination who also feel rather isolated from the denomination either geographically or in terms of passion for peace. I consider myself extremely fortunate to live in area which is so rich in organizations working for peace. It has been particularly gratifying to me in recent months to put to use my numerous interfaith contacts in helping to start up interfaith dialogue in some local areas. To those of you who live in areas which have a dearth of individuals and groups working for peace, I believe that your leaven is needed even more. I encourage you to use the strong foundation which your Brethren values give you to share with and give leadership to the thousands around you who are hungering either consciously or unconsciously for true peace. January 20, 2002 Members of the Church of the Brethren initiate a peace walk in Dayton, Ohio September 16 -- Eighty people gathered soon after the attacks for an interfaith prayer walk through downtown Dayton, Ohio. Ten to fifteen were members of the Church of the Brethren. The group began at a peace pole located at an American Baptist church in downtown Dayton. They moved to cross the local Peace Bridge which crosses a river downtown, connecting the west side of Dayton to the main center of town, proceeding to the federal building, the Courthouse Square, and ended with closing prayer at the starting point. At each point, the group stopped to pray and reflect together. It was an interfaith service; in addition to Christian participants, a local Muslim religious leader shared prayer and scripture, and a Baha'i community member shared prayers as well. A wide variety of prayers were offered: evangelical Christian, Muslim, universal, Baha'i, silent and song. The prayer walk came out of a district-level conversation. Immediately after the attacks, Southern Ohio District Executive Mark Flory-Steury initiated gathering of pastors for reflection and to process feelings. "We began asking, 'How do we take a strong peace stand and demonstrate our commitment as a peace church?'" shares Liz Bidgood Enders, co-pastor of the Mack Memorial congregation in Dayton. The idea for the prayer walk came in response to that question. "Local media covered the event as if it were a rally, but our intent was to gather in a time of prayer." Bidgood Enders took a major role in pulling the service together, and her husband and co-pastor Greg Bidgood Enders arranged logistics for the event. The walk was publicized through the district and through Dayton-area peace groups. The idea itself came from Christian Peacemaker Teams, and the group adapted liturgy from a Mennonite prayer service. Liz Bidgood Enders reflects afterward: "We wanted to give a different viewpoint than 'God Bless America,' and the 'Go get'em' attitude that was already so prevalent. The walk did make a alternative voice heard. The people involved obviously had a unique perspective from what we see in the mainstream media. For me, it gave a very deep sense of peace that I wasn't alone and that there were other sharing in the same concerns. It was good to be able to stand together." A Dayton-area "September 11 Coalition" formed in the following months, and a weekly vigil also is occurring in Dayton. For more information, contact Liz and Greg at mackmemorial@worldshare.netm. January 16, 2002 From Anna Lisa Gross (Richmond, IN): annalisa144@wildmail.com Anna Lisa Gross and Bob Gross recently went out to hang a Christian-peace-message banner on an overpass near their family homestead in northern Indiana. Here is Anna Lisa's report: I thoroughly enjoyed spreading peaceful ideas with my father. We Did it like this:
January 9, 2002 From Cliff Kindy (North Manchester, Indiana): UPDATE ON PILGRIMAGE OF FAITH In spite of sore ankles and cold weather we did complete our Journey of Faith to Columbus! We had from one to 46 people join us in walking each day and more excellent contacts in the 13 congregations, 4 denominations, that hosted us. We entered Columbus as the attack on the Islamic Center was making headlines. We were able to join the Muslim community for Friday prayers and later for a solidarity visit at the damaged center. Our unscientific poll of people who interacted with/responded to us on this trek would be quite different from the polls which indicate strong support for President Bush's Crusade. The CPT delegation was able to enter Afghanistan last week. It will still be some time before we know if there can be, or should be, next steps for CPT in that country. Thank you each for the part you played in encouraging and helping this action to happen. Peace to each of you, Cliff Kindy January 4, 2002 From Christian Peacemaker Teams: "FEAR NOT: A Pilgrimage of Faith" December 22, 2001 - January 5, 2002 
In support of the Christian Peacemaker Teams delegation now in Pakistan en route to Afghanistan. Sponsored by Christian Peacemaker Teams, Cliff Kindy (N. Manchester, Ind.) will begin a pilgrimage, a walk of faith, leaving from Goshen, IN, on December 22, planning to reach Columbus, OH, January 5. Joined by others for days along the route, their focus will be the churches, but the trip will include stops at mosques, military bases, defense plants, and in communities where people have been detained "on suspicion." It will be a time to focus with the spiritual tools of silence, song, prayer, fasting, listening, and walking -- a time to hear the voice of Jesus respond to the voices of fear, hatred, and revenge. "Some trust in horses, some in chariots . . ." Where do we put our trust? We will ask questions about the consequences of seeking security through the death of others. (The US bombing in Afghanistan has now killed more people than were killed in the attacks in NYC and DC.) FEAR NOT: A Pilgrimage of Faith will call out those who put their trust in Jesus rather than the weapons of war. Where is our allegiance? Whose are we? Churches within 50 miles of the route are invited to join the walk and meet each evening at sites along the route where the walkers will be staying. Churches on the route (or close) are encouraged to open their doors for the evening meetings and hospitality for the travelers. In the land where "Pax Romana" ruled, the angels spoke of a Savior, "Glory to God and on earth peace." In a time of empire and occupation, the message of the angels was, "Fear not." January 3, 2002 Terry Dougherty of the Beacon Heights Church of the Brethren (Northern Indiana) has started an e-mail newsletter for people interested in sharing ideas and information about peace action, public events, and so on. Visit the Beacon Heights peace website at www.beaconheights.net/peace/ to subscribe. January 1, 2002 The following comes from Gene Hollenberg (Beacon Heights Church of the Brethren, Northern Indiana District): I’m principal of a grade 6 - 8 middle school in Mishawaka, IN. After the events of September 11, some school board members asked our superintendent why students recited the Pledge of Allegiance in elementary classrooms daily, but secondary students didn’t at all. She sent the request out to all of the secondary principals and asked us to discuss it at our next convenience. After a meeting a couple of days later, we got together, and the question was posed again. One of the middle school principals immediately said, “We should be doing this.” The other principal sort of nodded. I asked, “Why?” The first principal said that we had a unique opportunity to teach patriotism in an environment we hadn’t seen for many years. I agreed that we could take this opportunity to teach patriotism, but I wasn’t sure that the Pledge of Allegiance was the way to do it. I stated that daily recitation could lead to ritual rather than meaning, there is no action in reciting the pledge, and we have students who object to the pledge on religious and other grounds. I then asked, “If we do this, whom are we doing it for? If this is to appease members of the board without regard to children, then we should not participate. No student or teacher in my building has brought up this subject.” The discussion went back and forth for quite a while. It was decided that middle schools would recite the pledge on Monday mornings and the high school would make its own decision with input from the student council. On the first Monday after the decision, I had our technology teacher set up a flag to show on the closed circuit television for our building and instructed him that I would make an announcement, then students would participate in the pledge as they chose afterward. I got on the screen and made an announcement similar to the following: “This morning all of our Grissom family has the opportunity to share together in pledging allegiance to the flag. Most of our students did this every day as elementary students, but we have not done it here. Several members of our community have said that they would like our students to have this opportunity, so on the first day of every week, we will pause during our regular announcements to give students and staff a chance to show their support for our country in this way.” “Some of the students and staff in this building will also choose not to participate in the pledge. During this time, they will remain seated quietly until the pledge has finished. All of us need to understand that there are many reasons why a person would not participate. Some people believe that it is wrong to pledge allegiance to anything other than God. Others believe that the flag represents ideals they cannot support. This does not mean that these people are not patriotic - it only means that they choose to exercise the freedom they are given in this country to act on their beliefs. As a community, we support all of our students and staff and the respectful choices they make. Patriotism comes in many forms, and all of us can express our support in ways that fit our own beliefs.” “In community gatherings, as a representative of this school, I will stand and participate in the Pledge of Allegiance because that is my role; however, on the Monday morning pledge, I will be one of those sitting respectfully while others exercise their freedom to participate.” The school then had its first pledge of the year. A week later, I received a note from a sixth grade girl. She wrote: “Dear Mr. Hollenberg, Thank you for saying what you did about the flag. I’m a Jehovah’s Witness and we don’t salute the flag. It’s nice to know that someone understands how hard it is to be different. Your friend, Jessica.” That’s pretty much the story. It has been a non-issue here and everyone seems to be respecting each other on the matter. Gene Hollenberg ghollenberg@excite.com December 19, 2001 Weekly Prayer and Discussion Lunch; Study and Reflection Group Judi Brown, chair of the Witness Commission at Manchester Church of the Brethren, recently took the lead in initiating two efforts in their church community: A weekly "prayer and share" lunch-time gathering, and a study group that is meeting every other Sunday night. The "Prayer and Share" group gathers every Tuesday for fifteen to twenty minutes of prayer in the chapel, and then moves to a Sunday school room for a shared lunch and discussion about peace concerns and peace witness. The study and reflection group meets every other Sunday night. It takes as an initial focus the new six-session study/action guide from the Office of Brethren Witness, Waging Peace: Strategies for Brethren Seeking and Working for Enduring Peace. You can order Waging Peace by calling the Brethren Witness office at 800-323-8039, or send an e-mail to lestes_gb@brethren.org. For more about how the Manchester Church of the Brethren organized these events, contact Judi Brown at 219-982-8180. December 11, 2001 Brethren vigil and pray during President's visit to New Windsor, MD A group of six to ten Brethren and supporters held vigil this Saturday morning, December 8, to highlight the Church's opposition to war, during President's visit to the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Maryland. President Bush was in New Windsor for a press conference to publicize aid for Afghanistan (purchased by donations from U.S. children) being shipped overseas. The vigilers were present in addition to about 40 spectators. The vigil group included BVSers and supporters of the Brethren from Washington, DC, and local residents from near Union Bridge. Their intent was to express the church's opposition to all war and their concern that the aid shipments are being manipulated for publicity purposes. (More info is in their press release, included below.)
"Yes, it (the vigil) needs to be talked about -- but not cheapened in terms of ‘the big thing' or ‘wow, what we did.' The one thing I feel is that in all that we do we are implicated as well. I don't want this to be arrogant. I feel just as much a part of the sin of this country. I have no right to be righteous or have righteous indignation. It is more as Jesus weeping over Jerusalem and a tremendous love for this country – and a different kind of patriotism. I do not want to be over against, even over against President Bush. I was there because of a tremendously deep grief, a kind of prophetic grief, like the Prophets felt. Often in demonstrations, people who are demonstrating feel that they are morally superior to people who are involved in the war. I do not feel that I am more superior. Even now the first steps of repression begin here in the U.S., the first steps toward totalitarianism– As we are destroying them we are becoming more like them. Obviously we are not so repressive (women don't have veils) but we are beginning in that direction. I know that sometimes there is a feeling of exhilaration by people who do demonstrations and vigils. I did not feel exhilaration. It just had to be done." Initially, the group set up near the highway below Old Main -- right across from 7-11, which was where other spectators were located. They had a leaflet drawn from relevant Annual Conference statements, which they distributed to the crowd. The group was later asked by a sheriff, Secret Service and BSC staff to move to a "designated protest area," which was located behind Windsor Hall and out of sight of the president or the other spectators. There they continued in vigil and prayer. The sheriff monitoring the vigil also joined in bowing his head and tipping his hat for the community prayers. Later, the other spectators came up the hill, passing them, to look across the fields and see the president's departure by helicopter. At that point many passing spectators joined in singing along. Inset: Ruth Aukerman, Union Bridge, MD, during a prayer vigil on the occasion of President Bush's visit to the Brethren Service Center, December 8, 2001. (New Windsor, MD) Photo: Jonas Bunte. For more photos and coverage of the event, please also link to the Church of the Brethren General Board Photo Journal: www.brethren.org/pjournal/2001/president.htm and the December 14, 2001, Special issue of the Church of the Brethren Newsline: www.wfn.org/2001/12/msg00110.html. The group's press release follows: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 10, 2001 SOME BRETHREN QUESTION PRESIDENTIAL VISIT Several Church of the Brethren members called into question President Bush's visit to the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, MD on Saturday. Up to twelve church members gathered at New Windsor to pray, sing, and bear witness to the identity of the Church of the Brethren. Those gathered held signs with such messages as "The Church of the Brethren Opposes War," "Aid not Bombs," and "As you have done unto the least of these, so you have done unto me." While humanitarian aid has long been a part of the mission and strength of the church, some members felt that the hosting the President's send off of aid packages created implications for the mission the church.
The group gathered with other spectators by the road where Bush was planned to enter the distribution center. When their signs were displayed they were met by secret service agents who requested that they move to a designated spot for protesters. Upon being removed from the crowd and placed on the other side of the New Windsor campus, Ruth Aukerman of Union Bridge MD lifted up a prayer"At this time we remember the birth of Christ. He was born on the margins. His family was cast out into the lonely corner of the inn. There was no room for him. Today, it is apparent that there is still no room for him. Like Christ, we too have been cast aside today, forced to speak behind police tape what we believe to be the lessons of Jesus, hidden." The purpose of the vigil was to bear public witness to the President about the historic peace stance of the Church of the Brethren. The Church of the Brethren is a Christian denomination based in the Anabaptist and Pietist traditions. It was founded at Schwarzenau, Germany, in 1708 and now counts about 138,000 members across North America plus several mission areas overseas. For more information: Brethren House 643 G Street SE Washington D.C. 20003 202.547.3808 Contact: Carrie Eikler, Brethren Volunteer Service; Marc Rittle, Brethren Volunteer Service Inset: Vigilers pray near Windsor Hall on the New Windsor campus. (L to R): Sue Topping (Washington, DC, Brethren House Manager), Marc Rittle (BVS -- Church of the Brethren Washington Office), Shannon Hildenbrand (BVS -- Wash City CoB Soup Kitchen), Torin Eikler (BVS -- Wash City CoB Soup Kitchen), Carrie Eikler (BVS -- School of the Americas Watch), Sandy Wright, and Ruth Aukerman (both from near Union Bridge, Maryland). Photo: Jonas Bunte. December 10, 2001 Green Hill Church of the Brethren, Salem, VA The Green Hill Church of the Brethren in Salem, Va., found a unique way to address the aftermath of Sept. 11 last month, hosting a "Festival of International Faith." More than 90 people from area Church of the Brethren congregations and others attended the Nov. 4 event. Highlighting the program was a panel discussion moderated by pastor Doug Jones. Those serving on the panel were Kathy Cohen, rabbi at a Temple Emanuel in Roanoke; Greg Davidson Laszakovits of the Church of the Brethren Washington Office; David Metzler, retired Bridgewater (Va.) College religion professor and a member of the National Council of Churches committee on Christian-Muslim dialog; and Darla Schumm, professor of religious studies at Hollins University in Salem. Issues addressed by the panel included how faith deals with the problem of suffering and evil, how faith values human life, how faith responds to violence, how faith recognizes and respects other faith traditions, the context of current terrorism and contrasting world views, and how faith faces the globalization of opportunity. In addition, displays and foods representing about a dozen countries were prepared by several congregations. Jim and Dixie Woods, congregational peace counselors at Green Hill, helped to coordinate the event, which also received support from the Virlina District Peace Affairs Committee. -From the Church of the Brethren Newsline, December 7, 2001 December 10, 2001 Lois Dickason lowey382ten@earthlink.net, Skyridge Church of the Brethren, Kalamazoo, MI Dear Matt, Thanks for updating the reports on what Brethren congregations are doing to witness for peace at this challenging time. We need to encourage and stimulate one another to be creative. Since pastors Debbie Eisenbise and Lee Krahenbuhl sent in the Oct. report of our putting together a note book of articles etc. supporting the peace position for our congregation to read, and of holding a peace vigil every Friday noon, we have found additional ways to witness. Here are some: 1. We ordered symbols of peace to display. We have a flag with the world on it as part of our worship center and are offering peace dove lapel pins to those who want them. We also put the "Decade to Overcome Violence" poster and an invitation of hospitality towards all on the church door. 2. We joined with the Kalamazoo Coalition for Peace and Justice to witness for peace. Consequently, an ad. in our local newspaper on Dec. 2nd, signed and paid for by 50 people, supporting a cessation of bombing with a concern for the 7 million refugees of the war in Afghanistan, was published. We were encouraged to write letters to the editor, as well as letters of thanks to others whose letters, urging restraint and harmony, were printed by the Kalamazoo Gazette. 3. We have realized the need to counteract potential hate crimes toward Arabs and Muslims in our community. We encouraged our congregation and others (through a letter to the editor of our local news paper) to use of the US postal stamp which has on it, in Arabic script, the greeting of "Eid Mubarak" (Blessed Holy Days). It is appropriate to use it on all letters, including Christmas cards, since this is how Christians and Muslims greet one another on their own holy days, as well as those of each other, when they vary the greeting to say "Eidcum (your holy day) Mubarak (be blessed)". We sent a message of support to the local Islamic Center. We sent Ramadan cards (Arabic ones purchased by a person from Skyridge COB who was visiting her husband's relatives in Lebanon) and Christmas cards, signed by our members, with David Radcliff to Iraq. The leftover Ramadan cards will be sent to the Islamic Center for their use in greeting their families on the upcoming Eid Fitr, which comes December 15th at the end of their fast. We invited Dr. Azaam Kanaan and his wife Shadia to speak at our December 2nd worship service on Islam. After Pastor Lee's short message on how Jesus, Prince of Peace, differed from those who ruled the world by enforcing peace (the military regimes of Alexander the Great and Julius Ceasar), Shadia Kanaan, who has an MA from WMU (Kalamazoo's Western Michigan University), gave a brief explanation of the history and tenets of Islam and implications for politics of our time. 4. Pastors Debbie and Lee have preached several sermons which reflect the Brethren peace position and held Sunday school discussions as well as meetings in their home to talk about the Brethren peace position documents. They did many counseling sessions following 9-11 with people who experienced depression, and others with conflicted emotions who were struggling with their beliefs on war. Not all of us hold to the Brethren peace position, and they are supportive and respectful of all, even when prayerful conclusions of others differ from their own. 5. Our Social Action/Service small group helped to put on a Sudanese meal to raise money for the Global Food Crisis Fund, when David Radcliff spoke at church the morning of Nov. 18th on what it means to be intentional about overcoming violence in our world. He also spoke and showed pictures on efforts to stand with the people of Sudan as they experience war and lack of basic necessities. Some of our members are researching which companies we can recommend to our Stewards Committee for major purchases for the church based on the extent that they are involved with defense contracts. (Any help we can get from other Brethren on this would be helpful) 6. Our youth are taking an active part in exploring what it means to witness for peace in our world. The junior high class submitted a story about an early Christian martyr who was thrown to the lions because she would not alter her beliefs in nonviolence. They asked their Sunday school teacher, Pastor Debbie, to read it to the adults in worship, which she did. One of the youth wrote a letter to her Congressman about her concern that the tax return was ignoring the needs of the poor. These same junior high girls asked David Radcliff to link them up with other youth in Mexico with whom they will soon correspond. 7. Some of us are considering attending the Christian Citizenship Seminar for Brethren peacemakers entitled "Peacmaking for such a time as this" in New York City and Washington, D.C. on April 6-11, 2002. Brethren have such a opportunity to be evangelist for the Prince of Peace at this time in our history. Thanks again for helping us to encourage one another in this call. December 10, 2001 From Illana Naylor naylor-barrett5@juno.com, Manassas Church of the Brethren, Manassas, VA Illana Naylor is a member of Unity in the Community, a local organization which build bridges across cultural and ethnic divides. She shares news of their recent event: "Living Together After 9-11." Unity in the Community presents a panel discussion: Leaders of the Muslim, Hispanic, Near Eastern, and Other Targeted Communities in our area offer honest remarks about cultural identities, belief structures, and emerging social pressures. Written questions from the audience will be answered by panleists and community leaders. (The event took place November 5.) December 10, 2001 From Debbie Roberts, Professor of Peace Studies and Protestant Campus Minister, University of La Verne, La Verne, CA Posted December 10 Students and faculty at the University of La Verne dramatized the situation in Afghani refugee camps by creating a Tent City on the ULV campus to dramatize the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. The Tent City was set up in the campus Quad, and was primarily sponsored by the campus Peace Studies Program and Model United Nations. More than 100 participated in the 24-hour sleep-over event, which took place from noon on November 13 to noon on November 14. Prior to the event, participants were encouraged to fast from sunrise until sunset on Tuesday as a tribute to the Islamic tradition of Ramadan, in which Muslims fast for 21 days. The Tent City was accompanied by events almost every hour, including talks on women's perspectives, the media and war, Islam and Ramadan, the UN and the Humanitarian Crisis in Afghanistan, and building bridges of peace between Islam and the West. Participants also joined in interfaith worship and two sharing circles (in which participants agree to certain ground rules and then are encouraged to share freely). A group of faculty opposed to the Tent City wrote, in part, "My father and many brave American soldiers fought to make our country and the world safe for democracy, so that you can now exercise your right to espouse these pacifistic views freely. They risked their lives and gave their lives so that you may enjoy these freedoms today." Debbie Roberts later shared that "we've since had some very positive sharing circles with these folks." This report was synthesized by Matt Guynn from conversation, written documents, and an article in the University of La Verne Campus Times (Nov. 16, 2001). November 5, 2001 This invitation comes via Phil Jones, pastor of the Peace Covenant Fellowship in Durham, NC (peacecovenant@mail.com): "Members of Peace Covenant Church and others who may receive this mailing are invited to join in a time of LIGHTING THE WAY FOR PEACE. Congregations across the triangle area of North Carolina are being invited to do this through the efforts of Peace 1st, a peace making network that was organized by our church. "As a practice of mindfulness and prayer for a peaceful, non-violent resolution to the conflict that permeates our world today, Peace 1st invites you to light a candle in a window of your home. The candle is intended to be a visible symbol of our hope for peace, our love for all people, our compassion for the victims, and our commitment to being active peacemakers in difficult times. We will light the candle daily as long as the current conflict persists." This prayer is offered as one that might be spoken by you or your family as you light the candle each evening: We mourn for those who lost and lose their lives. We pray for their families and for the injured. We pray for our leaders and all world leaders. We pray for peace. Please pass this invitation on to other congregations, friends, and peacemakers that you know. Feel free to replace Peace 1st in the text with your own name, or the name of your local congregation. Let's spread the word. Perhaps we can light the way for peace in our world!" Please feel free to cut & paste this text into a new message to pass on to others! You can find out more about Peace Covenant's Peace 1st program at www.peace1st.org October 11, 2001 LA VERNE, CA -- Members of the La Verne Church of the Brethren literally stood with the Muslims in their community in the tense days after the WTC attacks. On the Tuesday that the tragedy occurred, the Islamic City of Knowledge School in Pomona, California, came under pressure, as people began to drive by, shaking their fists and honking and yelling out of the their windows. The administration of the school, which has about 200 students, shut the school immediately out of fear of violence. Pastor Chuck Boyer of the La Verne congregation shares: "I called a Muslim acquaintance who was heavily involved in a local peace center. He called me back and said that they were going to have a meeting at the mosque, and invited me to come and bring someone from the church. In that meeting they came up with two things that they said might be helpful. 1) A mass prayer meeting to express solidarity with the Muslim community. (Close to 1500 showed up for this meeting!) and 2) When they reopened the school, they wanted people to be there to be a buffer and a presence." When the school reopened on Wednesday, September 19, members of the La Verne Church of the Brethren were there, and they were still providing a daily presence as of this writing. At least eighteen different people from the La Verne CoB have participated in the accompaniment. Shirley Boyer and Marie and Marvin Snell have taken particular leadership. Of all the people from the community who turned out, about two-thirds were Brethren, a quarter were Quaker, and there was a smattering of others including United Church of Christ and Methodist. Despite the protection, the school has only recovered about 60% of their student body. The Pomona Fellowship Church of the Brethren and the Claremont Friends Meeting (FGC) received plaques of commendation for their service, along with the La Verne congregation. (A newspaper article on this topic is available from the Toronto Globe and Mail. On their website, search for La Verne and the article will appear.) October 8, 2001 HARRISBURG, PA -- A group of about 300 Brethren, Quakers, Mennonites, and Brethren in Christ gathered in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, for a worship service organized for peace and nonviolence in the aftermath of September 11. As many as 50 were in attendance from the Church of the Brethren. There was a petition passed and an offering was taken for MCC relief in Afghanistan and grief counseling and mediation in New York City. Ralph Detrick from Elizabethtown Church of the Brethren preached, along with Brethren in Christ pastor Terry Brensinger. Anthony Alexander, pastor of Grace United Methodist Church in Harrisburg, led the liturgy, sharing Howard Thurman's reminder that anyone can love their neighbor, but Jesus calls us to the difficult task: loving our enemies. Posted: October 8, 2001 Skyridge Church of the Brethren put out a notebook this Sunday for people to bring things from e-mail, articles, newspaper clippings, so people can share information, making copies of the notebook for themselves. One member brought in a whole list of helpful internet sites that she had found; others brought op-ed pieces and articles from national and local papers. At the Skyridge congregation, they are also leaving the church open for prayers on Fridays, so people can come in to pray for peace. September 22, 2001 On September 22, Brethren from many congregations in northern Indiana joined in a silent peace/prayer walk in Fort Wayne, Indiana, on September 22, ending at the office of Senator Richard Lugar. To see a sample liturgy for the walk, connect to www.cpt.org/#resources. |
