“The Church’s Message of Peacemaking for the World and Gaza” is the theme of a presentation by Palestinian Christian pacifist Jonathan Kuttab to be hosted by Lancaster (Pa.) Church of the Brethren on Sunday, Dec. 7, at 3 p.m.
On Nov. 20, I attended a congressional hearing on the redesignation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern.” Coming from a different meeting, I arrived 10 minutes before the start. The room was so full that there was a line down the hallway. This was the most interest in Nigeria that I’ve witnessed on Capitol Hill since the abduction of the schoolgirls from Chibok more than 10 years ago. I am hopeful to see this much attention on Nigeria, but the focus of this attention on potential military action is troubling.
In February, the La Verne Church of the Brethren Peace and Justice Commission brought to the Church Board a proposal to speak to the violence, injustice, and inequality Palestinians are experiencing in Palestine and Israel.
Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) welcomes the implementation of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas with cautious optimism. After nearly two years of relentless warfare, widespread destruction, and devastating loss of life, we pray this agreement marks a turning point toward peace, justice, and healing for all who call the Holy Land home.
On Aug. 15-17, a Church of the Brethren Peace Conference in Mwanza, Tanzania, brought together church leaders as potters of hope, molding visions of amani (peace) and tumaini (hope) into forms that can serve their communities.
On the International Day of Peace, Sept. 21, Mountville (Pa.) Church of the Brethren hosted a candlelight peace vigil to lament the 100-plus lives lost to gun violence in Lancaster County, Pa.
The Living Legacy memorial event at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City on Friday, Sept. 19, was an evening highlighting 80 years of achievements, advances, failures, and assessment of where we are today, while setting a goal for a future UN contained in the Pact for the Future and the Sustainable Development Goals among others.
The Northern Plains District of the Church of the Brethren, which includes the state of Minnesota in its area, joined in a statement of grief from the Minnesota Council of Churches (MCC) following the shooting of children from Annunciation Catholic School on Aug. 27.
The National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC) has issued a pastoral letter on the urgency of climate action. The Church of the Brethren is a founding member of the NCC. The denomination’s Office of Peacebuilding and Policy relates with the NCC as a partner organization and is commending the letter.
Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) joins 115 humanitarian and human rights organizations in sounding the alarm over the catastrophic starvation crisis in Gaza. As part of this joint statement, CMEP urges governments to take immediate and decisive action to end Israel’s siege, open all land crossings, restore the full flow of essential aid, and demand an immediate and permanent ceasefire.