The following report about this event was submitted by The Rev. Ronald Duty, a member of the ELCA Inter-unit Task Force for the Decade for a Culture of Peace and Nonviolence:
A consultation on human rights was held October 30-31, 2008, by the Inter-unit Task Force for the Decade for a Culture of Peace and Nonviolence. The consultation observed the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights [which will occur] on December 10, 2008. It was also held to spur a deepening and broadening of the ELCA's commitment to human rights as a public church. Strengthening humans rights is a key strategy to nurture a culture of nonviolence because.....<MORE>
CLICK HERE to read an ELCA News Blog about the gathering written by Melissa Ramirez Cooper, a member of the Inter-unit Task Force.
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ONE's Sabbath Season
The ONE campaign is "Americans of all beliefs and from every walk of life - united as ONE - to help make poverty history" through education and action. ONE's Sabbath Season began in October and runs through the end of April 2009. During this time, congregations are encouraged to hold worship services, organize small-group discussions and sponsor youth activities focused on ending extreme poverty and global disease.
Visit the ONE website for more information about the campaign, for resources for ONE's Sabbath Season, and to download the Issue Brief from the ELCA.
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Upcoming Holidays/Days of Remembrance
Dec. 1 - National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. From a 2007 Presidential Proclamation: ".....pay special tribute to those who lost their lives at Pearl Harbor, honor our veterans of World War II...." CLICK HERE for additional information.
Dec. 10 - Human Rights Day. This year, Dec. 10 marks the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948. CLICK HERE for more information and resources.
Dec. 25 - Christmas Day. Celebrate the birthday of the Prince of Peace by sharing a gift in the name of family and friends through an ELCA "Good Gifts" donation to support ELCA ministries or through a donation to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal. CLICK HERE to send a card with your donation.
Jan. 1 - One Day in Peace/Global Family Day. First celebrated Jan. 1, 2000, to usher in the Decade for a Culture of Peace and Nonviolence, then affirmed by the United Nations in 2001 resolution, this day is to be celebrated yearly by a day of peace and sharing. CLICK HERE for more information and resources.
Jan 19 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. As a day set aside to honor the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., this is also an opportunity for a day of service. CLICK HERE for more information and resources.
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Events at Kirkridge Retreat Center
Kirkridge Retreat Center, Bangor, PA, is offering the following:
"War: Trauma or Transformation"
Dec. 12-14, 2008
Combat veterans, address the effects of the war on yourself, your relationships and your spirit. The program will be led by Tracy Allison, Clinical Psychologist, who works with veterans.
"Making Activism Smarter and Thriving Personally"
February 20-22, 2009
Join George Lakey to explore ways activists can get more effective results AND support abundant personal lives. This workshop will include experiential exercises, probing questions, small groups, reflections and fun.
"Creating a Culture of Peace for Vets, Friends & Family"
March 5-8
Discover your power for peacemaking on your issues during a spiritually- grounded, interactive, and skill-building training weekend. Explore active nonviolence, social change, and community-building; plan projects. Facilitated by Thomas Brinson and Tim Pluta, military veterans committed to using the power of active nonviolence in their work for peace and justice.
"Creating a Culture of Peace"
March 12-15
Discover your power for peacemaking on your issues during a spiritually- grounded, interactive, and skill-building training weekend. Explore active nonviolence, social change, and community-building; plan projects. Facilitated by Janet Chisholm and Addison Bross
"There Shall be No Poor Among You"
March 27-29
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. urged all to abolish the evils of poverty, racism and war. From her experiences in war zones, prisons and blighted neighborhoods, Kathy Kelly describes efforts to remove the pillars supporting these evils. There will be simulations, role plays, small group sessions, prayerful song and reflection to assist you in discovering your role in working for justice and peace.
Visit the Kirkridge website for information on registration and fees.
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"Heeding God's Call: A Gathering on Peace"
Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), the Church of the Brethren and Mennonite Church USA are planning Heeding God's Call: A Gathering on Peace which will be held January 13-17, 2009 in Philadelphia, PA. The mission statement for the ecumenical conference is "to strengthen our witness and work for peace in the world by inspiring hope, raising voices, taking action." Visit the conference website for more information.
If you are planning to attend this conference, we'd love to hear about the highlights. Contact Jean Morehouse for more information or to submit an article and photographs for inclusion in Equipping for Peacemaking E-News.
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No Name-Calling Week - January 26-30, 2009
From the website: "No Name-Calling Week is an annual week of educational activities aimed at ending name-calling of all kinds and providing schools with the tools and inspiration to launch an on-going dialogue about ways to eliminate bullying in their communities."
The website offers free downloadable materials and a Resource Kit which is available for purchase.
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Season for Nonviolence: January 31 through April 4, 2009
Visit the PeaceCenter of San Antonio, TX website for 64 Days/64 Ways to Practice Nonviolence. This resource lists daily activities that can be used for the Season of Nonviolence, January 31 through April 4, 2009. The Season of Nonviolence is "a national 64-day educational, media and grassroots campaign dedicated to demonstrating that nonviolence is a powerful way to heal, transform and empower our lives and our communities."
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Christian Peace Witness for Iraq
Plan now to join Christian Peace Witness for Iraq, April 29-30, 2009 in Washington, DC. Gather with others for witness and worship on Wednesday evening and action and advocacy on Thursday.
Visit the Christian Peace Witness for Iraq website for more information.
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Lutheran Services in America-Disability Network Launches New
E-Advocacy Website
Many people living with disabilities have stories to share about ways in which they have experienced discrimination; how bullying has affected their lives; or how they been victims of violence because of their disabilities. Lutheran Services in America-Disability Network, a national network of faith-based providers serving individuals with disabilities, recently launched a new e-advocacy website dedicated to providing information about advocacy efforts involving legislation and regulations impacting people with disabilities.
CLICK HERE to join the LSA-DN Public Policy and Advocacy network and access the new e-advocacy website. The site features action alerts and updated information from Congress. It also provides opportunities for interaction with other individuals interested in these issues through a blog and forums. For additional information, please contact Heather Ansley, LSA-DN's Director of Policy and Advocacy.Season for Nonviolence: January 31 through April 4, 2009
Visit the PeaceCenter of San Antonio, TX website for 64 Days/64 Ways to Practice Nonviolence. This resource lists daily activities that can be used for the Season of Nonviolence, January 31 through April 4, 2009. The Season of Nonviolence is "a national 64-day educational, media and grassroots campaign dedicated to demonstrating that nonviolence is a powerful way to heal, transform and empower our lives and our communities."
CLICK HERE for additional resources.
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Daily Peace-Related Lectionary Reading Available from Presbyterian Peacemaking Program
CLICK HERE to access "The Biblical Witness to Peacemaking, 2008-2009, A Daily Lectionary Bearing Witness to God's Gift of Peace and Christ's Call to Live as Peacemakers," made available by the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program. Readers are encouraged to consider the following questions as they read the suggested scripture:
-- What does this passage say about God's gift of peace?
-- What does this say about our calling as peacemakers?
-- What is God inviting me to do or be or change through this passage?
For additional peacemaking resources from the Presbyterian Church (USA), CLICK HERE.
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Daily Peace-Related Lectionary Reading Available from Presbyterian Peacemaking Program
CLICK HERE to access "The Biblical Witness to Peacemaking, 2008-2009, A Daily Lectionary Bearing Witness to God's Gift of Peace and Christ's Call to Live as Peacemakers," made available by the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program. Readers are encouraged to consider the following questions as they read the suggested scripture:
-- What does this passage say about God's gift of peace?
-- What does this say about our calling as peacemakers?
-- What is God inviting me to do or be or change through this passage?
For additional peacemaking resources from the Presbyterian Church (USA), CLICK HERE.
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Peace Articles in Café
Visit the October issue of Café, a Women of the ELCA electronic magazine for young women who want to build Community, participate in Advocacy, strengthen Faith, and strive toward Enlightenment (CAFE!), for "Peace is Where You Make It" by Le Anne Clausen and "Faith Reflections" by Brooke Peterson. Faith Reflections also includes a link to a study page with related questions and action ideas. And, you can join the conversation about "Peace at Home" at Coffee Talk.
Or, CLICK HERE, to download a podcast and listen to the audio of both articles.
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"Native Nations: Standing Together for Civil Rights"
Hosted by Peter Coyote, this video chronicles the American Indians' struggle for civil rights, and the creation of the National Indian Lutheran Board to raise funds and awareness for that struggle. From the controversy surrounding the 1862 trial when 38 Dakota Sioux were executed in the largest single-day mass hanging in United States history, to the confrontation of the 1960's when many Indian tribes joined together to speak out with a unified voice, Native Nations tells the story of standing together for sovereignty, justice and civil rights. It will air on ABC affiliate stations through 2008.
Visit the ELCA Communication Services website to view and/or purchase the video, check local listings for air times, and for additional information.
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"A Time for Burning"
According to an ELCA News Service article, "A Time for Burning, was broadcast on the Documentary channel and at special showings in theaters in Nebraska and New York in October. This "landmark civil rights film [features] the struggles of Augustana Lutheran Church, Omaha, NE, in 1965 and its pastor, the Rev. L. William Youngdahl." The film was released in 1966 by Lutheran Film Associates and reissued on DVD in 2005 by Docurama Films.
Robert. E.A. Lee, Lutheran Film Associates director from 1954 to 1988 and the executive producer of the documentary said it "was to be 'visual aid' to help Lutherans respond as responsible Christians to the racial tensions of the 1960s." In 2006, it was added to the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress as part of a library of more than 400 selected films preserved for their cultural, historic and artistic significance.
A Time for Burning can be purchased at the Docuramafilms website.
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"Soldiers of Conscience"
From the Public Broadcast System: "Soldiers of Conscience is a dramatic window on the dilemma of individual U.S. soldiers in the current Iraq war — when their finger is on the trigger and another human being is in their gun sight. Made with cooperation of the U.S. Army and narrated by Peter Coyote, the film profiles eight American soldiers, including four who decide not to kill, and become conscientious objectors and four who believe in their duty to kill if necessary. The film reveals all of them wrestling with the morality of killing in war, not as a philosophical problem, but as soldiers experience it — a split-second decision in combat that can never be forgotten or undone."
Visit the PBS Point of View website for more information, to access a discussion guide or to purchase a copy of the DVD.
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NEW RESOURCE - Food for Life: Recipes and Stories on the Right to Food
Now available through Augsburg Fortress, this cookbook contains recipes stories, photographs and table blessings from around the world. It calls attention to the global food crisis, celebrates diversity and lifts up concerns of the poor and hungry. It also highlights the work of the Lutheran World Federation and the ELCA World Hunger Appeal.
Food for Life "is organized into four chapters or 'cycles': agricultural -- dishes for growing, planting, harvesting, and 'hungry' seasons; religious -- recipes for religious celebrations and observances; life -- birthdays, weddings, funerals and other events; and daily life -- breakfast, lunch, dinner, desserts and snacks."
CLICK HERE to order your copy today!
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From a Culture of Violence to a Culture of Peace
Thanks to Sr. Brenda Walsh, Racine Dominican, Pr. Pam Kershner and Pr. Jim Peters, members of the Racine Clergy Association and the Equipping for Peacemaking Network, for the following update on peacemaking activities in Racine, WI:
"It is encouraging to see the community coming together to address violence and gang involvement in the Racine area, and to work at creating a culture of peace. Violence in its many forms is not unique to Racine. It is a regional, national and international concern."
"The solution to the problem belongs to the entire community and each of us needs to be a part of it. We need to demonstrate...." <MORE>
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Interfaith Leaders Speak Out Against Anti-Muslim DVD
According to the Muslim Public Affairs Council, Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders held a press conference on October 7 at the Interfaith Alliance offices in Washington, DC and condemned the recent distribution of "Obsession," an anti-Muslim DVD, to 28 million households in key election swing states. Rabbi Jack Moline, Chair of the Interfaith Alliance, also called on both presidential campaigns to "promote a pluralistic view of religion and faith as a source of unity and healing in our country" and "reject the use of religion as a political weapon." CLICK HERE to read the news release about this press conference.
Haris Tarin, MPAC Community Development Director, presented an interfaith statement which has been signed by more than 80 Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders from around the country. The statement expresses "deep concern" over distribution of the "deeply divisive and anger-providing DVD" which undermines "our common and cherished beliefs by inciting fear and furthering ignorant stereotypes." CLICK HERE to read the full statement.
Want to become a more active partner in building Christian-Muslim relationships? Visit the Muslim Public Affairs Council "Take Action" section of the website for suggestions and ideas.
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A Christmas Gift Idea
Paula Ford, a member of the ELCA Equipping for Peacemaking network, is now offering a handmade peace bracelet online. The beaded bracelet has a small cross charm with a heart in the center (representing love in the center of faith) and a charm with a peace symbol on one side and the word "peace" on the other. For every bracelet sold, $10 will be contributed to Lutheran Peace Fellowship.
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Peace Notes and Quotes
If you have a favorite quote or want to share a brief thought about peacemaking, please send your contribution to Jean Morehouse, Equipping for Peacemaking Program Coordinator.
DECEMBER PEACE QUOTE:
"For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
Isaiah 9:6, Holy Bible, NRSV
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