November 2008
Equipping for Peacemaking E-Newsletter
Welcome to the November 2008 Equipping for Peacemaking Network E-Newsletter. Our hope is to help bring attention to resources that relate to the work of the ELCA Decade for a Culture of Peace and Nonviolence (2001-2010). Included in this monthly e-newsletter are events and resources that can be used at the small group, congregational and individual level. Thank you for being part of the network! Forward this to your friends and encourage them to sign up for the network as well. CLICK HERE to find additional resources and enroll in the E4P network.
In this E-Newsletter you will find information about:
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
Nov. 11 - Veteran's Day. A congressional resolution passed in 1925 read in part..."Whereas it is fitting that the recurring anniversary of this date should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations.....CLICK HERE for additional information.
Nov. 27 - Thanksgiving Day. Celebrate this holiday 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 Thanksgiving e-card with your donation.
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.
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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Lazarus is Still Waiting at the Gate
"Without justice, there can be no peace." (Martin Luther King, Jr.). Come and explore the connection between poverty, wealth, race and class at Lazarus is Still Waiting at the Gate: An ELCA Conference on Poverty and Wealth, November 21-23 in Atlanta, GA. The keynote speaker is Meizhu Liu, co-author of The Color of Wealth: The Story Behind the U.S. Racial Wealth Divide. Other speakers include Bishop Julian Gordy and The Rev. Michael Russell, Charlotte Williams, and The Rev. David Billings, authors of Lazarus at the Gate: Writings and Reflections on Poverty and Wealth.
Registration fee for the event is $250. CLICK HERE for a registration form.
For more information, contact Loretta Horton, ELCA Director for Poverty Ministries Networking at 800.638.3522, ext. 2404.
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Kirkridge Training Event and Workshop
Kirkridge Retreat Center, Bangor, PA, is offering the following:
"Creating a Culture of Peace"
December 3-7: Training of Trainers
Strengthen your spirit and skills for peace and justice work through these interactive, experiential training events that help you plan concrete actions and peacemaking projects. NOTE: Creating a Culture of Peace Basic Training is a prerequisite for this training. Contact Janet Chisholm at Kirkridge for more information, registration and fee information.
"Journey to Wholeness"
Weekend workshops for veterans that offer a safe haven for empowerment, camaraderie, mutual support and community building.
War: Trauma or Transformation - Dec. 12-14
Combat veterans, address the effects of war on yourself, your relationships and your spirit. The program will be led by Tracey Allison, Clinical Psychologist, who works with veterans.
Visit the Kirkridge website for information on registration and fees.
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Lutheran Peace Fellowship: Art and Hope Event
WHO? An event for all between the ages of 15 and 20.
WHAT? An opportunity to be creative; learn about justice; practice leadership; discuss peace; make new friends; build new skills; connect with others and explore the power to make positive change.
WHEN? Saturday, December 6, 2008; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
WHERE? Seattle, WA
HOW MUCH? $25 - $50 sliding scale, scholarships available.
For more information, visit the Lutheran Peace Fellowship website, email lpfyouth@gmail.com or call Monica or Lindsey at 206.720.0313.
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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.
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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."
CLICK HERE for additional resources.
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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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Peace Not Walls Campaign Assembles Activist Database
The Peace Not Walls team is responsible for implementing the Middle East Peace strategy of the ELCA. The team invites members of the Equipping for Peacemaking network to join the new churchwide Peace Not Walls activist database, if they have specific Middle East interest and expertise.
The information is being compiled in an Access file searchable by geographic location and function, such as speaker on Israel-Palestine or Holy Land trip planner. Peace Not Walls staff will use the database to
--Send special email information about new resources, advocacy
alerts, etc.;
--Forward requests for speakers on Middle East peace by geographic
region;
--Help to create informal local networks of peace activists;
--Connect Holy Land trip planners with experienced trip leaders;
--Share resources, such as template op-ed articles for local
newspapers; and
--Offer regional training workshops and teleconference briefings to
database members.
If you are interested in sharing your skills through inclusion in this database and would like to receive a survey form, please contact Carol LaHurd by email or phone at 800-638-3522, ext. 2117.
For updates and action alerts on developments in the search for peace with justice in Israel and Palestine, including the work of our ecumenical and interfaith partners, enroll in ME-NET, the ELCA Middle East Networking Listserv.
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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.
NOVEMBER PEACE QUOTE:
"Hunger, poverty, squalor, privilege, powerlessness, riches, despair, and vicarious living are forms of violence—forms that a society approves and perpetuates. We have been too willing to discuss violence in terms of ghetto uprisings, student unrest, street thievery and trashing, and have been unwilling to direct our attention to the more pathological types of violence that are acceptable—the types that daily crush the humanity and life from untold millions of brothers and sisters."
Edward Guinan, Paulist priest and founder of the Community for Creative Nonviolence in Washington, DC