Decade for Nonviolence

 

The Decade for a Culture of Nonviolence originated from the work of twenty Nobel Peace Laureates, including Nelson Mandela, Mother Theresa, Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama who appealed to the United Nations. On November 10, 1998, the UN General Assembly voted to designate the years 2001-2010 as "The Decade for a Culture of Peace and Nonviolence for the Children of the World."

In 1999, the ELCA Churchwide Assembly committed this church to work with other churches and organizations to build a Culture of Peace and Nonviolence in the decade 2001-2010 by directing the Church in Society Program Unit (known in 1999 as the Division for Church in Society) to coordinate this effort through the development of an Interunit Task Force.

The ELCA Interunit Task Force for the Decade for a Culture of Peace and Nonviolence hosted an Equipping for Peacemaking training event in 2005 for approximately 50 particpants from ELCA congregations across the United States. Following this event, the Equipping for Peacemaking Network was formed to support the peacemaking activities of individuals and congregations. The Network has approximately 500 members and publishes a monthly e-newsletter.

CLICK HERE for more information about the Decade.