MC USA congregations can be yeast of peace in violence-saturated world

Contact: Laurie L. Oswald (316) 283-5100, E-mail:

by Laurie L. Oswald

ELKHART, Ind. (MC USA) -- Becoming involved in peacemaking -- encouraged by recent memo sent from Mennonite Church USA's Executive Board to congregations -- isn't a novel idea for Carol Rose, pastor of Mennonite Church of the Servant in Wichita, Kan.

Ever since 9/11, many people in the 25-member congregation have joined others of the Peace and Social Justice Center of South Central Kansas for public peace witness. In rain, snow or sun, they've stood at two major intersections in Wichita on Tuesdays during evening rush hour and held up signs for motorists, including "Don't Attack Iraq." Despite some adverse reactions, Rose, with the tiny band of peacemakers, believes that mustard-seed efforts can spread Jesus' message of peace far and wide.

"We got all kinds of responses, ranging from honks in response to our 'honk for peace' signs to people flipping us obscene gestures, or even people yelling, 'kill'em all!' said Rose, also a volunteer with Christian Peacemaker Teams in Colombia. "But no matter the response, I take hope in the fact that Mennonites and others involved in peacemaking can be like yeast throughout this city."

This congregation is one of many that the Executive Board hopes witnesses and prays for peace this winter, as the United States makes decisions about war with Iraq. The Executive Board has asked area conference leaders to send congregations a peacemaking memo with a copy of a letter drafted to President Bush. The Executive Board drafted the letter, signed by Jim Schrag, the Executive Board's executive director, and the memo at meetings Jan. 10-11 in Elkhart.

"Almost every church body in the United States has declared that a war against Iraq cannot be a 'just war,' " states a portion of the letter. "Churches around the world have joined this cry. As Mennonites, we hold firmly to Jesus' teaching that encourages us to practice love across all boundaries, loving even enemies. ... We urge you to take the necessary steps to pull back from the inevitable death and destruction of war."

Accompanying the memo to congregations was a letter signed by Susan Mark Landis, the Executive Board's peace advocate. "Along with other Mennonite peace staff working on the United States' conflict with Iraq, I have great hope that war can yet be averted if grassroots folks, such as you and people in your congregation cry out against such violence," part of her letter reads.

The Executive Board drafted its memo and letter after discussing how MC USA needs to hold true to its Anabaptist roots by following Jesus' way of peace, said Elaine Bryant, Executive Board member and pastor of Englewood Mennonite Church in Chicago. She worked with Landis to draft the memo and letter.

"I think it's important for a new church such as Mennonite Church USA to reiterate its historical position on peace, and that's what we've tried to do with this memo and letter," Bryant said. "And even though congregations were asked to sign an earlier letter to President Bush, this letter can serve as a reminder to us all that we are still here, praying and acting for peace, because the threat of a pre-emptive strike against Iraq is still here."

Landis believes that congregations and individuals have an unprecedented opportunity to remind the world of God's desire for peace and to offer hope.

"People beyond Mennonite Church USA repeatedly ask me two questions: 'What can we do to stop this war?' And, 'Where do you get hope?'" Landis said. "Essentially, that second question means, 'What do you understand about God that I don't?' 'Why does your relationship with God give you hope?'

"I can hardly grasp what an incredible opportunity these times are for Mennonite Church USA to share the good news of Jesus' peace with our neighbors. I don't expect us to be gleeful -- the times are bleak. But our security in God's love, our knowledge that even if the United States goes to war, our God dwells with us in hard times -- these truths give us a depth of hope that our neighbors notice and desire."

Many other congregations are joining Mennonite Church of the Servant in offering this hope, Landis said. She's heard numerous stories of peacemaking efforts across the United States. For example, children at First Mennonite Church in Newton, Kan., this past summer wrote and wood-burned "peace on earth" in four languages on peace poles. Members of the church placed a peace pole outside the church's front door next to a tree planted in memory of Rhonda Krehbiel, a young mother murdered in her home in Newton several years ago.

When asked to sign pledges to become peacemakers, a little boy said he couldn't sign because he wanted to be an Army pilot some day. Several weeks later, when members of the church were signing a letter asking President Bush to seek nonviolent alternatives to war with Iraq, the boy approached First Mennonite member Judy Schrag, "Judy, where is that letter to sign to President Bush so we don't go to war?" he asked.

Salford Mennonite Church of Harleysville, Pa., made two quilts, one for President Bush and one for President Saddam Hussein. On the side of each quilt is half of a tree. A dove is perched in the branches of each half, and these branches spread out over a section of the globe. The side with Europe and Africa with Iraq highlighted will go to President Hussein. The side containing North and South America will go to President Bush. Branches from each tree will overlap from one quilt to the other. When these quilts are joined, there is one Tree of Life enveloping and unifying all people.

Shalom Mennonite Church in Harrisonburg, Va., celebrated Peace Sunday by inviting Muslims from the local mosque and students in the Conflict Transformation Program at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg to help the congregation learn more about Islam. MC USA suggested Peace Sunday as a fast day, and since it was also during Ramadan, Muslims and Mennonites broke fast together in the evening by sharing homemade soup and bread.

Rose believes that none of these efforts are in vain, because peacemakers can impact whether the world swings to the side of peace or violence.

"I think we're at a hinge point in what God is doing in the world regarding the myth of redemptive violence, and I believe Anabaptist peacemakers are right in the center of that hinge," Rose said. "Not so very long ago it was considered normal for a human being to own another human being. God moved through the church to stop slavery. And God can move through the church to show how violence is wrong."

This Executive Board memo to congregations is a follow-up reminder for churches to create their own peacemaking ideas as they join God in bringing peace to the world, or to join efforts of other peace groups, Landis said. She joins Leo Hartshorn, minister of peace and justice and for Mennonite Mission Network, in promoting peacemaking in MC USA. Hartshorn leads MC USA's Peace and Justice Support Network (PJSN), which Landis co-leads. For more information, you may contact Landis at (330) 683-6844 or visit the PJSN web site at www.peace.mennolink.org. Photo available.

Laurie L. Oswald is news service director for Mennonite Church USA. Kathleen Kern, of Rochester, N.Y., contributed to this report.