July 31, 2009, I ended seven years of work with Mennonite Mission Network as Minister of Peace and Justice and 36 years of church ministry. I was licensed for church ministry in 1973 at the age of 24 and have had a long, sometimes rocky and sometimes sunny, road as a leader in the church, both as a Southern Baptist and as a Mennonite (my journey in a sermon can be found at: <http://leohartshorn.blogspot.com/2009/07/journey-of-faith-based-on-genesis-121.html>). With the termination of U.S. Ministries and my position an odd opportunity has opened up for me. At the same time my job is ending, Iris is beginning a new position as Executive Conference Minister for Pacific Northwest Mennonite Conference. We headed to the West Coast on August 16. My vocational future is uncertain, but my hopes are to get a part-time job and pursue my creative gifts in writing, drumming, and artwork with more time and energy.

I would like to express my appreciation for the seven years I have worked as Minister of Peace and Justice for Mennonite Mission Network. The timing of John Powell's call at the end of 2001 was fortuitous. I was coming to an end of 28 years of pastoral ministry and was wondering where I might find a place to remain in the church and ministry. My passion for peace and justice as a pastor could now be practiced within the church with this new position. I have enjoyed traveling across the United States to preach and teach on peace and mission in congregations, train leaders on the missional church, work with urban ministries and Urban Ministry Directors, serve on the Antiracism Team, meet with peace and justice leaders and committees, staff the Peace and Justice Support Network Leadership Team, edit and write for the Dove Tales newsletter and PeaceSigns, write Peace Sunday materials, work with MCC US on immigration and border tours, work with Peace Advocate Susan Mark Landis on numerous projects, organize national and regional peace gatherings, and on and on I could go with the work that has added a new dimension to my life.

Over these seven years I have taken my Drumming for Peace programs across the United States to seminaries, colleges (I even did a Staley Lecture on DFP!), universities, public and Christian preschools, grade schools, high schools, conferences, and congregations to literally thousands of people of all ages, in and outside the church, and taught them, in an different way, basic principles of peacemaking through drumming and storytelling. For this venue I am sincerely grateful. I hope to re-establish my DFP network on the West Coast.

I appreciated my work and the many friendships. Any contact with me after today can be made through my personal e-mail address: cleohart@aol.com. Adios Amigos/Amigas!