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Congregations : Writings		View All Writings
Title	Date	Author
“And what brings you to DC?”	3/16/2010	by Staff
I heard it again Sunday, about four times, as a matter of fact. Here's the long version of my answer to that question, recounting the trail from teaching in the music department at Eastern Mennonite University to a semester as a volunteer at MCC Washington Office, whose primary work is advocacy.
We are not just children	3/16/2010	by J. Ron Byler
"There's little attraction to me about a faith which presents itself as pro-war, indifferent to poverty and injustice, and selectively literal in its use of the Bible to justify politics and prejudices," says Kurt Neilson, an Episcopal priest in Portland, Oregon.I am finding Kurt speaks my mind more and more these days. Whether the issue is national healthcare, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, increasing poverty or decreasing dollars available for education, I wish more Christians were less interested in reducing their taxes and more concerned about caring for those Jesus called "the least of these."
The German Line	3/16/2010	by Tim Huber
In the three years I lived in Germany working for the German Mennonite Peace Committee and Mennonite Central Committee, I drove an automobile twice. We used the nation's considerable bus and train system almost exclusively, and we look back fondly on our blissful ignorance of gasoline prices and ease of getting wherever we needed to go. Well, "ease" may be cutting the people of Germany too much slack. Since I have now spent a significant portion of my life waiting on train platforms, I am intimately aware of the standard German line or "queue."As this concept has moved into the contemporary age, the U.S. military simultaneously moved from the draft to an all-volunteer force. This meant an increase in advertising, which brought with it an unprecedented focus on image, branding, and marketing.
Fearless love	3/16/2010	by Anton Flores-Maisonet
The immigrant knows fear. She knows fear the moment she turns her back to her home and takes her first legally unauthorized step to "El Norte." He knows fear the very moment he steps into the Arizona desert braving the brutal elements and trusting a potentially unscrupulous coyote. They all know fear every time they drive (unable to obtain a license) down a Cobb or Gwinnett County road on their way to worship, work, or Wal-Mart.
Just Peacemaking: Part 2--Violence and Nonviolence--Food for Thought	3/16/2010	by Tom Beutel
Jesus' words in Matthew 5:38-41 are foundational for most Christians peacemakers. Turning the other cheek and going the second mile are such well known concepts that they have made their way into the culture at large. That this is so is evidenced by the fact that a search on Google of the phrase "turn the other cheek" returns a link to Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia, as its first reference!
Give what you have without apology	3/16/2010	by Max Ediger
We live in a society that often puts great value on the big things people do. Those who make large financial contributions to help the poor or provide significantly large amounts of aid for victims of floods, earthquakes and storms receive recognition and a place of honor in our communities. Those who have little to contribute may be left feeling that their small contribution is of little value in comparison. They rarely, if ever, enjoy recognition and respect. They may be left wondering if their small contribution is really valuable at all.
Memory matters	2/16/2010	by Susan Mark Landis
Susan Mark Landis reflects on the importance of right remembering, as Moses commands in Exodus.
Living into Lent	2/16/2010	by Brother James Dowd
As you are receiving this edition of Peace Signs, Lent will be just beginning, which, for those of us in the catholic liturgical tradition (in the Western Church, that includes those of us who are Anglicans, as well as our Roman Catholic sisters and brothers), carries all kinds of "baggage" that sometimes needs to be unpacked. I am not sure that Lent holds as much emotional weight for those from the Anabaptist tradition, so I thought that this month I would just offer a few reflections on the season.
Living faithfully in a world of war and injustice	2/16/2010	by Theron Schlabach
WATERLOO, Ont. and SCOTTDALE, Pa. -- In the turbulent scene of human history that was the 20th century, when chaos and debilitating fear too often reigned, historian and ethicist Guy Hershberger was a leading light for American Mennonites, never giving up his patient and persistent efforts at living and refining biblical pacifism.
Just Peacemaking: Part 1	2/16/2010	by Tom Beutel
In their Christian ethics textbook, Kingdom Ethics, Glen Stassen and David Gushee discuss pacifism, Just War Theory and Just Peacemaking. They assert that despite one's specific stand on war--pacifism or Just War Theory--it is important to embrace and practice Just Peacemaking.
An Iraq journey: remembering Rutba, seeing Jesus	2/16/2010	by Weldon D. Nisly
Every day for nearly seven years I have remembered Iraq and envisioned returning to that war-torn occupied land. I have longed to return to Iraq with Christian Peacemaker Teams and dreamed of going back to Rutba, a desert city in Western Iraq. Rutba holds a special place in my heart. I will always remember Rutba as the place where Iraqi people bandaged our wounds in a time of war.
Out to lunch	2/16/2010	by Konrad Swartz
I was walking to the Supermercardo to meet a fellow youth worker. It had been raining during the night through the morning, so I skipped over puddles as I made my way. As I was crossing the street, a man called out to me. He asked if I was the guy from Belgium. The question sounded odd as I repeated it to myself. "Is there someone in La Ceiba from Belgium that everyone knows?"
True security	2/16/2010	by Mary Stata
In Washington, February 1 is eagerly anticipated. It's not because dreary January is departing; it's the day when the President sends his budget request to Congress. While the budget is not exactly riveting reading material, the President's request does offer a preview of policy priorities, values, and principles for the upcoming fiscal year. To be frank, February 1 is the day the Administration puts its money where its mouth is.
Transformation and change	2/16/2010	by June Mears Driedger
"What are your disciplines for Lent?" my spiritual director asked me."Oh, I think I'm gonna give up watching 'Star Trek'," I told her. "I watch it every Monday evening with my roommates. It's kinda a ritual for us but I think it will be good for me to give it up."She studied me for a several seconds then sharply responded: "If you do that you will miss the whole purpose of Lent. You will end up with more pride--you will be proud of yourself rather than seeking transformation."
Radical Spirituality	2/4/2010	by John Driver
Convivencia Radical: Espiritualidad para el siglo xvi, Ediciones Kairós, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2007, by John Driver. Translated by John Driver.
The battle for hearts and minds	1/19/2010	by Tim Huber
Product placement has had its place in radio, television, and cinema pretty much since each medium's inception. Hershey's chocolate appeared on the silver screen in 1927. Soap operas in radio's Golden Age were so named due to being underwritten by actual soap companies and the same was true for early television programs of the 1950s.As this concept has moved into the contemporary age, the U.S. military simultaneously moved from the draft to an all-volunteer force. This meant an increase in advertising, which brought with it an unprecedented focus on image, branding, and marketing.
Waiting with Haiti	1/19/2010	by Brother James Dowd
Last month I wrote about the "Advent Wait" which seemed an appropriate-enough column for December. That column was focused on the Incarnation, God taking on the form of humanity, and on the future coming of Christ. I had not intended to write on the theme of waiting again this month, but given the news this week, I find I must. This time, however, it seems to me that we wait for Christ at the foot of his Cross, as experienced by the people of Haiti.
Don Cachaco's three-cornered prayer	1/19/2010	by Anton Flores
Don Cachaco lives on one of the most beautiful plots of land on earth, but it's a beauty that hurts. As poor campesinos living along a lake shore in war-torn Colombia, Cachaco, Omaiyra and their children are often confronted with the lethal violence of their country's civil war as well as the structural violence of being among the poorest inhabitants of the Western Hemisphere.
Who's in charge?	1/19/2010	by Max Ediger
The year was 1975 and the war in Viet Nam had just ended, leaving an uneasy calm in Saigon. There was uncertainty and fear among much of the population, but life had to go on so people were busy finding ways to keep food on the table, find work and adjust to the new environment with all of its unknowns.
What we owe Haiti	1/19/2010	by Rachelle Lyndaker Schlabach
Beneath the rubble of crumbled buildings in Port-au-Prince lies a disconcerting reality. Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, owes large sums of money to wealthy countries and international financial institutions. This past June, debt relief advocates cheered when two-thirds of Haiti's external debt was canceled. However, Haiti still owes $641 million, much of it to the International Monetary Fund and Inter-American Development Bank.
Haiti's disaster: human or natural?	1/19/2010	by Staff
This morning when my congregation sang "Rain Down," my throat stopped functioning when I came to the lines, "God will protect us from darkness and death; God will not leave us to starve." Images of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, sprang to mind and tears to my eyes. Has God left the people of Haiti to death and starvation?
Buying peace	12/15/2009	by Susan Mark Landis
Today's Bloomingdale's ad in the New York Times had sugarplum dream gifts under $100. The exclusive "Peace, love and Bloomie's set of six socks" for sizes 0-12 months runs $28. My immediate response was, "Peace doesn't come because someone writes it on socks! Peace takes...." Well, you fill in the blank. You read PeaceSigns. You don't need this spelled out. But we all know peace doesn't come because an infant is wearing it on their socks, or we'd have peace spilling out in the streets. How trite can people get?
Looking for a fair economic recovery	12/15/2009	by Staff
On November 19th the Congressional Black Caucus boycotted a vote in the House Financial Services Committee on a piece of legislation meant to regulate and, if needed, dissolve financial institutions deemed "too big to fail" (H.R. 4173). The boycott was not an attempt to stop the bill from passing but, rather, to bring awareness to the unique needs and concerns of African American communities during the foreclosure crisis which made such regulation necessary.
Emmanuel	12/15/2009	by Tom Beutel
The birth of Jesus Christ, two thousand years ago, was then, and is now, a source of great joy for all people. God did not have to take on human form and be born as a helpless human baby. He did not have to live with a human family and learn a carpenter's trade. He did not have to take on a healing, preaching ministry; nor, ultimately, to submit to a humiliating and painful death by crucifixion. God, being who God is, could have provided salvation for us humans in any number of ways, most of which we cannot even imagine.
Fullness of humanity	12/15/2009	by Susan Mark Landis
When Annika Martin played Jesus in our congregation's Search for the Christ Child, she screamed for 20 of her 40 stage minutes. I like to think Jesus did the same. I can only imagine new mother Mary's uncertainty, "Is he hungry? Do I dare nurse in front of these kings? Maybe he has a dirty diaper. Hard to tell with all these cow piles in here." The December nights I rocked my own newborn and wished I had memorized dozens of lullabies before she was born, I sang whatever came to mind. It was December; I sang carols. Rather quickly I decided that whoever wrote "Away in a Manger" had lived far removed from babies-or had no idea what it meant to be fully human. If my Jesus cried when he approached Jerusalem and realized people don't understand what makes for peace, my Jesus also cried just because that's what human babies do.
Abraham Lincoln and the Mennonites	12/15/2009	by Staff
Paul M. Schrock shares some interesting history on Abraham Lincoln's attitude toward conscientious objectors.
The Advent Wait	12/15/2009	by Brother James Dowd
I am writing this column on the day that five suicide car bombers murdered more than 100 people in Baghdad. And we wait....I am writing this column one week after President Obama told us that sending more troops, not reducing troop levels, would end the war in Afghanistan. And we wait....I am writing this column more than eight years after the "War on Terrorism" began. And we wait....Sometimes faithful Christians have to wait....
Afghanistan needs sustainable peace, not more troops.	11/17/2009	by Susan Mark Landis
As Mennonite Christians who are called to go into the world to spread the good news of the gospel to all people, we proclaim that sending additional troops to Afghanistan is good news to no one. We believe that our personal security rests only in God and that our nation's security rests in democracy, diplomacy and development.
Inseparable beams of the cross	11/17/2009	by Susan Mark Landis
The parable of the Good Samaritan was in so many of my Sunday school quarterlies when I was a child that one would think I've scrutinized every possible lesson. I got the basic one--be nice to people you meet along the way. But the wisdom of these verses is so deep that insights keep coming, year after year.
Think about these things	11/17/2009	by Tom Beutel
Despite his own personal hardships and problems in the church at Philippi, Paul wraps up his letter to the Philippians by exhorting them to focus on that which is true, honorable, just, pleasing, commendable, excellent and worthy of praise. This is not the advice of one who is oblivious to trouble and injustice. In fact, Paul is writing to the Philippians from prison as he awaits trial by the Roman government. We, as Christians, as peacemakers, and as citizens would do well to follow Paul's advice and, at least at times, try to find and celebrate that which is good even in those persons and institutions which we often identify with injustice and violence.
Fifty ways to fade your footprint	11/17/2009	by Anton Flores
Set to the tune of Paul Simon's "Fifty Ways to Leave your Lover," this is a collaborative songwriting project by Dorie Callies, Kathy Etchison and Anton Flores.
A new Colombia policy – now is the time!	11/17/2009	by Theo Sitther
Colombia is home to one of the longest running internal armed conflicts. The war is fought between various armed actors and has displaced more than four million people, creating one of the worst humanitarian crises in the Western Hemisphere. Each year many Colombians are assassinated, kidnapped, threatened and displaced. A rural Colombian church member explains, "What you experience only in your nightmares is our daily reality."
Not far enough	10/20/2009	by Tammy Alexander
The healing story in Matthew describes a woman who had suffered from hemorrhages for twelve years. Aside from her physical suffering, the woman was also likely a pariah in society, an outcast, unable to marry or have a family or be a part of community life.
A persistent faith	10/20/2009	by Max Ediger
Mrs. Hai Khanjanta is a grandmother with a message for us. She does not share her message through words, but rather through her example. Grandma Hai, as her neighbors call her, is an eighty-year-old farmer from the northeast region of Thailand. She has raised ten children and now proudly boasts of having 54 grandchildren.
"Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry?"	10/20/2009	by Brother James Dowd
Those of us in the Northern Hemisphere are well into the season of autumn, and along with the beautiful leaves and the crisp weather comes the harvest. In much of North America, we are blessed with a bountiful harvest each fall which feeds most of our people and some people in other lands as well. Our Canadian brothers and sisters have already celebrated their Thanksgiving and here in the States, ours is still more than a month away. But all of us have much to be grateful for, not the least of which is the fact that we rarely, if ever, have to worry about having enough food on our tables.
Review of 'A Persistent Voice: Marian Franz and Conscientious Objection to Military Taxation'	10/20/2009	by Muriel T. Stackley
In today's mail is the October, 2009 issue of More than a paycheck: News from the War Tax Resistance Movement--evidence that the movement led so well by Marian Franz for 23 years is alive and well.
Review of "Pray the Devil Back to Hell"	10/20/2009	by Wayne Nitzsche
On September 17, Perkasie Mennonite Church joined with others in Seoul, Korea, Stellenbosch, South Africa, Wilmington, North Carolina, and Ottawa, Ontario, inviting people from our community to view the powerful documentary, Pray the Devil Back to Hell.
Public footpaths and dog-friendly pubs	10/20/2009	by Tom Beutel
My wife and I recently returned from a long-anticipated trip to England. The trip, a dream of ours for many years, was a celebration of our 30th wedding anniversary and my recent early retirement from university teaching. As a sabbath from our busy lives it could not have been better. As a chance to see a different, beautiful, and historic land and meet some of its people, it surpassed our expectations.
Bleeding hearts can’t change the world	10/20/2009	by Susan Mark Landis
No question, I'm a bleeding heart. I feel hugely guilty about how good and easy my life is on a global scale.
Act for Peace in Uganda	9/15/2009	by Mary Stata
For the past two decades the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebel group has threatened communities in northern Uganda and across central Africa by brutally targeting civilians and abducting thousands of children. Even though the LRA is small in numbers (less than 1.500 members), their ruthless attacks have wreaked havoc on the region and caused massive internal displacement of civilians.
Trusting God	9/15/2009	by Tom Beutel
Within the context of shalom--peace which permeates all of life and which is centered in well-being and right relationships--it is common to focus on nonviolence. There seem to be two somewhat mutually exclusive strains within this focus on nonviolence: nonresistance and nonviolent resistance. John Howard Yoder, Walter Wink and others have convincingly argued the point of view that Jesus does not necessarily advocate nonresistance since he himself resists evil as in the cleansing of the temple and in his heated arguments with religious leaders. The model, they would argue, is one of nonviolent resistance, not one of nonresistance.
The International Day of Peace	9/15/2009	by Brother James Dowd
Since the early 1980's, the United Nations has proclaimed September 21st as the International Day of Peace, and throughout the world various vigils, commemorations, rallies, festivals and other ways to mark the day have been held on or about that date. And so, once again, we find ourselves preparing for another Day of Peace with hope and expectation. Or do we?
When victims become healers	9/15/2009	by Max Ediger
Part 5 of a 5-part series on Agent Orange.On August 10, 1961 U.S. forces started their toxic chemical spraying in Viet Nam. Forests and crop fields were left bare and desolate by herbicides with such colorful names as Agent Orange, Agent Purple, Agent Blue and Agent White. Almost 50 years later the land is producing again. Fields of rice wave in the afternoon breezes and hillsides are again covered with trees giving cover to animals and insects that for so many years had no place to forage for food. It is easy to forget that, within the beauty of nature regaining its presence in Quang Ngai Province, the poisons remain. Some streams with crystal-clear water support no fish and many fields of rice are thin and yellowish in color. Most sadly, children continue to be born with severe mental and physical disabilities. For those of us living half-a-world away it may be easy to pick up a good book or turn on a television show and pretend that the war in Viet Nam never happened, but for the people of Viet Nam, the reminders of those tragic years of unnecessary violence are always in front of them, not just in their memories but in the lives of the many people suffering the effects of unexploded ordnance and herbicide poisons.
Thriving takes time	9/15/2009	by Susan Mark Landis
A friend in his mid-20's made time to help us in the garden last week. My perennial bed perennially suffers from lack of attention. He dug up the Japanese anemone too close to the front that unexpectedly hid from view the Canterbury bells and Jacob's ladder. We divided the huge healthy plant so I could share with friends and then planted it further back. The hollyhocks and hibiscus now also seemed out of place and he put his back into digging them. While he cut down corn stalks, I transplanted shorter plants--campanulas and petite foxgloves--to the front. I even got an out-of-place purple cornflower and some yarrow back where they belonged. What an amazing hour! Although the ornamental grasses still so overshadowed the spigot that watering the plants meant scraped-up arms, I was more than satisfied.
Who Is My Neighbor?	8/18/2009	by Tom Beutel
Because we are privy to the full story as Jesus told it, we know what happened what happened to the man who "was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho." [He] "fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead." But the priest, the Levite and the Samaritan did not know. Each simply saw a person in serious need and responded in some way--two ignored the man in need and passed by; one, the Samaritan, helped the man.
And after hearing the advice of the brothers...	8/18/2009	by Brother James Dowd
Last month, I wrote about the importance of keeping silence in both the monastic and the wider cultures for the purpose of creating peace. But I also said that this was a two-part column and that the "other side of the coin" of creating peace is that each member of the community (however that is defined) is willingly and freely able to "speak their truth." And so here we are at next month's entry!
In the rubble that is Gaza	8/18/2009	by Rachelle Lyndaker Schlabach
This past spring, several Members of Congress visited Gaza. Their visits were the first to Gaza by U.S. officials in three years, and came not long after the 22-day fighting between Israel and Hamas had come to an uneasy end.
Funeral for the oldest warrior, who hated war	8/18/2009	by Susan Mark Landis
Harry Patch, the British 111-year-old last survivor of the Western Front trench warfare, died July 25, 2009. His funeral packed the cathedral in Wells, another 2,500 mourners stood outside in a steady drizzle to watch on a giant video screen and the funeral was broadcast live to the nation. But the New York Times headline reads, "Funeral for the Oldest Warrior, Who Hated War."
Thanks for the beat!	8/18/2009	by Susan Mark Landis
Leo Hartshorn, Mennonite Mission Network Minister of Peace and Justice and Chris Hoover Seidel, Peace and Justice Support Network Administrative Assistant, ended their service July 31, 2009. New staff positions and structures are being created as Mennonite Church USA strives to serve congregations more efficiently.
Farewell from Leo	8/18/2009	by Leo Hartshorn
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.The Gather 'Round materials encouraged me to bring a cape and let the kids talk about their favorite superhero. Eventually I was to turn the conversation toward Jesus who has the 'real' super powers.But when I asked the kids who their favorite superhero was, they all said Jesus! Well, there went the introduction to the lesson.
50 Ways to leave your lover, Mammon	8/18/2009	by Anton Flores
Below are 50 habits that my partner, Charlotte, and I have sought to undertake in our desire to love God, not Mammon. The key for us is not simplicity or voluntary poverty but a theology of enough. We are still living at a level of consumption that is not sustainable at a global level but, with God's grace we journey on. Join us on this journey to right living.
A handshake across the oceans	8/18/2009	by Max Ediger
Part 4 of a 5-part series on Agent Orange.What message do the members of Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange (VAVA) have for Americans? "In the past, the war made us angry and we had to fight. We didn't understand much about America and the American people then. Now we understand more and we want to cooperate with you so all people can experience peace. When you bring this peace crane to us we have a new idea for peace. Like this small bird, we must fly forward into a time of cooperation and friendship and not go backwards to relive things that will destroy our friendship. Tell your friends in America that it would be good if they would write their names on the birds they fold. Then we can say we have a friend in America with this name."
It's time to build a new world	7/21/2009	by Max Ediger
Part 3 of a 5-part series on Agent Orange.Mr. Huynh Van Thiet is 86 years old now. From 1962 until 1969 he served in the North Vietnamese army and led patrols along the east side of the Truong Son mountain range where the Ho Chi Minh Trail served as a link between the North and South. Many times planes flew over his unit, spraying the mountains with Agent Orange and other herbicides. The people tried to protect themselves from the poisons with plastic sheets but still the toxins entered their lungs and bloodstream. Today Mr. Thiet suffers from severe pain in his bones, his teeth have fallen out and heart problems burden him.
A campaign for abundant life	7/21/2009	by Theo Sitther
The biblical vision for abundant life articulates an economic system that meets basic human needs for all people. The biblical narrative, from the Old Testament through Jesus in the Gospels to Paul's writing, calls on the church to respond to the needs of our neighbors both near and far.
Lessons from mindful gardening	7/21/2009	by Susan Mark Landis
Years ago, my spiritual director suggested that I plant sage in my herb garden. She knows I need contact with wisdom in whatever form. Typically I have three types of sage in the garden, since her advice is worth heeding several times over.
Congregations and immigration: What does God say?	7/21/2009	by Susan Mark Landis
An interview with M. Daniel Carroll R. (Rodas), PhD. Daniel is Distinguished Professor of Old Testament at Denver Seminary and will be the keynote speaker for And You Welcomed Me: A consultation of the people of God on immigration .
Revisiting cluster bombs	7/21/2009	by Tom Beutel
The April issue of PeaceSigns included an excellent and informative article by Titus Peachy () describing the problem of cluster bombs and the Mennonite Central Committee-sponsored cluster bomb postcard campaign. This issue is one that on the surface seems insurmountable, but is one that each of us can do something about.
Save me from my tongue	7/21/2009	by Brother James Dowd
As a monk, I often find myself thinking about the desert, which is, of course, where Christian monasticism first developed. In fact, we monks are taught from our earliest days to see the monastery and, in particular, our cells, as a kind of desert--even if you live in the very green and rainy (at least this year) Hudson Valley of New York State!
Migrant Trail reflection	6/16/2009	by Jodi Read
It happens every year. I finish the Migrant Trail (75 miles walking in the desert), am dirty as a rat, emotionally and physically exhausted after remembering people who have died and I get the question, "How did it go?"
What we need	6/16/2009	by Susan Mark Landis
Justice is when everyone has what they need. God wants everyone to have enough. When God invites the Israelites into the promised land, God explains the situation: There will, however, be no one in need among you, because the Lord is sure to bless you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you as a possession to occupy, if only you will obey the Lord your God by diligently observing this entire commandment that I command you today. (Deuteronomy 15:4,5) The "commandment," of course, included caring for the needs of all.
There's a way. Is there the will?	6/16/2009	by Susan Mark Landis
A youth workshop I enjoy teaching is 5% hog the M&M's . Or at least I did. I divided the participants into population groups (Europe, Africa, North America, etc.) then gave each group their proportion of the 100 M&M's that represented the earth's resources. Mouths typically fell open when they saw how many M&M's the people in the United States received. When I told them to feed their populace, some sold their children as slaves to the United States or killed the wealthy nation hogging the M&M's.
Health care for all?	6/16/2009	by Tammy Alexander
I spoke with my sister recently to get her thoughts on health care reform. She is not a health care provider. She doesn't work for an insurance company or a pharmaceutical manufacturer. No one would consider her an 'expert' on health care policy. However, she knows more about how the health care system actually works than anyone else I know.
Peace cranes	6/16/2009	by Max Ediger
The purpose of my visit to Quang Ngai was to meet some of the victims of Agent Orange and to discuss with them some ways we might be helpful as they try to cope with this difficult situation. I was accompanied on the trip by Ms. Dinh Thi Vinh, longtime colleague with MCC Viet Nam.
Guide our feet into the way of peace	6/16/2009	by Brother James Dowd
On June 24th, much of God's church commemorates the Feast of the Nativity of John the Baptist and that has given me extra reason to contemplate the legacy of the Baptist. I say "extra reason" because we monks hold St. John the Baptist in a very special place in our hearts. The Baptist, of course, was the great forerunner of Jesus the Christ and, as such, called people to a life of simplicity and conversion. That is a call that all monastics attempt to live into each day. It is a call that many Christians respond to quite deeply as they live into their particular vocations.
Drawing trees	6/16/2009	by Gloria Rhodes
This week I participated in STAR, or Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience, a workshop offered by the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding at Eastern Mennonite University (EMU). I was familiar with STAR, and I was eager to learn more about trauma and its physical, emotional, and spiritual effects and its linkages to violence.
A parable with two endings	5/19/2009	by Tom Beutel
This month's column is a little different. Instead of focusing on an issue, I would like to share a parable with the readers and solicit responses. The context is as follows. Several years ago I attended a funeral at which the pastor assured those present that while we might rightly grieve the loss of a friend and loved one, nevertheless, the deceased was now with God, healed from all disease and suffering. This prompted me to consider the issue of life, death, and everlasting life to a degree that I had not perhaps seriously done before. What is the fate of one who has striven to live a good life, who has tried to live out what they were taught, but who, by some standards might not be considered a committed, "born-again" Christian?
Peace recruitment at Cornerstone Music Festival	5/19/2009	by Staff
The red-hot rays of the Central Illinois summer sun could not stop us as we placed our I Will Not Kill posters all over the Cornerstone 2008 event. Our message of peace and nonviolence was bold and in-your-face. No one could miss it. We were serious about bringing a seldom-heard voice to the 20,000+ Evangelical youth who populate this event. Our goal was Peace Recruitment of hundreds of young people.
In the migrant journey	5/19/2009	by Staff
This month's prayer for peace is written by Saulo Padilla, MCC U.S. Director, Office on Immigration Education.
Our economic challenge	5/19/2009	by Myron S. Augsburger
As a young man, I lived on a farm and milked cows by hand, and in processing the milk one lesson I learned is that when we skim the cream off of the milk we can still make cheese out of what is left. This is a word picture for me of what is happening in our economic situation.
Powerful sharing	5/19/2009	by Susan Mark Landis
The responses to the question quickly pointed out our different experiences. We were attending a Christian Peacemaker Teams anti-sexism workshop and had been asked to discuss a hypothetical situation. "A woman who serves with you on the Steering Committee comments that a man who also serves has touched her inappropriately several times and made comments with sexual innuendos. She has asked him to stop and he has not. What do you do?"
Make foreign aid more effective	5/19/2009	by Mary Stata
Clutching my cup of coffee, I peruse the headlines each morning and often feel overwhelmed by the scale of human suffering present in this world. From Sri Lanka to the Democratic Republic of Congo to Haiti, grinding poverty continues to afflict and oppress nearly half of the planet's population. While globalization has enhanced the lives of many, its economic benefits have been unequally distributed and left billions lagging behind. Lack of health care, malnutrition, poor governance, and insufficient education exacerbate poverty. These factors make it nearly impossible for the poorest of the poor to lead healthy and productive lives.
Seeking asylum: Lost and trapped in the system	5/19/2009	by Valerie Ong
Imagine yourself fearful of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion. You flee your country of nationality and feel unsafe returning.
“Peace, before the sun goes down”	5/19/2009	by Brother James Dowd
Since this column is new, I would like to talk about what, God willing, it might be and what it might become. But first, I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself. I am a brother in the Order of the Holy Cross which is a Benedictine community of monks in the Episcopal (and Anglican) Church.
Review of Pax Avalon: Conflict Revolution	4/21/2009	by Staff
A Mennonite publisher has finally tapped into the imaginative and popular world of graphic novels. Although usually a place filled with superhumans, incredible power and violence, Herald Press has published a book with a different tinge than your stereotypical graphic novel. Steven "Reece" Friesen is the author and illustrator of Pax Avalon: Conflict Revolution. Set in the large metropolis Avalon City, Friesen's main character, Julianna Embry, holds a position in a special operations team created "to keep the peace." However unlike her counterparts, Julianna has the gift to heal. She has the ability to mend bones, wash away scars and burns, reverse sprains, all through a simple touch of her hand. She gives credit to God. And as she follows her call to bring peace to the city, another powerful individual is attempting to change Avalon city--and the world--through terrorism and hostages, cruelty and creation.
Keeping the Faith	4/21/2009	by Leo Hartshorn
My recent tour of New Orleans reminded me that the aftermath of levee breaks during Hurricane Katrina still lingers in the "City that Care Forgot." Not only that, but the devastation that the levee breaks caused highlighted the poverty, racism, opportunism, and economic injustice that have been perennial in this city, issues which are not dissimilar to other urban cities in the United States. Even though Katrina is long gone, its impact and the lessons to be learned still remain.
Cluster Bomb Postcard Campaign	4/21/2009	by Staff
Mr. Ta Douangchom is a farmer from central Laos who had a tragic encounter with a U.S. cluster bomb one day while foraging for food in the forest. He lost both arms and his right eye when the bomblet exploded. Until then, he was not known outside of his community. But now he is lending his voice to the campaign to ban cluster bombs. And because of Mennonite Central Committee's (MCC) postcard campaign, his image is becoming known in selected U.S. Senate offices in Washington, D.C.
Lord, our people need a second line	4/21/2009	by Leo Hartshorn
A few weeks ago I was in New Orleans for meetings of the Peace and Justice Support Network of Mennonite Church USA. Being a musician, I was intrigued by a story I heard about some musicians who were arrested for a second line procession in the historic Treme neighborhood. Treme is probably the oldest black neighborhood in the US. It didn't receive much flooding during Katrina, so new people want to move in. Treme has been a place of political resistance for some 300 years.
Our boys	4/21/2009	by Susan Mark Landis
Monday was the ten-year remembrance of the shooting at Columbine. Likely you remember that day and the impact it had on your life every bit as clearly as I do. Each spring when my columbine flowers push up in the garden and the Mars-like blossoms burst forth, I pause to remember the horror of kids shooting kids.
The sounds of peace	4/21/2009	by Max Ediger
In 1971 and 1972, Quang Ngai was my home. Visiting this small provincial town in Central Viet Nam thirty-eight years later I had difficulty recognizing it. Almost all of the streets are now paved and the boundaries of the town have expanded considerably. The numerous refugee camps and strategic hamlets are gone and new buildings including several large hotels have sprung up throughout the town. The small dirt path that once ran along the Tra Khuc River marking the northern boundary of the town is now a wide, tree-line boulevard with cafes, parks and jogging paths.
Talking about finances and foreclosure	4/21/2009	by Melonie Buller
Last month, I wrote a prayer for my colleagues at a small HUD certified housing counseling agency in Columbus, Ohio. Our two full-time counselors see about 10-12 households each week, spending about two hours with each one. They listen to the story of how the finances fell apart or of the bad decisions made. They listen to what the household and the mortgage company have done so far.
Earth Day 2009	4/21/2009	by Tom Beutel
Earth Day is April 22, 2009, a day set aside since 1970 to focus on the health of the planet and the state of our environment. Earth Day was proposed by Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, "to shake up the political establishment and force this issue onto the national agenda."
Houses without people, people without homes	4/21/2009	by Rachelle Lyndaker Schlabach
On my walk home from the bus stop every evening, I pass several boarded-up houses. At first glance, they appear to be abandoned--a sign of the current foreclosure crisis. On some occasions, however, I have noticed several homeless individuals on the front porch. There is a certain irony to a society that at the same time produces homeless people and empty houses.
Women going to the tomb	4/21/2009	by Susan Mark Landis
An Easter prayer by Susan Mark Landis.
Peace, justice & simple living	3/17/2009	by Tom Beutel
Is it possible that the very real problems with the world economy are in some sense God's grace? Could the loss of wealth and income and the resultant downsizing of our daily lives be a means toward a fuller, richer life with God, each other and the rest of creation? Perhaps we can understand better the words of James given above as we consider how current economic problems may, in the long run, contribute to human well-being.
Traffic patterns designed for community	3/17/2009	by Max Ediger
I do not know if traffic patterns really say anything important about a country or not, but the traffic here in Hanoi makes me reflect on many things.
Anton Flores-Maisonet is taking a Lenten DriveFast	3/17/2009	by Anton Flores
DriveFast is what I'm calling my 40-day Lenten fast from driving an automobile. You see, I holds two ideals that will collide this Lenten season.
Turning tables	3/17/2009	by Susan Mark Landis
Sunday school didn't go as any of us expected this morning and that's GOOD! God is at work in my kindergarten-second grade students.The Gather 'Round materials encouraged me to bring a cape and let the kids talk about their favorite superhero. Eventually I was to turn the conversation toward Jesus who has the 'real' super powers.But when I asked the kids who their favorite superhero was, they all said Jesus! Well, there went the introduction to the lesson.
Calling All Peacemakers	2/17/2009	by Jeff Miller
There I was in the streets of Philadelphia in the bitter cold - marching. Along with many others, I marched outside an infamous gun store.
Readings for Radicals: A Peace and Justice Lectionary	2/17/2009	by Leo Hartshorn
The Bible is filled with texts that speak of peace and justice. If one were to remove all the texts related to peace and justice, the Bible would be a much smaller book. This became clearly evident to me when I read through the three-year cycle of lectionary texts for the Christian calendar. The "Old and New" Testaments (Hebrew and Christian scriptures) speak of a God who breaks the weapons of war, calls for economic justice, incites prophetic visions of the reign of peace, and calls for care for the poor and vulnerable in society. We read of a Christ who shows the way of nonviolence and nonretaliation, engages in active peacemaking, transgresses social boundaries, and challenges unjust structures. We experience a Spirit that empowers a community of equity, transcending race, gender, nationality and politics.
Believing without Trusting	2/17/2009	by Max Ediger
A young American soldier joined us for a small Bible study session we held weekly in Quang Ngai, Viet Nam back in 1972. During our study he identified himself as a "born again Christian" and asked for prayer support as he was sometimes tempted to join his army buddies in smoking, drinking and swearing. After completing our study and prayer time we chatted amicably over tea and snacks. I learned then that he was with the Phoenix Program, a notorious military operation in Viet Nam involved in assassinations designed to identify and "neutralize" through infiltration, capture, terrorism, or assassination, any civilian infrastructure suspected of supporting the opposition forces. He went on to say that when he drove in his military jeep around town or out into the countryside, he always made sure he had his pistol ready at his side, his M16 on the passenger's seat loaded and ready for action and several grenades within easy reach. "I believe in God's protection," he said. "But I don't believe in taking chances!"
Pursue Peace in Afghanistan	2/17/2009	by Theo Sitther
"…seek peace and pursue it" - Psalm 34:14The words of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are promising. On her first day in office, she addressed State Department employees by saying, "There are three legs to the stool of American foreign policy: defense, diplomacy, and development… And we will make clear, as we go forward, that diplomacy and development are essential tools in achieving the long-term objectives of the United States. And I will do all that I can, working with you, to make it abundantly clear that robust diplomacy and effective development are the best long-term tools for securing America's future."
He Qi	2/17/2009	by Leo Hartshorn
His paintings look like stained glass windows. I first noticed He Qi's paintings on a number of books I bought on postcolonial readings of the Bible. I was drawn to the brilliant colors and the non-Western depictions of biblical scenes. Recently I purchased a book of his paintings entitled Look Toward the Heavens.
Everything's Gonna Be Alright	2/17/2009	by Anton Flores
All the photos, except the ones taken on 9/11, are originals taken by Anton. Here he merges these audio and visual creations into what is one part prayer and one part autobiography.Enjoy as he shares the inspiration behind this song and then takes you on a journey with him through the trials of foster parenting and the joys of adoption. Trek with him to places like war-torn Colombia, AIDS-stricken Botswana and impoverished Guatemala. Struggle with him to proclaim that fearless love makes immigrants (and U.S. citizens) cross social and spiritual borders. Pray with him for a just peace in Iraq and all around this shrinking globe.
Food and Peace, Part 2: Factory Farming and Health	2/17/2009	by Tom Beutel
In May 2008, we looked at the idea that food and peace are linked. This is true in a number of respects: our responsibility to feed the hungry, the way in which we grow our food and its effects on our health, where we choose to get our food from, and our eating habits and dietary choices. In part 1 of this series on food (May 2008) we considered our responsibility to feed those who are hungry. This month we will look at how the ways we grow our food can affect our health, particularly with respect to meat and related foods such as eggs.
"Peace Journey 2009" Just Around the Corner!	1/20/2009	by Staff
This is the first of a series of articles by Tom Harder on a year-long initiative by his church titled "Peace Journey 2009." Tom is co-pastor of Lorraine Avenue Mennonite Church in Wichita, Kansas.During this past year's congregational review (based on an analysis of our "Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats"), one of the opportunities to emerge was the opportunity "to boldly proclaim the gospel of peace." Among the strengths of our congregation is the Anabaptist-Mennonite faith tradition we have inherited, a tradition which understands "peace"-in its broad sense of not merely the absence of violence but of wholeness, well-being, and right relationships for all of creation-to be at the very heart of God's will for the world. Peace is an expression of the gospel that our world badly needs to hear. Given our congregation's many other strengths-our highly gifted membership, our maturity and resiliency, our strong reputation in the community-we have an opportunity, even a mandate, to "boldly proclaim" this gospel in our community and our world.
I pledge my allegiance to God	11/18/2008	by June Mears Driedger
Goshen College received unexpected national attention from a conservative radio host based in New York City earlier this month.The attention came because Goshen College does not play the American national anthem before sporting events which disturbed someone attending a women's basketball game who contacted radio host Mike Gallagher. He, in turn, spoke with Bill Born, Goshen College Vice President for Student Life, about the school's position on Gallagher's radio program. Gallagher also posted on his website the college phone number, fax number, and President Jim Brenneman's email address for Gallagher's listeners to contact the school as an attempt to change the school policy.
“Understanding Iran” Study Series	10/21/2008	by Susan Mark Landis
"Should the United States hold talks with Iran?" Your answer may decide which presidential candidate you vote for. The correlating question is: do we know enough to answer? I toured Iran in May 2008 for 12 days and I'm not sure I know what kind of talks we should hold--the country and the politics between us are very complex.One way to learn more is by using "Understanding Iran," a three-part study series written by Richard A. Kauffman. Richard traveled to Iran with a Learning Tour sponsored by Mennonite Central Committee () and is an editor of both Christian Century () and Leader () magazines.
No Justice, No Peace: Peace Sunday materials from PJSN	10/21/2008	by Leo Hartshorn
Peace Sunday will be observed will be observed on Sunday, November 2, 2008 in Mennonite Church USA congregations. The date was set to precede the November elections. In 2009, Peace Sunday will be changed to September 21 to coincide with International Peace Sunday. Although the material was prepared for a specific Sunday and for a particular denomination, this biblically based resource can be used by any congregation at any time during the year.
Christian criteria for voting	9/16/2008	by Susan Mark Landis
On what criteria do Christians base their voting decisions? Life experiences? Sunday school or small group discussions? Common sense? The Bible? Perhaps a recent Pew survey on torture () gives us answers. The survey showed that "48 percent of the general public believes torture sometimes or often is justified in order to obtain information from suspected terrorists, [but that] 57 percent of white Southern evangelicals hold that belief."
What Would You Do If...?	9/16/2008	by Tom Beutel
It is predictably the case that in most discussions of nonviolence, those who favor violent action in a threatening situation will raise the question, "What would you do if ...?" Generally the question takes the form of "What would you do if a homicidal maniac or escaped convict broke into your house and threatened to kill your wife, or your children, or your mother?" or something of the sort.
Review of Come Join the Circle: LessonSongs for Peacemaking	9/16/2008	by Paula Russell
You will tap your feet and feel good listening to this CD of 14 songs sung by children and adults. There's a contagious rhythm and beat, from rap to country to hip hop to blues--music that makes learning about peacemaking fun. Children hear positive, inclusive messages about getting along with others and expressing feelings. Through catchy and thought-provoking tunes, listeners are introduced to words and phrases that may not be familiar to them--words like mediation, affirmation, negotiation, and "I" messages.
All I Really Want for Christmas	9/16/2008	by Susan Mark Landis
"All I really want for Christmas is a little more peace on earth."For years, Oak Grove Mennonite Church, my congregation, has begun celebrating Christmas long before Thanksgiving with a "Global Christmas Shop." The Wednesday the week before Thanksgiving, for about two hours, our foyer is transformed into a place to buy a bit of peace and justice for the world in the name of our family and friends.
Front Toward Enemy	9/16/2008	by Max Ediger
One hot and humid day in 1972, I was traveling with a Vietnamese colleague in the countryside of Quang Ngai Province, Central Viet Nam. For reasons I do not remember, we stopped at a small police station along the narrow dirt road. Like most police stations in the countryside during the war, it was surrounded by barbed wire and guard posts. We passed through the guarded gate with no problem and as we alit from our Honda 50 and started walking toward the door of the station, I suddenly noticed three or four claymore mines set amongst the flowers growing in well-kept beds along the front of the building. Unexpectedly coming face to face with any mine is, in itself, stressful but when looking more closely I saw, embossed in bold letters on each claymore the words FRONT TOWARD ENEMY. All of the claymore mines were facing toward me!
International Meddling	9/16/2008	by Theo Sitther
"In Haiti we have a joke," Djakoli told me while I was in the country as part of an MCC-organized learning tour.The story goes like this: a woman is sitting on the side of the road, selling vegetables. A slick new shiny car pulls up, driven by a Haitian. A white man gets out, who also looks slick in his new suit and tie.The man asks the woman, "If I tell you exactly how many onions are in each box that you are selling, will you give me one box for free?" The woman is intrigued and agrees. The man then pulls out his computer. The screen shows a satellite image of the woman and her vegetables. Then it zeroes in on one box and computes a calculation. A few minutes later the man looks at the woman and says, "There are exactly 250 onions in each box."
For such a time: Current advocacy actions	8/19/2008	by Susan Mark Landis
We have made common the phrase, "Pray and Act for Peace." Now the Peace and Justice Support Network website has a new page to help you ACT your advocacy and stay up to date: . Three advocacy actions are current.
Reflections on a Native American gathering	8/19/2008	by Leo Hartshorn
I recently attended the Native Ministries assembly (United States and Canada) in Clinton, Oklahoma, held at the Frisco Conference Center on July 28-31, 2008. The theme was Unity and Service: In the Name of Christ (Philippians 2:1-11).
One Body, Many Members	8/19/2008	by Tom Beutel
For several weeks this summer, in the adult Sunday School class that I teach, we have been focusing on Jesus' words to his disciples in John 13:34-35, "I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
Lost Sons: book review by Rose Zook	8/19/2008	by Rose Zook
Mystery writer Judy Clemens does a great job of suspense in her new novel, Lost Sons, a paperback published by Herald Press, Scottdale, PA in 2008. The story follows the fictional life of Stan Windemere, a retired police detective. For two long months, he and his wife, Rose, have been waiting to hear word about their son, a naval officer recently MIA while serving in Russia. Their marriage is strained as the couple tries to cope with the tragedy.
New Resource: Reaching Up to God Our Creator	8/19/2008	by Leo Hartshorn
This new resource box was produced by the project team of Neill and Edith von Gunten, co-directors of Native Ministry, Mennonite Church Canada, Elsie Rempel, Director of Christian Education and Nurture for Mennonite Church Canada, and John and Pat Pankratz, volunteers working with First Nations communities. It highlights the common ground of Aboriginal Sacred Teachings and the Bible, in the hope of fostering respect and understanding among Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities.
Love notes from Cambodia	8/19/2008	by Valerie Ong
"You are lucky. I am not so lucky." I felt more embarrassed than lucky when my tuk tuk (rickshaw) driver, Keo, learned that I am studying (or will be again) in the United States. Keo is 26 years old.
The worth of water	8/19/2008	by Lisa Amstutz
My family camped last weekend at a small state park in Ohio. The weather was great, the s'mores delectable and the setting beautiful. But the water--ugh! Not only did it leave orange chunks in the bottom of our water containers, it literally curdled the creamer when we used it to make coffee. We finally bought some jugs of water for drinking and cooking, rationing carefully to make them last.
Waging Peace in Sudan	8/19/2008	by Tammy Alexander
Valentino Achak Deng was just six years old when war came to his home. At the time, Achak's life was not that different from a small child growing up anywhere. He went to school, played with his friends, occasionally got into mischief, and dreamed of owning a bicycle one day.But war was brewing in his country, Sudan. At the heart of the conflict was what is at the heart of most wars--a quest for power and money and control of land and other resources, such as recently discovered oil deposits.
Out of sight and out of mind	7/15/2008	by Max Ediger
In a small commune in South Viet Nam's Cu Chi district, the family of 21-year-old Tran Anh Kiet struggles with the problems of daily living. His feet, hands and limbs are twisted and deformed. He writhes in evident frustration, and his attempts at speech are confined to plaintive and pitiful grunts. Kiet has to be spoon-fed. He is an adult stuck inside the stunted body of a 15-year-old, with a mental age of around six. He is what the local villagers refer to as an Agent Orange baby.
War resister deported	7/15/2008	by Esther Epp-Thiessen
Today, July 15th, Robin Long is scheduled for deportation from Canada to the United States. He will be the first American war resister to be deported from Canada. He came to Canada in 2005, after serving two years as a tanker with the U.S. Army at Fort Knox. He had come to the realization that he could not participate in a war that was both illegal and immoral. Like the approximately 50 other "known" resisters who have come to Canada, he has been seeking refugee status. His final appeal was turned down on Monday, July 14. Please pray for Robin, that whatever the outcome, he may find continued courage and strength to be a voice for peace. Esther Epp-Tiessen is Peace Ministries Coordinator for Mennonite Central Committee Canada.
Torturous policies	7/15/2008	by Gabe Schlabach
John Conyers and John Yoo were locked in an epic duel of wits. Conyers, the House Judiciary Committee Chair, was questioning Yoo, a former Justice Department lawyer and author of several legal memos supporting the use of torture. The date was June 26, 2008. The venue: a House Judiciary Committee Hearing ().Conyers began: "Is there anything, Professor Yoo, that the president could not order to be done to a suspect if he believed it necessary for national defense?"
Word matters	7/15/2008	by Susan Mark Landis
Recently I was glancing over emails from a secular peace group debating none too politely how to stop a possible war with Iran. One message from Fred Miller, President of Peace Action of Washington state, caught my eye. He suggested that, "If the peace movement's main message is "No War with Iran," that signals to everyone that war with Iran must be very important. Since even we aren't talking about peace with Iran, peace must be unimportant."
Book review--Changing Paradigms	7/15/2008	by Jeff Walker
The U.S. Supreme Court on 16 April 2008 ruled that the execution of prisoners by lethal injection does not violate the Constitution, setting in motion a mass lifting of individual state moratoriums on capital punishment cases. Georgia inmate William Lynd became the first inmate to die at the hands of the state as a result of the high court's ruling. Corrections officials and death penalty opponents alike expect a veritable wave of executions across the country through the rest of the year.Thus Paul Redekop's Changing Paradigms: Punishment and Restorative Discipline could not arrive at a more crucial time.
Subversive Songs: A reflection based on Revelation 5:6-14	6/17/2008	by Leo Hartshorn
At the beginning of this year, I started drawing a series of ink and scratchboard drawings I entitled with the acronym M.U.S.I.C: Musicians Undermining Social Injustice Creatively (). In this series of drawings I have drawn images of musicians with a social conscience along with lyrics from one of their songs that speak about justice, peace, nonviolence, racism, worker's rights, hunger and poverty. One of the drawings is of Billie Holiday, a jazz and blues singer with a unique vocal quality. Her music is not known to be subversive or politically provocative...except for her song Strange Fruit. It is a song about the lynching of African-American men.
Food and Peace, Part 1: KISS	6/17/2008	by Tom Beutel
It is safe to say that with regard to food, things are NOT as they ought to be. There are many food-related problems in the world, the most serious of which is probably the fact that 854 million people world-wide suffer from hunger with up to 300 million more at risk due to current food shortages and food price increases . It is estimated that over 10 million children die each year due to hunger and preventable diseases. This is equivalent to over 30,000/day or approximately one every 3 seconds!
Book Review--Borders and Bridges	6/17/2008	by Leonard Nolt
Borders and Bridges: Mennonite Witness in a Religiously Diverse World is a collection of reports on how Mennonites are working at witnessing today in numerous locations around the world. They are written by people who are actually working in those locations. The stories vary according to location, but as Stanley Green, Executive Director of the Mennonite Mission Network, writes in the foreword they "all have in common a commitment to non-coercive human engagement that values the other."
Women and migration learning tour	6/17/2008	by Leo Hartshorn
The impact of migration is experienced differently based upon one's gender. Gender is becoming an important element in migration theory.
Hearing words of wisdom in strange places	6/17/2008	by Max Ediger
"I'm not saying that every Muslim is a terrorist, but I am saying that every terrorist is a Muslim!"These words of a young leader of the fundamentalist Hindutva movement brought cheers from the angry mob gathered in an open field in the Indian state of Gujarat. It was February 2002 and the local Hindutva leaders were feeling powerful and invincible. Their call to drive all non-Hindus out of the state were bringing in large crowds and local political leaders often acted in open support of them.
It’s Time to Talk	6/17/2008	by Rachelle Lyndaker Schlabach
Last fall, Mennonite Central Committee was invited to host the third in a series of dialogues between Iran's President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and North American religious leaders. The dialogues have not been without controversy. President Ahmadinejad has made numerous provocative statements about Israel and the Holocaust. And the U.S. government continues to ratchet up threats to use force against Iran.
Created from one jewel: Journal Entry	5/22/2008	by Susan Mark Landis
Journal 5/22/08 by Susan Mark Landis in Iran.
Someone loves you	5/20/2008	by Susan Mark Landis
As I languidly lay in my own bed at home after days on the road and closed my eyes, daring traffic patterns and huge plates of rice, bazaar shops and ancient mosques danced past. When I unpacked my suitcases, the smells of Iran wafted through the room--the dust, chicken kabobs, polluting traffic, pomegranates, pistachios and dates, the sweat of women wearing scarves and long sleeves in 90-degree weather, masked by perfumes.
Can We Finally Learn from History?	5/20/2008	by Max Ediger
Many of our history books tell us of a pair of attacks in 1964 carried out by naval forces of North Vietnam against two American destroyers, the USS Maddox and the USS Turner Joy. We learn from our history books that these attacks took place in the Gulf of Tonkin along the coast of Viet Nam and that they were the justification for increased U.S. military action in Southeast Asia. In fact, the outcome of the incident was the passage by Congress of the Southeast Asia Resolution, or the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which served as President Johnson's legal justification for escalating American involvement in Viet Nam.
Book Review--Plant a Seed of Peace	5/20/2008	by Susan Huyard
Plant a Seed of Peace uses the analogy of growing seeds into plants as a way of describing how our part in peace can start little like a seed and produce much. It has 43 easy-to-read stories of peacemakers who have made choices in their lives that have grown and spread in an infectious way. They are a testimony of many lives that have made a difference by putting their faith into action. It ends by inviting the reader to plant a seed and imagine the possibilities of growth into a garden of peace.
Reflections for the media on a 12-day trip to Iran	5/20/2008	by Susan Mark Landis
Journal 5/20/08 by Susan Mark Landis in Iran.
Faith and Feet	5/20/2008	by Valerie Ong
You're going to walk 75 miles in the desert!? This is usually the response I receive when I tell someone I'll be participating in an event called the Migrant Trail and walking through the Arizona desert from May 26 through June 1. I will walk along with other Mennonite Central Committee staff and constituents, as well as many other anticipated participants.
Reflections on Modern Activism	5/20/2008	by Gabe Schlabach
Peace and justice activism is really struggling to make a difference these days. This lack of effectiveness affects all who care about peace and justice issues, but it is especially palpable for those of us whose social justice convictions come from a deeply-held religious faith.
Lessons from Daniel	5/20/2008	by June Mears Driedger
Apparently Gandhi admired Daniel. (As in "the lion's den and the fiery furnace" Daniel.) Gandhi admired Daniel's wisdom and nonviolent resistance to the empire ruled by King Nebuchadnezzar. In contemporary language, Daniel knew how "to speak truth to power."
Created from one jewel: Journal Entry	5/18/2008	by Susan Mark Landis
Journal 5/18/08 by Susan Mark Landis in Iran.
Created from one jewel: Journal Entry	5/12/2008	by Susan Mark Landis
Journal 5/12/08 by Susan Mark Landis in Iran.
Created from one jewel: Journal Entry	5/9/2008	by Susan Mark Landis
Journal 5/09/08 by Susan Mark Landis in Iran.
Created from one jewel: Journal Entry	5/6/2008	by Susan Mark Landis
Journal entry #2 5/06/08 by Susan Mark Landis in Iran.
Created from one jewel: Journal Entry	5/6/2008	by Susan Mark Landis
Journal entry 5/06/08 by Susan Mark Landis in Iran.
Created from one jewel: Journal Entry	5/3/2008	by Susan Mark Landis
Journal entry 5/03/08 by Susan Mark Landis in Iran.
Created from one jewel: Journal Entry	5/1/2008	by Susan Mark Landis
Journal entry 5/01/08 by Susan Mark Landis in Iran.
Created from one jewel: Journal Entry	4/28/2008	by Susan Mark Landis
Journal entry 4/28/08 by Susan Mark Landis in Iran.
Created from one jewel: Journal Entry	4/24/2008	by Susan Mark Landis
Journal entry 4/24/08 by Susan Mark Landis in Iran.
Obama, Wright, and Racism in America	4/15/2008	by Leo Hartshorn
On March 18, 2008, Barack Obama gave a speech on race in Philadelphia. It is a rare moment in American history when a public figure speaks openly and honestly about racism. Not that Obama was one to publicly address racism before this speech, unlike his former pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright. One of the reasons Obama has attracted so many white voters, even though he is an African-American, is because he has not made race a central issue of his presidential campaign.
Angels in Our Midst	4/15/2008	by Valerie Ong
As Iraqi refugees living in the United States, Ahmad and Farah* expressed their concerns for practicing their faith. Ahmad and Farah are dedicated Muslims but did not feel comfortable attending a mosque in the United States, to avoid any possible dangers that may stem from their public Muslim affiliation. However, they needed a way to pray to God, and found it possible to do so at a local Mennonite church.
A Letter to the Candidates: Calling for Respect and Tolerance	4/15/2008	by Krista Zimmerman
Please join Mennonite Church USA and Mennonite Central Committee in signing a letter to the presidential candidates asking them to use their influence with their respective parties to encourage a respectful and tolerant immigration debate.
What is the church saying about immigration?	4/15/2008	by Leo Hartshorn
What is the church saying about immigration? It's an important question for several reasons. First, immigration is a current and critical issue within U.S. social, economic and political contexts. Second, attitudes and policies toward immigrants affect millions of people. Third, as Anabaptist communities formed by the "politics of Jesus," the church should reflect a different posture toward immigrants than the dominant culture. Our faith calls us to respond in faithful ways.
Book Review--Send Forth Your Light (Willard Swartley)	4/15/2008	by Muriel T. Stackley
Swartley has graced the Beloved Community with an always-necessary synthesis of peace and mission, this time appropriately adding "worship". This is a message for adult Christians (its eleven chapters useful for a three-month Sunday school class curriculum), but it should also permeate everything that we teach youth and (by inference) children.
Celebrating Creation: Earth Day 2008	4/15/2008	by Lisa Amstutz
Last weekend, I attended a meeting of outdoor educators at a Mennonite camp to prepare for upcoming visits by several inner-city schools. During these visits, the children will experience Creation in new ways, and will perhaps catch a glimpse of the Creator in the process. A school counselor reminded us of the fears that some will feel as they disembark their buses and step into the woods. Many of them face far more dangerous situations daily, yet the natural world can seem an alien place, with unfamiliar smells, sights, and sounds.
Peace, Justice, and Love	4/15/2008	by Tom Beutel
There are at least two problems with advocating for peace. First, there is some confusion about what peace really means. Is peace the absence of conflict, violence, or war? Is peace an inner sense of contentment or well-being? Is peace reconciliation with God? Different people and, in fact, different Christians, see peace in very different ways.Second, even when we can more or less agree on what we mean by peace, we may still disagree on appropriate means of achieving peace. Is it proper to use violent means to achieve peace? Or, if not violence, what about coercive means, force, or deception? Do the ends justify the means?
Holy Resistance: A Holy Week Tradition	3/18/2008	by June Mears Driedger
On Good Friday, 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Ralph Abernathy left the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church a few hours after the announced starting time for the march. They led nearly forty people who were willing to be arrested by the notorious Bull Connor, sheriff of Birmingham, Alabama.
They're Counting (on) You	3/18/2008	by Susan Mark Landis
March 2-10 I walked the streets and halls of Washington, D.C., talking to the "suits and collars*" so prominent there. I studied and advocated for two issues which deeply affect our lives and the lives of millions of others--the war on Iraq and immigration. Everywhere I went, there were votes and counts to contend with. How many people in my constituency feel this way? If we vote this way, will it carry? Will it be vetoed? Is this issue worth the risk of sticking out my neck?
Counting the Cost	3/18/2008	by Tom Beutel
Not paying the full cost of our lifestyle decisions also undermines peace in numerous ways. Biblical peace, shalom, involves the material well-being of all humans. By shifting some of the costs of our lifestyles onto others, we reduce their well-being. As we live lives of injustice, we break our peace with God who is a God of justice and requires us to be people of justice. As we harm the environment, we break shalom with God's creation.
What’s the War Like In Your Country?	3/18/2008	by Max Ediger
"What's the war like in your country?" The question came from a young teenager in the city of Quang Ngai, Viet Nam. The year was 1972 and Quang Ngai, where the infamous My Lai Massacre had taken place some years earlier, was still struggling to survive the ongoing war which, despite promises from the U.S. government, saw no light at the end of the tunnel.
Colombia Free Trade: Whose Security?	3/18/2008	by Theo Sitther
Justapaz, a peace and justice ministry of the Colombian Mennonite Church, recently released the report A Prophetic Call: Colombian Churches Document their Suffering and their Hope. This report documents cases of human rights abuses carried out by all the armed actors in Colombia, including the government forces. One such case is of a young farmer named Roberto who was shot dead, dressed in fatigues and presented as a guerilla member.
M.U.S.I.C.: Musicians Undermining Social Injustice Creatively	2/19/2008	by Leo Hartshorn
As one who has been an artist and a musician for many years, I have been inspired by musicians who have used their gifts to communicate messages of peace and social justice, as well as to support similar causes through their funds and public influence.
Displaced in the United States	2/19/2008	by Krista Zimmerman
In the United States, we often hear about displaced people in other countries. Most of us think less frequently about people who may be displaced within the United States, a relatively wealthy and stable country.
Preaching to the Choir?	2/19/2008	by Tom Beutel
Several nights ago I opened a seminar series at the Christian university where I teach with a presentation on Christian pacifism. The seminar series, which runs through the spring semester, will focus on the Christian's position on issues of war and peace. The object of my presentation was to present the case for pacifism and peacemaking based primarily on Jesus' teachings of nonviolent resistance and love of enemies.
Living in a Strange Land	2/19/2008	by Max Ediger
Like the ancient people of Israel, many people throughout the world live as exiles in a strange land. Over 150,000 such people from Burma make their homes in crowded, unhealthy refugee camps in Thailand. Their songs, once filled with celebration as they planted and harvested their crops, are now filled with sorrow and longing--longing to live in their own homes in dignity and peace.
Migration and Trade Learning Tour	2/19/2008	by Leo Hartshorn
One of the men at the No Mas Muertas station on the Mexican side of the border at Nogales was replacing his shoelaces. I looked at the tennis shoes on the men who were in line to receive food, and most of them were without shoelaces. The border patrol removes the shoelaces of those who have tried to cross over the Mexican border so that it is harder for them to run away from the border patrol if they try again.
Epiphany: But Where is God?	12/18/2007	by June Mears Driedger
Wise women and men searching for God today need to bear the frankincense that leads them into prayer, that says, I don't know it all, I'm open to God's unknown future, to what God may do next, not just what God has done already.
Is there room for justice in Advent?	11/20/2007	by Susan Mark Landis
What might be different if when we begin planning for Advent and Christmas, our personal and congregational questions like, "How will I choose to be an angel, proclaiming peace to all, this year?"
Preparing for Advent	11/20/2007	by June Mears Driedger
As Christians, we place our hope in the fact that God is a God of peace, of justice, of love and of grace. Our hope is grounded by the transformation around us and in us that causes to grow us into a deeper experience and relationship with God.
Walking and Chewing Gum at the Same Time	10/16/2007	by Tom Beutel
Each of us must decide, thoughtfully and prayerfully, how best to be engaged in the political life of our country. As followers of Christ we must find ways to work within the culture, including political means when appropriate, to bring relief to those who suffer.
Fair Trade: A Matter of Peace and Justice	9/18/2007	by Tom Beutel
The issue of fair trade can be complex and confusing; however, one way to simplify the issue is to "count the cost."
Fifty-cent folk	9/18/2007	by Susan Mark Landis
As we pass our offering bags on Sunday morning, my congregation now also passes globe banks, with a note saying, "doing our part to cut world hunger in half by 2015."
Youth Voices: Peace, Justice and Politics	9/18/2007	by Theo Sitther
The Mennonite Central Committee's Washington office is seeking essay submissions from youth on issues confronting Christians in the U.S. and around the world.
Life's no mystery	9/18/2007	by Susan Mark Landis
We rarely expect good from people who have committed horrible acts. We prefer to lock them away with little chance at true rehabilitation.
Safety for all	4/13/2007	by Jodi Read
Safety for all: Jodi ReadAssociate for Migration and PeacebuildingWest Coast Mennonite Central Committee
Action Planning with Immigrant Families Affected by an Immigration Raid	4/13/2007	by Gilberto Pérez Jr.
Action Planning with Immigrant Families Affected by an Immigration Raid, Gilberto Pérez Jr., MSW, ACSW, Bienvenido Program Director, Northeastern Center, Inc.
For Further Action, Study and Reflection	10/7/2006	by Tim Sidel
Suggestions for further action, study and reflection to enhance the Advent Advocacy 2006 materials.
Action responses on the anniversary of September 11, 2001	8/13/2006	by Susan Mark Landis
Many people re-examined their lives and made huge commitments and changes after the horrors our nation suffered five years ago. Some protested against war. Some searched for the truth and told it publicly.
Peace Sunday 2006	6/20/2006	by Leo Hartshorn
Resources are available for the focus on loving God and neighbor.
Interceding for the impossible	5/16/2006	by Susan Mark Landis
A look at prayer needs through the eyes of Christian Peacemaker Teams.
No longer afraid?	5/16/2006	by Max Ediger
Can we break down the walls rising between the U.S. and the rest of the world?
U.S. healthcare: A need for change	5/16/2006	by Glen E. Miller
On the issue of healthcare we must be people of compassion responding to people in need.
Intentional peacemaking: Welcoming strangers	5/16/2006	by Tom Beutel
When we limit the idea of peace we unwittingly gut the Gosepl of its very heart.
Evangelical Church Leaders pledge action for peace in Colombia	4/24/2006	by Janna Hunter-Bowman
Evangelical church leaders in Colombia have pledged to redouble their efforts to help bring an end to the country's brutal conflict, and they have appealed to all Colombians to "devote ourselves to serving our neighbour, even if that neighbour is an enemy."
Invitation from JustaPaz	4/24/2006	by Janna Hunter-Bowman
For me it was noteworthy that all speakers, everyone from the Mennonites and other Protestant denominations with more defined theologies to more independent evangelical and Pentecostal churches, consistently and without exception spoke of nonviolence as the only option.
Preaching peace can get you killed	4/24/2006	by Lora Steiner
On March 2, Oscar Muñoz Perez, pastor of the Colombian Christian Missionary and Alliance Church in Buenaventura, Colombia, was shot and killed by armed men. Witnesses identified the men as a part of the paramilitary group Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia (AUC).
Letter from Roy Williams, moderator, Mennonite Church USA	3/16/2006	by Susan Mark Landis
Letter from Roy Williams, moderator, Mennonite Church USA about immigration
Los latinos anabaptistas y su relación con el gobierno estadounidense	2/15/2006	by Jorge Vielman
Nosotros los latinos somos mayoría entre las razas minoritarias de los Estados Unidos. Explicaré las tres áreas en las que los latinos están más relacionados con el gobierno del país: la militar, la migratoria y la económica.
Advocacy Case Studies	1/30/2006	by J. Daryl Byler
Three case studies in advocacy: Just the fax (Iraq), For such a time as this (Colombia), Bridges not walls (Israel-Palestine)
Stories about Mennonites and Muslims in the US	1/30/2006	by Jason Shenk
Expanding on “Relationships between Mennonites and Muslims in the United States” from “Faith, War, and Government,” these stories present a closer look at the process and details involved when Mennonites and Muslims build relationships together. Contact information is provided at the end of each story so that interested readers can get in touch with those involved for further information or consultation. The accounts are presented with the hope that we may learn from one another, sparking new relationships that enliven and enrich both traditions.
Trends and Lessons from the Stories of Mennonites and Muslims	1/30/2006	by Jason Shenk
When transcribing the interviews that comprised my research, I noticed a number of significant trends and lessons that seemed to be helpful for thinking about building relationships in the context of Mennonites and Muslims.
Lessons from the Freedom Movement: One African-American Mennonite's view of peace in relationship to life and government	1/30/2006	by Kenneth Thompson
Lessons from the Freedom Movement: One African-American Mennonite's view of peace in relationship to life and government
Faith, war and government (PDF)	1/24/2006
A Mennonite Church USA study resource for congregations in response to delegate discussion and action at the Charlotte (NC) 2005 Delegate Assembly about relationship to government and the war in Iraq Published December 2005. (548K .PDF)
Can’t Keep Quiet About Peace!	6/21/2005	by Leo Hartshorn
Christian peacemakers need to gather with others occasionally, and there’s a great opportunity for Mennonites and friends in Charlotte this July.
Daryl Byler's Speaker Summary	4/14/2005	by Daryl Byler
Daryl Byler's speaker summary for April 2005 Call-In event.
Susan Mark Landis's Speaker Summary	4/14/2005	by Susan Mark Landis
Susan Mark Landis's speaker summary for April 2005 Call-In event.
Pearl Hoover's Speaker Summary	4/14/2005	by Pearl Hoover
Pearl Hoover's speaker summary for April 2005 Call-In event.
David B. Miller's Speaker Summary	4/14/2005	by David B. Miller
David B. Miller's speaker summary for April 2005 Call-In event.
Jim Schrag's Speaker Summary	4/14/2005	by Jim Schrag
Jim Schrag's speaker summary for April 2005 Call-In event.
Steven Rupholdt - letter to the editor	3/9/2005	by Steven Rupholdt
As a native of Goshen, I'm proud and surprised the the only protest of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan can be found weekly on a street corner in Goshen.
Why Mennonites are so quiet about the war?	3/9/2005	by John D.Yoder
I see this as two questions: Why is corporate church quiet and why am I, as a member of the church, quiet about the war?
Divided red and blue in the pew	11/16/2004	by Karl S. Shelly
When we take our cues from the world rather than the Word, we won't even listen to our enemies, much less love them.
Adopt a class!	8/18/2004	by Susan Mark Landis
The military has a regular presence in the public schools through recruiters and ROTC. Peacemakers have some options for offering an alternative.
I hate democracy	6/16/2004	by Max Ediger
What kind of “beacon of democracy” is the United States shining on young people around the world who look for an example of justice and often find only arrogance and indifference?
No more deaths	6/16/2004	by Susan Mark Landis
Too many people are dying while trying to cross the desert border country between the United States and Mexico. Here are some ways to become involved in stopping the tragedy.
Witness for peace	6/16/2004	by Melanie Zuercher
Stan Bohn of Newton, Kan., has “followed Jesus” for most of his life by diverting his federal taxes and generally getting in trouble.
Slaughter of the innocents	6/16/2004	by Leo Hartshorn
Jesus’ life began and ended with the slaughter of innocents, and his followers are called to oppose shedding innocent blood.
Avoiding sectarianism	6/16/2004	by Myron S. Augsburger
Mennonites must be careful, in presenting the gospel of peace, not to separate social value from the core of the gospel, which is Christ.
Why can't we all just get along?	3/17/2004	by Susan Mark Landis
Susan Mark Landis reminds us that self-described "evangelical" and "liberal" Christians need each other because "our witness to the world is our love for each other," and though we are all sometimes wrong, we are also all Christ’s.
Stories from congregations	3/17/2004
One congregation tries to help its children learn "peace as a lifestyle" with the help of Peace Bears and posters to color. A group of Mennonites in California comes together across ideological lines after the tragedy of 9-11.
The Cross of Nonviolence	2/20/2004	by Leo Hartshorn
During the celebration of Lent Christian peacemakers will again be confronted with the paradox of God's salvation for the world coming to us by means of an extreme act of human violence. To put the question this teaching raises for peacemakers straightforward: Was the violence of the cross necessary for human salvation?
Second Mile: A 'peace journey for congregations'	1/15/2004	by Leo Hartshorn
Peace is a journey that follows many roads, a journey we take both individually and collectively. For those who want to help move their local congregation further down its own road toward peace, Second Mile can be an important resource.
Stories from congregations	1/15/2004	by Melanie Zuercher
In the fall of 2002, members of a study group at First Mennonite Church in Reedley, Calif. realized they had "stepped over the line" that separates active and passive involvement in social issues.
Christmas Greetings from Susan	12/18/2003	by Susan Mark Landis
Each holiday season when I receive cards, I yearn to send notes to all the people-you! who have generously supported our work the past year.
Sustaining the Spirituality of Peacemaking	10/14/2003	by John K. Stoner
How do we sustain the spirit of resistance to oppression and engagement in peacemaking over the long haul?
Pan Y Paz: Letter to armed actors to be published in Colombian Newspapers	9/15/2003	by Pan y Paz
On the occasion of the International Day of Peace and Cease Fire proclaimed by the United Nations for the 21st of September, we respectfully request that all armed actors observe a cease fire for 24 hours on the 21st of September.
Pan Y Paz: Biblical Study of the 2002 Declaration	9/15/2003	by Pan y Paz
Biblical Study of the Declaration On the occasion of the United Nations International Day of Peace, September 21st
Pan Y Paz: Declaration of Nonviolence	9/15/2003	by Pan y Paz
On the occasion of the 21st of September, 2003, The International Day of Peace and Nonviolence declared by the United Nations, we invite our fellow humans to commit themselves to nonviolence in all their relationships:
Pan Y Paz: Letter to Church Leaders in the US	9/15/2003	by Pan y Paz
We invite you to choose from this list of ideas to use in programming an event in commemoration of the UN International Day of Peace, September 21.
Pan Y Paz: Readings for sharing bread	9/15/2003	by Pan y Paz
Bible readings and commentary
Indonesian translation of the Atlanta 2003 Churchwide Immigration Statement	6/25/2003	by Gereja Kristen Injili
translated by Frederik Jan Kouttjie, pastor of Gereja Kristen Injili Indonesia Zion and member of the Pastoral Leadership Committee of the Pacific Southwest Mennonite Conference
Speaking Our Peace	4/18/2003
Been wondering how to better communicate your ideas about peace to those who don't agree with you? These workshop handouts give you basic ideas and a procedure to think through.
What If Every Church Had Been A Peace Church?	4/2/2003	by Dick Davis
Let's review the last 1700 years of Christianity through the honest and uncensored lens of an academic historian. The history of the Christian church reads like a litany of horror and cruelty that has been perpetrated, with the blessings of the church, upon the peoples of the world.
Suggestions for writing statements from your congregation or conference	3/27/2003	by Susan Mark Landis
Congregations, conferences, schools, and other institutions choose to write statements to remind constituents of beliefs and/or to speak prophetically, both to constituents and to the community beyond. Here are some suggestions to help you write a statement.
What Do We Say to the Kids? Talking about Violence and War	3/24/2003	by Anne Meyer Byler
From September 11, 2001 on, many parents have wrestled with how to talk to their children about the horror and uncertainty that came so close to home. What about the U.S.'s all-out military response, first in Afghanistan and now in Iraq? How do we share our beliefs about following Jesus, the nonviolent reconciler, in times like these?
Resources for Worship March 30, 2003	3/20/2003	by Susan Mark Landis
Worship Resources and Ideas for the Sunday following the March 2003 attack on Iraq.
Ten possible congregational and personal responses in the face of war	3/20/2003	by J. Daryl Byler
Ten possible congregational and personal responses in the face of war
Letter to congregations from Jim Schrag, Executive Director	3/20/2003	by Jim Schrag
Our country is officially at war with Iraq. What is our call from God during this time?
Messages from Mennonite leaders: God's people have hope	3/19/2003	by MC USA Leaders
A collection of messages from Mennonite Church USA leaders giving comfort on the brink of war.
Conscription, Faith, and Youth	2/22/2003	by Titus Peachey
Are you Ready? Whenever the United States threatens or begins military action, this question usually arises. Will there be a draft?
Soul's Anguish	2/22/2003	by Susan Mark Landis
For everything there is a season, and we must not rush through our need to grieve the world's ills. The agony of our souls cannot be ignored if we are to be full and compassionate human beings. God speaks to us through deep sorrow and we must take the time to listen.
Mennonite Responses to Terrorism and Possible War with Iraq	2/6/2003
Mennonite Church USA disseminated information and ideas for nonviolent alternatives to the war on terrorism in 2002 in these ways...
Talking your faith with others	2/6/2003	by Many Great Minds
Many people of faith who stand against a war with Iraq have viewpoints the media want to hear and need to heed. Here are hints for effective communication.
Pressing Questions (about Iraq)	1/16/2003	by J. Daryl Byler
Still, there are many in the pews - both those who oppose and those who quietly support war - who are haunted by pressing questions as the Iraq crisis seems to be coming to a head. Here are some of the questions I hear:
Women's Fast for Peace	1/16/2003	by Larry Guengerich
As the threat of a U.S. invasion of Iraq escalates, Mennonite Central Committee invites women of faith to participate in a fast for peace.
Advent Letter from Christian workers in Palestine/Israel	12/14/2002	by Sonia and Alain Epp Weaver
An Advent letter from international Christian workers in Palestine/Israel, signed by Sonia and Alain Epp Weaver, among others.
Christmas peace and justice messages for Bethlehem	12/3/2002	by Pax Christi
Send your Christmas wishes and prayers to Bethlehem.
Additional Action Ideas for Iraq	10/16/2002	by Susan Mark Landis
Several additional ways you can support Pease with Iraq.
Letter from Jim Schrag to Mennonites	10/16/2002	by Jim Schrag
I invite you to designate Peace Sunday, November 10, 2002, as a time for congregational discernment.
The Discipline of Fasting	10/15/2002	by CPT
Description, Meditations and Guide to fasting.
Costly War	10/15/2002	by J. Daryl Byler
Lost in the build-up for this war has been any serious admission by the Bush administration of the short- and long-term consequences of an unprovoked, preemptive U.S. attack on Iraq.
Conscription, Faith, and Youth	9/17/2002	by Titus Peachey
Are you Ready? Whenever the United States threatens or begins military action, this question usually arises. Will there be a draft?
Creating Publicity materials	7/1/2002
Suggestions on making Signs, Banners, Leaflets and Props for a Nonviolent public action.
Elements of a Nonviolent Action Campaign	7/1/2002
This is a list of possible steps for planning a Nonviolent Action Campaign.
Preparing for a public prayer service	7/1/2002
If you've not planned a public witness before, especially if you're working on a volatile topic or anticipating police involvement, here is some help
Talking Points for Letters to Government Officials about Iraq	6/19/2002	by Daryl Byler
Advocacy message: The way of war is not the path to peace.
A New Psalm 46	6/17/2002	by Leo Hartshorn
We need not be afraid, though oil spills blacken the seas and volcanoes spit ash into the skies, ... God is our everpresent help. God is our refuge and our strength.
Sanctuary of Peace	1/1/2002	by Justapaz
This call to be a seedbed for a Christian alternative to the violence in our country implies presenting Jesus as the mediator of a new pact among Colombian men and women, and from there to develop and offer as a service the gifts, talents and ministries that we have inherited from our forebears in the faith.
The Bible Teaches Peace: Prophetic Faith	11/1/2001	by Ted Grimsrud
Bible Study #3: Godly justice has to do with loving enemies, refusing to fight back, rejecting the desire to punish and coerce.
The Bible Teaches Peace: Ancient Israel's power politics	11/1/2001	by Ted Grimsrud
Bible Study #2: Even the greatest of the kings, David, acts with profound violence
The Bible Teaches Peace: Nine Modest Proposals	11/1/2001	by Ted Grimsrud
Bible Study #9: Nine Modest Proposals for Mennonites on the road toward peace
The Bible Teaches Peace: The peace vision of the Old Testament	11/1/2001	by Ted Grimsrud
Bible Study #1: The deepest, underlying point to the whole story told in the Old Testament is God's mercy and love.
Understanding our faith: bulletin inserts to read and share	11/1/2001	by Ted Grimsrud
These inserts can be mailed to college students and members of the military who are asking questions, used for Sunday school discussions or as background for sermons.
Colombia Resolution, Followup Resources (PDF)	11/1/2001	by Susan Mark Landis
(120K .PDF)
The Bible Teaches Peace: Enemy love	11/1/2001	by Ted Grimsrud
Bible Study #5: A person who is clear about what love of enemy means probably has gained such clarity due to a fundamental faith commitment, not primarily due to rational argumentation.
The Bible Teaches Peace: Jesus and the peaceable kingdom	11/1/2001	by Ted Grimsrud
Bible Study #4: Who do we say that Jesus is? What do we believe about Jesus Christ?
The Bible Teaches Peace: Pacifism is a faith conviction	11/1/2001	by Ted Grimsrud
Bible Study #8: Is pacifism an "absolute" for Christians?
The Bible Teaches Peace: Hope for the Lamb's triumph	11/1/2001	by Ted Grimsrud
Bible Study #7: How does John's social criticism challenge congregations today?
The Bible Teaches Peace: Paul, The transformation of a violent man	11/1/2001	by Ted Grimsrud
Bible Study #6: Paul remained intensely committed to serve God, but realized that the service God desires is to unconditionally love others, not to seek to do them harm when they offend his belief system
God is with us: Reflections for Children's time	9/11/2001	by Susan Mark Landis
Suggestions on how to talk to children after Terrorist attacks.
PeacemakerGuidelines	11/18/2000	by SOA Watch
Roles, guidelines, and suggestions for people performing the peacemaker role at a public action or prayer service.
Brochure: What Can One Congregation do for Peace? Spanish Version (PDF)		by Susan Mark Landis
No guardes la vision para la paz de Dios para ti unicamente, compartela con tu comunidad. Una congregacion puede hacer mucho por la paz: (64K .PDF)
Faith and Politics
The Bible contains contrasting images of government. One image highlights government's potential, the other its pitfalls.
The Reason for our Advocacy		by Martin Shupack
By raising our voices on behalf of those who are struggling to overcome poverty, oppression and violence, advocacy responds faithfully to Jesus' command to "love our neighbors as ourselves."
Brochure: What Can One Person do for Peace? (PDF)		by Susan Mark Landis
Small acts of courage make a difference. Read Through the following list and choose one act of peace you will do this week. (398K .PDF)
Christlike contacts with governing authorities
God uses people of faith to confront and call authorities to fulfill their intended purpose. Here's help for your work.
Brochure: What Can One Congregation do for Peace? (PDF)		by Susan Mark Landis
Don’t keep God’s vision for peace to yourselves. Share it with your community. A congregation could. . . (56K .PDF)