Christian Peace Witness

March 15-17, 2007
Washington D.C.

Friends,
I have been enormously energized by working with an ecumenical, strongly Christian, nonviolence-centered group on this witness. I sincerely pray and hope 1000 Mennonites will come to Washington, D.C. for what I anticipate as an amazing experience: worship in Washington National Cathedral and candlelight procession to the White House where we will vigil for peace.

You'll feel Mennonite influence when you read the invitation and see calls to ourselves, substantial biblical content and the term "witness" rather than protest. We especially invite people new to peace witness-let me know how to help you feel welcome and comfortable. Bring a congregational delegation! (Here are banners to download and personalize with your congregation or organization's name)

For instance, here are notes from the worship committee:

The powerful liturgy, symbolic rites and involvement of denominational leaders will help to shape and change and shake up the country's understanding of the war, as the peace movement did in Vietnam. The country needs to see a broad-based coalition of religious leaders of different stripes who have heard God saying the same thing. The worship itself-the shape, form, texture-will fill this need. The worship will lift up the vision of people trying to be Christian, trying to follow God, who are divided by some issues, but all see the same on this one issue.

The overall goal is to stop the war in Iraq, but my personal goals include bringing Mennonites more strongly into the ecumenical peace circle and creating a lifelong memory and time of commitment for our children and youth (bring cameras!). Ministers are especially warmly invited. They serve as the conscience of the country. The more ministers present, the more attention we might receive from the media and our government.

The official Christian Peace Witness website has pages and pages of information now, and more to come. Keep checking back so you can register, donate, and find a ‘toolkit’ for local organizing.

invitation to event color (135k PDF) or b/w (135k PDF)
brief handout PDF version (155k PDF)

Susan Mark Landis, Mennonite steering committee member,

Join thousands of Christian lay people and clergy to voice your support for creating real security and peace in Iraq. Worship together, vigil together. Let's express our commitment to life!