2004 Peace and Justice conference offers resources, actions, and hope

What has long been an important annual event in the Presbyterian Church, the Peacemaking Conference, happened again this year, August 3 - 7 in Tacoma, Washington, under the theme  “Hope for a Global Future: Let’s Pray, Let’s Act.”

It was broadened in scope this year to include issues of hunger, environmental concerns and economic justice.  And it was co-sponsored by the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program, the Presbyterian Hunger Program, the Environmental Justice Program and the Self-Development of People Program.

Click here for the Presbyterian News Service report.

by Suzan Ireland, interim pastor, Peace Presbyterian Church, St. Louis Park, MN

It's been a few weeks since I returned home from the PCUSA Peace and Justice Conference in Tacoma, Washington. I'm still humming some of the songs we sang in several different languages and hearing the wonderful sound of over 500 voices singing in parts to the beat of a drum.

This is the first year that the conference focused on the four areas of hunger, peacemaking, environment, and self development of people, so there were people from all over the country and several international guests who were working in many different areas of justice and peacemaking. Entire families attended and I counted at least six nursing babies. I ran into some friends from a small town in Illinois who had brought their three children, the oldest of whom is five. The father said even though it was hard to travel with little ones, he welcomed the opportunity to show them something different and have them hear something different than what surrounds them daily. There was programming for everyone from three-year-olds up.

What an antidote the conference was to this year's election politics, where we seem to be stuck back in Vietnam. We heard some dynamic preaching and impassioned preachers. Rick Ufford-Chase, who had accepted the invitation to speak long before he became moderator, gave a plenary address on the effects of globalization particularly on our neighbors to the south. He said that we need to be willing to "give our lives to the task of helping the world to become human."

It was good to know that so many people of all ages are working in so many different venues, both within and outside the church. It was good to have hope revived in a world and a culture where it's so easy to give way to despair. It was good to talk with staff in the Washington office who are dedicated to speaking truth to power on matters of peace and justice, and to know that they persevere even in a denominational climate that makes this difficult. I was reminded once again that even though I am specializing in interim ministry, I was called to ordained ministry to work for peace and to proclaim justice.

from Christine Gibson, Elder for Peacemaking, Social Concerns, Maplewood Presbyterian Church, Edmonds, WA

The 2004 Peacemaking and Justice Conference held here in our Pacific Northwest at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, on August 3-7, was truly one of a kind! The traditional peacemaking conference was expanded to include not only Peacemaking, but Hunger, Environmental Justice, and Self Development of People programs of our Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Around 600 people attended, including young adults, youth , children and 45 international guests. The conference theme asked: What are our roles as Christ's disciples in a time of global poverty, environmental degradation and warfare? Are there enough resources? Is it possible to seek justice and peace? How does faith impact our choices as consumers?

The conference began each day after breakfast with a two-hour intergenerational gathering where we experienced community-building exercises, sang global music, and heard the Plenary speaker for the day. A highlight for me was hearing our newly elected Moderator of General Assembly Rick Ufford-Chase who spoke to us with energy and passion. He is 40 years old, a cradle Presbyterian who speaks fluent Spanish, and is co-founder and co-director of BorderLinks, a faith based, bi-national education project on the U.S. Mexican border. He gave moving examples of the effects of globalization and unfair trade on those who are poor. He called on us to let go of our comfort levels. People are changed not with words, but by direct experience with someone different.

We then went to our small affinity groups for an hour before lunch, for an opportunity to discuss the ideas presented during each plenary session, using a mutual invitation process where everyone felt safe and free to express themselves and listen carefully to others.

After lunch, there were issue briefings, one-hour speaker led sessions on hot topic issues. I was able to attend ones on Iraq, Israel and Palestine, and Fair Trade; hearing directly from people living in the country and/or working on the issue. Most moving to me was seeing David Young's pictures of the "Dividing Wall" that Israel is building and hearing directly from our guests its impact on the lives of the Palestinian people.

Also in the afternoon we had two-hour action group sessions designed to engage us in issues related to the conference theme. I was able to explore three topics:

After dinner, we gathered for intergenerational worship. We heard conference preachers and experienced worship that drew on a variety of cultural traditions. Professional photos of suffering and hope around the world were used, as well as crayon drawings by the youngest children participating in the conference. A Witness for Peace and lighting of a Peace Candle also took place during the worship time. Extremely moving to me was the Iraqi pastor from the Assyrian Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Baghdad, who lit the Peace Candle and brought us greetings of peace.

Around meal times there were opportunities for public witness by writing letters to Congress people, and opportunities to look at the many resource tables.

SOCIAL CONCERNS, PEACE AND JUSTICE

Prepared by Dick Gibson, Synod Hunger Action Enabler, Presbytery Restoring Creation Enabler, and "all around peacemaker" Presbytery of North Puget Sound

The following issues were raised at the Peace and Justice Conference in Tacoma, and deserve to be widely publicized throughout our churches, etc.

2004 International Peacemakers are available and will be itinerating throughout the USA. Contact the Peacemaking office, Louisville, to schedule a person and arrange travel. Contact syoung@ctr.pcusa.org

PEACENOTES - You can order enough of this helpful newsletter to hand out at your Presbytery. Every church should receive one, and you might develop a broader mailing list for people to receive this newsletter.

Peacemaking Offering - October 3, World Communion Sunday, is the time for the Peacemaking Offering. Please publicize this widely, reminding churches they can keep 25% for local peace and justice outreach ministries. Offering packets have been mailed to each church.

Commitment to Peacemaking - Churches can still sign the Commitment; order copies from the Peacemaking office in Louisville. Please encourage churches that have not signed. This year might be a good time to study this important program and sign up. Even churches that have signed might find this a good time to review their commitment.

Examine the Fall Program Calendar.

Special Sundays give opportunity for special sermons and worship:

Plan an energy audit of your home and your church building. Saving electricity and heat are important as our earth continues to warm. Understanding carbon dioxide emissions and reducing the amount of electric usage can be very helpful. Resource material is available, contact Enough For Everyone, Louisville (ext 5811). Remember that church buildings are notorious for their inefficiency.

Crop Walk - walk against hunger. Find creative ways to fight hunger in your community through local food banks and feeding programs. Contact Church World Service through their website at http://www.churchworldservice.org/CROP/    Email: info@churchworldservice.org  Phone: 574-264-3102, or Toll Free: 1-800-297-1516

FOR CHRISTMAS - order ALTERNATIVES and their exciting programs: Carols For Justice, Whose Birthday Is It Anyway - daily devotions and study guide for Advent, and many, many other resources for simpler living and alternative life styles to the economic and frantic culture we live in. Alternatives@SimpleLiving.org (note capitals) 1-800-821-6153, 109 Gaul Dr. PO Box 340, Sergeant Bluff, IA 51054

CULTIVATE UNDERSTANDING - Sept 23-Oct 7, 2004. Participate in a Christian-Muslim dialogue in your area. Resources available from the Interfaith Listening Project, room 3204, Louisville. Contact Sherri Auld sauld@ctr.pcusa.org.

Ask the Restoring Creation Enabler from your Presbytery to lead a workshop or speak during the next Presbytery meeting.

Order a new video on the dividing wall that Israel is building through Palestinian land. It comes from the Mennonite Central Committee in Akron Ohio. Phone 1-888-563-4676.

Write Congress to continue the ban on Assault Weapons and to modify the new trade proposals called CAFTA. Information available from the Washington Office. 110 Maryland Ave NE #104, Washington, DC 20002 phone: 202-543-1126.

Continue the Taco Bell Boycott. Ask "How can we help farm workers earn a fair wage?" "How can I be a good neighbor?" Information is available from the Hunger Program in Louisville. Encourage church members to study this issue and refrain from buying at Taco Bell.  www.pcusa.org/boycott. To contact the Boycott office: Rev. Noelle Damico, 631-751-7076

Consider buying sweatshop-free tee shirts for your choir, pre-school, youth group or congregation. Order from: Enough For Everyone 1-800-334-0434, Hunger Program, Louisville.

CENTS-ABILITY is a small first step in the battle against hunger and poverty. Order special cups for collections. Ask families to add two cents at each meal to help feed the hungry. Bring the cups to worship for dedication once a month, once a quarter, or on a special Sunday. Other resources are available from the Hunger Program - 1-800-334-0434.

Look for Communities of Need around your church: people and groups who could use "a hand up" from the Self Development of People program. Funds are available for groups who own and control their own ideas and projects from the Self Development Committee of the Presbytery, Synod and General Assembly. Contact cnunez@ctr.pcusa.org for information.

Discover the many ways your congregation and members are already helping the hungry - through a soup kitchen, food bank, or supporting a meals program in your community. Please publicize what your people are already doing, encourage church members to give money and food on a regular basis and to volunteer their time, driving, sorting, pick up, handing out, or keep records. There is much to do. More resources are available from the Hunger Program in Louisville: 1-800-334-0434.

Give generously to the One Great Hour of Sharing each Lenten Season. This special offering supports the work of the Hunger Program, Self Development and the Disaster Assistance program. Offering packets are mailed to the church each January.

JUST NEIGHBORS - a tool kit for congregations to use to help people of faith reach out to people in need: education, service, advocacy. For a complete kit and information, contact "Family Promise," 71 Summit Ave, Summit, NJ 07901 info@familypromise.org.

Join Bread for the World - congregations and individuals can join this important lobbying group which helps to keep Congress informed about hunger issues. Material and resources are available from BREAD, 50 F St. NW #500, Washington, DC 20001. 1-800-82-BREAD

Climate change - study climate change and weather in your congregation. Order material from PRESBYTERIANS FOR THE STEWARDSHIP OF CREATION, Louisville ext 5810.  E-mail to c-s@ctr.pcusa.org. A special publication is available: Stormy Weather: 101 Solutions to Global Climate Change, Dauncey and Mazza, New Society Pubishers, Gabriola Island, British Columbia. God has given us the environment to protect and preserve. We need to study what is happening and why our weather is changing so dramatically!

Deal with the big issues of war and peace: With the prison scandal in Iraq, many Presbyterians want to know about the Geneva Conventions. When war comes, families want to know how to talk in a time of war. With the crisis in Sudan, information is available about Darfur and genocide. Nuclear weapons have not gone away, and we need to share our concerns Resources and study material is available from the Peacemaking Program in Louisville.

Free trade is a topic in the news, but does it help or hurt? Resources about NAFTA, CAFTA and other trade issues are available from the Washington Office, 202-543-1125

Landmines continue to be lethal, long after the fighting stops. Resources for study and action available through Church World Service 1-800-297-1515 ext 222. Also contact CWS (1516) for study guides and resource material for International Justice and Human Rights in many countries around the world: Sudan, Colombia.

Souper Bowl Sunday in January/February gives you an opportunity to talk about hunger again. Order songs, posters, flyers, bulletin inserts and other material from brad@souperbowl.org,  or phone 1-800-358-7687. Get your youth group or men's group involved collecting donations based on points scored, for local feeding programs/food banks, then report your total to the Souperbowl hot line 1-800-358-SOUP.

Stand with the Women in Black as they express peacemaking during silent vigils in various public places in various communities around the world. One local contact can be reached through BEB@IGC.org (caps not necessary) to find out when and where near you.

Domestic violence requires our peacemaking, and was one of the key workshops at the conference. Domestic violence is a learned behavior, and we need to stand with victims to help them tell their stories, and prosecute those who do the violence. Resources available from PHEWA at www.pcusa.org/phewa/padvn.

Oikocredit - invest your money in the development of people and communities. Oikocredit gives poor people the chance to create a better life for themselves and their families with micro loans. Given loans to start small businesses, people are able to build a better life for themselves and their families. And they almost always repay the loans in full. More information is available at usa.sa@oikocredit.org or www.oikocredit.org. It is a meaningful way to invest your savings, or a bequest to your church, to actually help others and improve life around the world.