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In US politics:
a witness for "peace not poverty" |
Another participant reports
on the Peace Not Poverty rally at Riverside Church
Tom Philipp, a Presbyterian minister now serving on Long Island, joined
Phyllis Zoon to represent the Witherspoon Society as one of the
organizations co-sponsoring the send-off rally in New York for the "End
the Silence" tour of the US, raising people’s awareness of the terrible
consequences of the war in Iraq, particularly for American’s poor. He has
sent these impressions of the event, and a couple photos.
[4-19-05]
More >> |
Celebration and send-off at Riverside Church
[4-6-05]Iraq
quagmire is impoverishing our nation
National bus tour will present budget as a moral document
Riverside Church in New York saw an interfaith gathering on Monday
evening, April 4, to celebrate the anniversary of Martin Luther King’s
speech that he called "Beyond Vietnam," in which he said:
"I knew that America would never invest the necessary funds or energies
in rehabilitation of its poor so long as adventures like Vietnam continue to
draw men and skills and money like one demonic, destructive sucking tube."
The event drew support from over 50 religious groups, including
Christians, Jews and Muslims – including the Witherspoon Society and the
Presbyterian Peace Fellowship.
In the conviction that King’s prophetic words of April 4, 1967, apply
just as painfully today, if you simply substitute Iraq for Vietnam, the
group has begun a national bus tour of religious leaders, aimed to capture
the attention of the media and counter the influence of the religious right.
We hope it will serve as a catalyst to turn the tide of our nation’s drift
to darkness toward the light of goodness.
Adapted from a communication from True Majority
Read the full text of Martin Luther King’s historic speech that linked
opposition to the Vietnam War to the struggle for civil rights:
Learn more about
Clergy and Laity Concerned About Iraq
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Witherspoon presence:
The Rev. Phyllis Zoon and the Rev. Tom Philipp represented the
Witherspoon Society in the opening celebration at Riverside Church.
Phyllis sends this quick, personal response:
Monday night’s event was amazing and exciting. The church was full and
their service lasted 3 hours, which went by very quickly because the
speakers were so inspiring—and there were many of them. For me, Sister Joan
Chittester, who spoke on conscience, and the Mayor of Cleveland, Jane L.
Campbell, who spoke on hope and its loss in our cities, were the highlights.
And Jesse Jackson was very inspiring. Afterward there was ice cream from Ben
and Jerry’s. I hadn’t had dinner and was rather sugar-shocked by the time I
left.
Phyllis
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A Declaration
As part of the event, a declaration of
conscience against the Iraq War was read. It was developed through an
on-line process in which thousands of people took part, expressing their own
perceptions and concerns. A process of on-line editing gathered the many
statements into the coherent Declaration that was presented to the
gathering.
Take a look at it,
and tell us what
you think! |
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Witherspoon co-sponsors “Peace Not Poverty”
witness
[3-31-05]
The executive
committee of the Witherspoon Society has committed to co-sponsor the
interfaith witness for “Peace Not Poverty,”
which will culminate in a declaration that will be read at the "Beyond
Iraq" interfaith service on April 4 at Riverside Church in New York City.
Two Witherspoon
members, the Rev. Phyllis Zoon and the Rev. Tom Philipp, will take part in
the opening procession.
More on the April 4th service and witness
at Riverside Church >>
Break the Silence Bus Tour
Following the
April 4th Beyond Iraq Service and Rally at Riverside Church in
New York City, the Building the Beloved Community Leaders are boarding a bus
and heading out to Philadelphia, PA and Washington, DC to answer forcefully
the attacks on freedom and justice by religious voices from the right.
Come, add your
voice. Be there to greet the “Building Beloved Community” leaders on their
bus tour throughout the nation.
Speak out against the Iraq War and its conduct. Speak out for economic,
civil and social justice in our own land.
The first two
stops have been finalized.
Philadelphia, PA – Tuesday, April 5, 11:00 am - 12:30 pm at Project Home,
1515 Fairmount Ave.
Washington, DC – Tuesday, April 5, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm at National City
Christian Church, 5 Thomas Circle.
Additionally,
all clergy and other religious leaders from all faith traditions are invited
to an organizing session for an ongoing progressive religious community
presence and voice in the nation's capitol. This will be held April 6, 9 am
- 11 am at National City Christian Church.
Details for
the rest of the bus tour will follow.
Please share
this invitation to all in the Philadelphia and Washington DC areas who might
want to attend. Thanks for your support.
If you can
represent Witherspoon as a local coordinator in Washington or Philadelphia,
please let us know.
Just send a note! |
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Witherspoon co-sponsors “Peace Not Poverty”
witness
[3-24-05]
The executive
committee of the Witherspoon Society has committed to co-sponsor the
interfaith witness for “Peace Not Poverty,”
which will culminate in a declaration that will be read at the "Beyond Iraq"
interfaith service on April 4 in Riverside Church in New York City.
You can
play a role in drafting the statement.
On March 30, a
one-million-person community of conscience will gather online to create a
declaration against the Iraq War. This "write-in" is the second of four
events planned by progressive religious leaders and organizations to launch
a movement to build what the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called the
Beloved Community.
Go to
http://www.peacenotpoverty.org/register.php
to register for the write-in. It should be an interesting and
challenge experience -- and a chance to contribute your thinking to an
important declaration for peace and justice.
Questions or comments?
Please send a
note!
This
note came in response to our declaration of co-sponsorship of the event:
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Dear Friends at Witherspoon,
Welcome as Co-sponsors of our anti-war efforts! Please circulate the
following to all your listserves and ask your members to circulate to
their listserves and address books. We want as many as possible to
participate.
Thanks for your help!
Rita Brock |
On April 4, the Peace Not Poverty declaration will be read at the "Beyond
Iraq" interfaith service in Riverside Church in New York. The event will
mark the anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s speech against the Vietnam
War in 1967 and is part of a determined, on-going nationwide effort to end
the war.
This "Write-In" is part of a plan to build what the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther
King Jr.called the "Beloved Community" (details of all events at
www.buildingbeloved.org).
The many co-sponsors include:
The Witherspoon Society
Clergy and Laity Concerned about Iraq
Clergy and Laity Network
Faith Voices for the Common Good
Drive Democracy
Fellowship of Reconciliation
United for Peace and Justice
National Council of Churches
Fellowship of Reconciliation
Gold Star Families for Peace
Pax Christi USA
The Tikkun Community
Unitarian Universalist Association
The Shalom Center
World Sikh Council-America Region
Progressive Christians Uniting
Protestants for the Common Good
Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America
Christians for Justice Action (United Church of
Christ)
Disciples Justice Action Network
Church of the Brethren, Peace Witness Office
Rainbow PUSH Coalition
Clergy and Laity Network
The WHALE Center
The Bruderhof
Call to Action
The Witness Magazine
One Life Institute
Peace and Security Project of Iowa
Episcopal Divinity School
Global Peace and Justice Ministry, Riverside Church
Presbyterian Peace Fellowship
Seminary Consortium for Urban Pastoral Education
People for Peace & Justice
Lutheran Human Relations Association |
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FaithfulAmerica urges support
Since the Witherspoon action mentioned above,
FaithfulAmerica has sent a message urging support for the Peace Not
Poverty witness. It provides a good survey of the activities planned, and
why they’re important. [3-25-05] |
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Peace Not Poverty
Bear
witness for the “Beloved Community”
[3-14-05]
On March 30,
a one-million-person community of conscience will gather online to create a
declaration against the Iraq War. This "write-in" is the second of four
events planned by progressive religious leaders and organizations to launch
a movement to build what the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called the
Beloved Community.
This invitation has been sent by Rita Nakashima Brock
to a wide circle of people of conscience:
On March 30, one million people of conscience will gather online to create a
declaration called Peace Not Poverty!
Our "Write-In" event is part of a multi-organizational plan to build what
the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called the "Beloved Community." The
Write-In will use Synanim, our unique technology that enables groups to
synthesize consensus. It's been rewritten and re-architected to insure a
smooth experience for everyone.
On April 4, the Peace Not Poverty declaration will be read by the consensus
leader at the Beyond Iraq interfaith service in Riverside Church in New
York. This televised event will commemorate Martin Luther King, Jr.'s speech
against the Vietnam War on that date, 1967.
More than ever, we need your help!
1. PARTICIPATE: Registration opens
March 20 and ends the 27th at
PeaceNotPoverty.org.
2. DONATE: Can't participate? Please
donate. Faith Voices will spend more than $50,000 to upgrade Synanim, just
one of the major expenses we and our partner organizations are making for
this national prophetic public witness, the bus tour, and the Riverside
Church event. Your voice and support will prove a historic turning point in
building the Beloved Community to end the war and further the cause of
non-violence.
3. ACTIVATE: Be an activist. Forward
this invitation to your friends and neighbors -- to everyone of conscience
you know, and ask them to forward it to others.
4. DISSEMINATE: Download, print, and
distribute the event flyer among your religious communities and at events.
Starting March 16, find it here:
PeaceNotPoverty.org
5. ADVOCATE: Urge your church or
organization to join the growing list of co-sponsors. Contact Al Pennybacker
at
AMPennybacker@aol.com
with your group's name and web address. The list continues to grow!
These events will re-awaken and energize a nationwide community of
conscience, a community committed to reclaiming the soul of our country and
promoting social justice, human rights, and democracy.
Join us, and together we will build the Beloved Community!
See details of the Write-In at
PeaceNotPoverty.org.
and details of the other events at
BuildingBeloved.org.
I hope to be with you online
March 30!
Rita
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
March 20: Peace Not Poverty -- Prophetic Public Witness Day around the
country
March 20-27: Peace Not Poverty Registration for Write-In
March 30 - April 2: Peace Not Poverty -- Write-In
April 4: Beyond Iraq -- Interfaith Service, Riverside Church, NY
April 4 - April 17: Break The Silence -- Bus Tour
LEADERSHIP TEAM
Clergy Leadership Network
DriveDemocracy.org
Faith Voices for the Common Good
National Council of Churches
Riverside Church
Fellowship of Reconciliation
Clergy and Laity Concerned About Iraq
CO-SPONSORS INCLUDE
The Shalom Center
Faithful America
Unitarian Universalist Association
Christians for Justice Action (United Church of
Christ)
Disciples Justice Action Network (DJAN)
Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America
The First Congregational Church of St. Louis (UCC)
Peace and Justice Committee of the First
Congregational Church of Berkeley
United for Peace and Justice
Progressive Christians Uniting
American Humanist Association
Rainbow-PUSH Coalition
World Sikh Council - America Region
Pax Christi
The Bruderhof
Our postal address is
PO Box 10388
Oakland, California 94610
United States
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Some blogs worth visiting |
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PVJ's
Facebook page
Mitch Trigger, PVJ's
Secretary/Communicator, has created a Facebook page where
Witherspoon members and others can gather to exchange news and
views. Mitch and a few others have posted bits of news, both
personal and organizational. But there’s room for more!
You can post your own news and views,
or initiate a conversation about a topic of interest to you. |
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Voices of Sophia blog
Heather Reichgott, who has created
this new blog for Voices of Sophia, introduces it:
After fifteen years of scholarship
and activism, Voices of Sophia presents a blog. Here, we present the
voices of feminist theologians of all stripes: scholars, clergy,
students, exiles, missionaries, workers, thinkers, artists, lovers
and devotees, from many parts of the world, all children of the God
in whose image women are made. .... This blog seeks to glorify God
through prayer, work, art, and intellectual reflection. Through
articles and ensuing discussion we hope to become an active and
thoughtful community. |
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John Harris’ Summit to
Shore blogspot
Theological and philosophical
reflections on everything between summit to shore, including
kayaking, climbing, religion, spirituality, philosophy, theology,
politics, culture, travel, The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), New
York City and the Queens neighborhood of Ridgewood by a progressive
New York City Presbyterian Pastor. John is a former member of the
Witherspoon board, and is designated pastor of North Presbyterian
Church in Flushing, NY. |
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John Shuck’s Shuck and Jive
A Presbyterian minister, currently
serving as pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Elizabethton,
Tenn., blogs about spirituality, culture, religion (both organized
and disorganized), life, evolution, literature, Jesus, and
lightening up. |
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Got more blogs to recommend?
Please
send a note, and we'll see what we can do! |
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