Every Church A Peace Church

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Following Jesus in nonviolent struggle for justice and peace, we love our neighbors and enemies as God loves us all, becoming a peace church to share in Gods work to save the world.

THE PEACE CHURCH WAY A National Registry of Peace Churches

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THE PEACE CHURCH WAY

A NATIONAL REGISTRY OF PEACE CHURCHES

   As a person of goodwill in our times, where would you look to find a church which gives a good account of who Jesus was and is? From any point in the world, you could be seeking an alternative to a Western Jesus who seems approving of war and empire.

   The National Registry of Peace Churches is an effort to make available on the internet a listing of churches (congregations), small groups and individuals who publicly affirm their commitment to the peacemaking Jesus of history and experience.

   This article describes “the peace church way,” giving content to this path of faith and discipleship, and urges the reader to invite his or her church to register with the national registry of peace churches. While it is an affirmation of a direction, it is not the dictation of a program.

   This registry is called “national” because it lists churches by country. Churches around the world are invited to register. Realistically however, because the resources and efforts of Every Church A Peace Church, the sponsoring organization,   are limited, the initial focus of this effort will be in the USA. We encourage the development of registry networks of peace churches in all countries. And we encourage adherents of all religions to develop similar networks of nonviolence, for the pursuit of justice and peace by peaceful means.

   By registering a church makes these three commitments:

   1. Gathered: We declare our church a peace church, and affirm hope in Jesus and the Way of love which he lived and taught as the heart of Christian truth and guide to the life of the church both internally and externally.

   2. Connected: We work to continue Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s black freedom struggle to release America and the world from the powers of racism, poverty and militarism.

   3. Engaged: We support alternatives to war and violence such as Christian Peacemaker Teams and conscientious objection, making peace through nonviolent action for justice.

   The following paragraphs expand on the peace church way gathered around Jesus, connected with peacemaking history, and engaged in peacemaking action.

1. Gathered around the Peacemaking Jesus

   The peace church way starts by gathering around Jesus for learning . Jesus clearly expected his followers not only to believe in him, but to believe him. His life and teachings give the content of a workable, sustainable image of human life both individually and corporately. Jesus called himself “the human one,” or “the son of man.” By doing this he made a statement about the ideal characteristics of humans and their methods of interacting. Those who call themselves Christian are not at liberty to set aside this clear statement by Jesus.

   Many who claim that Jesus is much more than a teacher show by their lives that for them he is actually much less than a teacher. They have many teachers, but Jesus is not the most important one of them by any means or measure. They learn from many sources, but Jesus is not a primary source.

   Truth is learned by those gathered around the peacemaking Jesus. Truth is not a simple or easy thing to acquire. But everyone makes truth claims, even if the claim is that truth cannot be known. But in an age of lies, truth is precious, and a leader who speaks truth is priceless.&nbs

Comments

Thank you. I found your website in one of my on-going searches for a church that teaches what Jesus taught. It's been a long journey. But now I feel like I've found "home".<

Posted by: sandi

I am very much in favor of including quotes from scholars of other religions to show how the desire for peace abounds around the world. And I would also like to suggest that we do not need guidance from God to know that war is abominable and that we should abolish it. The movement will include many more people if it simply states that we want to abolish war. I think we can all agree that Jesus taught peace; however so much emphasis on the Christian background will keep many people out of the movement. I am personally discouraged by the long paragraphs presented in this registry explanation and I believe they distort the objectives of the peace church movement.<

Posted by: Connie Metcalf

What a wonderful organization you are! God bless you! Keep going and spread the Gospel!

I will pray for you.<

Posted by: Micael

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