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Articles on Duty of Church for Peace

• August 9
  Two documents you might use in your church or small group, or even personal reflection, concerning the events of August 9, 1945
  
  
• Books on Nonviolence in Five Religious Traditions
  Scores of titles on nonviolence in Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
  
  
• Jesus Makes Every Church A Peace Church
  Originally designed as a booklet, you can download this document for immediate reading. Sixteen pages.
  
  
• Letter to a Peace and Justice Activist #2
  This letter by Gary Kohls, MD gives a prophetic religious-socio-political analysis of the character of the United States as a nation (empire), and calls for the church to understand this and to lead its people in other paths, of peace.
  
  
• List of articles
  There is a list of most of the articles on the Every Church A Peace Church site at http://www.ecapc.org/peacemakingarticles.asp.
  
  
• ML King Speech against War
  Delivered at the Riverside Church in NY
  
  
• Take the Message to Jeruselem
      Christians are always tempted to accept the Pharisees’ belief that Herod is the chief threat to their mission and then change their course to combat his villainy.  But instead of focusing on Herod, Jesus insisted that all needed to repent, and journeyed toward Jerusalem where the action was controlled by those who make the greatest claims to represent God. (a 1980 article published in Sojourner's Magazine)
  
  
  
• What If Every Church Had Been a Peace Church?
  
  

Peacemaking Theology -- THEOLOGIA PACIS

• The Way of the Cross, the Grain of the Universe, and Pacifist Epistemology (PDF)
  A paper delivered by Gerald Biesecker-Mast of Bluffton University on January 10, 2007 at the first Theologia Pacis conference.
  
  

Books

• Books on Nonviolence in Five Religious Traditions
  Scores of titles on nonviolence in Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
  
  
• Books on Nonviolence, 13 titles
  
  
• Books on Peace Biblio by Byron Borger
  Here is a good list of books on conflict resolution practices, and scholarship on peacemaking activities. Annotated by the compiler, Byron Borger, of Hearts and Minds Bookdstore, in Dallastown, PA.
  
  
• Books recommended at Washington DC Conference
  A wide range of resources -- books, organizations, people -- arranged to correspond to the Stations of the Cross at the Washington DC conference.
  
  
• Engaging the Powers Study Guide
  ENGAGING THE POWERS by Walter Wink study guide
  
  
• Recent Books on Peacemaking
  A description by Michael Westmoreland-White of some excellent recent books on peacemaking.
  
  
• The Early Christian Attitude to War
  The full text of C. J. Cadoux's masterpiece, THE EARLY CHRISTIAN ATTITUDE TO WAR. http://www.compassionatespirit.com/Cadoux/Cadoux-home.htm
  
  
• Threatened With Resurrection: Self-Preservation and Christ's Way of Peace by Jim S. Amstutz
  What is the biggest hindrance to nonviolent struggle as an alternative to justified war? Fear, self-preservation, survival -- right? Or maybe feeling that it is ineffective?
  
  
• Where Was God on September 11?
  Essays by more than 50 writers -- asking "Where are you since September 11?" as much as "Where was God?" Descriptions of this and many peace books, with ordering informatiion www.mennolink.org/books/peace.html
  
  

Children & Youth

• Gary Kohls' seminar on Teen Violence and Suicide Prevention
  Gary Kohls is offering a weekend seminar on various subjects related to teen violence and suicide prevention. Follow this link for an overview of the seminar and a sample registration form.
  
  
• Resources for working with Children
  At the website listed here is a stimulating and diverse collection of resources for parents and teacher working with children. Go here and find real help! http://peace.mennolink.org/childrenandwar.html
  
  

Discussion Guides

• JESUS AS HE REALLY WAS
  A Course for Beginners and A Second Look for the Wise and Very Experienced
  
  
• Walter Wink Study Guides
  The Powers That Be and Engaging the Powers may be essential reading for those on the Peace Church journey.
  
  

Music

• Children of Tomorrow
  A song by Linda K. Williams expressing the hope for our children to live in a world without war. The chorus begins: "May the children of tomorrow be as shocked to learn of war as the children of today are shocked by slavery...."
  
  
• The Beatitudes
  At a youth retreat the topic was the Sermon on the Mount. A talent night was held that weekend and one of the participants offered this song.
  
  
• Till Wars on Earth Shall End
  'Til Wars on Earth Shall End, a song commissioned by ECAPC, words and music by Ken Medema.
  
  

Newsletters

• ECAPC NEWSLETTER
  See copies the occasional newsletter, offering news and interpretation of the ECAPC movement
  
  

Online Courses

• The Class of Non-Violence
  Solutions to Violence is an eight session class developed by Colman McCarthy, founder of the Center for Teaching Peace in Washington, D.C. It uses classics in peace and justice literature to teach peacemaking. This course can change your life and you can change the world.
  
  http://www.salsa.net/peace/conv/index.html
  
  

Organizing

• Form A Peacemaker Group
  BOOKLET: HOW TO START A CHURCH-BASED PEACEMAKER GROUP http://ecapc.org/howtostart.asp
  Additional Resources for Small Group Formation a href=http://www.ecapc.org/unite.asp
  
  
• Get your Church Involved!
  Here are twenty things that people in your church can do to be active promoters of peace in your community. It is good to pray for peace, it is even better to pray AND act for peace...inspire action in your congregation or fellowhip.
  
  
• Penny Poll
  A great exercise to build awareness of government spending in your chuch or your community. This exercise is a great lead in to a forum discussion on this challenging topic.
  
  
• Run a Peace College
  Here is a template that we developed to run a peace college in a local church. Just add the speaking resources available in your own community and you can run a college as a way to begin attracting more people in your community into this important dialog.
  
  
• Steps Toward Becoming a Peace Church
  These steps focus on what two or more people can do in their congregation to move their church toward becoming a peace church. Simple steps that anyone can complete. Why not begin today....
  
  

Peacemaking Activities and Gatherings

• Bible Study and Discussion
  Become acquainted with peace church interpretations of texts in the gospels which portray Jesus engaged in nonviolent struggle.
  
  
• Gary Kohls' seminar on Teen Violence and Suicide Prevention
  Gary Kohls is offering a weekend seminar on various subjects related to teen violence and suicide prevention. Follow this link for an overview of the seminar and a sample registration form.
  
  
• Hold a Sign-making Party
  Plan an evening of fun with a purpose to make signs for vigils and public witness.
  
  
• Plan an ECAPC conference
  Here is a simple guide to planning a Friday evening and Saturday morning conference to introduce ECAPC to your community.
  
  

Poetry & Creative Writing

• Holy War
  A poem by Ann Lizette Watson.
  
  
• Me and My Patriotism: George W. Bush*
  Peter Ediger's poem on George W. Bush's view of patriotism.
  
  
• Peace is Not A Testimony
  A Quaker reflects on "testimony."
  
  
• Shirts And Skins
  Shawn Horine's poem on the distinction (or disturbing lack thereof) between patriotism and terrorism.
  
  
• The Passion of Christ
  Al Staggs ask whether anybody cares about the sufferings of people who are not called Jesus (except maybe by Jesus himself).
  
  
• Thud In The Night (for Bubba)
  When will we break the silence? Meta Commerse' poem on domestic violence.
  
  
• You Can Never Go Home Again
  Shawn Horine's poem on his journey to Hebron, in the West Bank.
  
  

September 11 Response

• Responding to September 11 and Globalization
  Find here a unique collection of essays on how to respond creatively and "Christianly" to terrorism and the challenges of globalizationSeptember 11
  
  

Sermons

• C.T. Vivian - September 11, 2005
  C.T. Vivian on whiat is means to be a Christian
  
  
• Sermons relating to September 11
  These sermons were written shortly after September 11 but will be helpful to anyone developing a sermon on Jesus' way of peace.
  
  

Wisdom of ML King

• King speech against war
  A major speech by ML King opposing the Vietnam war, courageous when many were calling on him to be silent on the war.
  
  
• The Wisdom of Martin Luther King, Jr
  Here are excerpts from the writings of ML King. The Wisdom of Martin Luther King (see King)
  
  

Peace & Justice

• AGAPE COMMUNITY
  Founded in 1982, Agape is a Catholic lay community experiment of prayer, poverty, nonviolent witness and education, a practicuum in unconditional love.
  
  
• ALBERT EINSTEIN INSTITUTION
  

  The mission of the Albert Einstein Institution is to advance the worldwide study and strategic use of nonviolent action in conflict. Their website contains a wealth of resources, some free, some for purchase.

  
  
  
• ALTERNATIVES TO VIOLENCE PROJECT
  A holistic, integrated approach toward teaching individuals and communities ways to deal with conflict in creative, nonviolent ways.  Runs seminars in communities, prisons, and schools (for youth).  Not specifically religious in orientation, but Quaker-influenced and deliberately tapping into the traditions of Gandhi and King.
  
  
• AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE
  The direct-action, relief, service, and peace organization of the major bodies of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). Along with its British counterpart, the AFSC won the 1947 Nobel Peace Prize.
  
  
• AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
   A worldwide campaigning movement that works to promote all the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international standards. (Nonreligious).
  
  
  
• ANABAPTIST NETWORK
  

  A British movement to spread the major facets of the 16th C. Anabaptist movement (nonviolence, simple living, Christocentric obedience, mutual aid and economic sharing, etc.) in the contemporary UK context.

  
  
  
• ANGLICAN PACIFIST FELLOWSHIP
   The Anglican Pacifist Fellowship is a body of people within the Anglican Communion who reject war as a means of solving international disputes, and believe that peace and justice should be sought through non-violent means.  1200 members in 30 countries.

  Central to Jesus' teaching is the message of love, for God, our neighbour and even our enemies. We are to do good to those who hate us, and not respond to violence with violence.

  
  
  
• ASSOCIATION OF WELCOMING AND AFFIRMING BAPTISTS (AWAB)
   Members of AWAB are churches, organizations, and individuals who are willing to go on record as welcoming and affirming all persons without regard to sexual orientation, and who have joined together to advocate for the full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons within Baptist communities of faith. 
  
  
• BLACK VOICES FOR PEACE
  Black Voices for Peace (BVFP) is a national action network of Black people of African Heritage working for justice and peace in the United States and abroad. Founded by human rights, peace and environmentalist activist Damu Smith, BVFP was formed to organize a progressive Black community response to horrific attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001. The BVFP Peoples Action Network (BVFP-PAN) is sponsored by BVFP as a multi-racial action network in support of BVFP's mission. 
  
  
• BRUDERHOF COMMUNITIES
  The Brudehof (German for "Brother House") communities are a contemporary communal peace church that began as a pietist renewal movement in post-WWI Germany that met and linked with remnants of the Hutterites or Hutterian Brethren, the more communal wing of the 16th C. Anabaptist movement.  
  
  
• CARTER CENTER, THE
  

  The Carter Center, in partnership with Emory University, is guided by a fundamental commitment to human rights and the alleviation of human suffering; it seeks to prevent and resolve conflicts, enhance freedom and democracy, and improve health. (nonreligious).