Individuals, small groups,and congregations are invited to join the National Registry of Peace Churches. More...
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 God’s work to save the world.
Most Christians are committed to a more peaceful world. So how is a peace church different? Three churches are generally acknowledged to be "historic peace churches." They are the Religious Society of Friends or Quakers, the Mennonite Church, and the Church of the Brethren. What makes these churches distinct is their commitment to do justice and reject violence. In May 1999, the peace churches gathered in Bienenberg, Switzerland, and selected the following five characteristics of a peace church:
Every Church a Peace Church is a movement to organize the church’s response to societal and global violence. It is a call to action based upon this simple proposition: "the church could turn the world toward peace if every faith community lived as Jesus lived and taught." In the Twin Cities area, we form a network of small communities committed to helping our congregations to consider this proposition seriously. To that end, we have several activities, to which we welcome all people.
Bimonthly potluck suppers
These gatherings are opportunities to provide mutual support, introduce friends to the movement, learn what other congregations are doing, and become informed about specific actions we can join to do justice and reject violence.
Periodic conferences and workshops
Over the centuries the church has strayed from its roots in nonviolence. To become aware of our history, discover what scripture teaches us, and learn the power of nonviolence, we offer workshops and conferences with local and national authorities on a variety of topics.
Action groups
Opportunities to help enlarge the movement beyond the local congregation include working on education, outreach, and action, serving as a congregational contact, or assisting with administrative needs.
E-mail connection
Those who want to know about our area’s ECAPC activities can join our e-mail list and receive announcements of upcoming events. To get on our e-mailing list, visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MnECAPC/ and click on "Join This Group!" You can also send us an e-mail to us at ecapctc@yahoo.com and ask to be added to our list.
How Can I Get Started at My Church?
Jesus said, "Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them." The best way to begin is to ask another person to join you. If you already have a church committee that works on justice and peace issues, it would be a good place to look for kindred spirits. Then you might try some of these ideas.
Attend some workshops or potlucks with the ECAPC network.
Start a book discussion group, using such books as Jesus and Nonviolence: A Third Way by Walter Wink (117 pages) or How Christians Made Peace with War: Early Christian Understandings of War by John Driver (89 pages).
Show films from the PBS series A Force More Powerful (available at the public library)
Invite someone from the ECAPC group to speak at an adult education forum.
Ask someone to lead a Bible study on Jesus’ commandment to love enemies.
Form an interest group around what it would mean for your congregation to become a peace church.
Because we are a movement, there is no right or wrong way to do the organizing work. You’ll know best what would be effective in your congregation. The most important thing is to begin the conversation. You may be surprised at the number of people who are eager to reclaim Christianity’s roots and to hear the message that nonviolent action works.
