Justice Ministry Resources
Presbyterian Peacemaking Program Update ~ October 10, 2008
SOLDIERS OF CONSCIENCE
The 218th General Assembly (2008) encouraged “the Peacemaking Program to produce and identify study guides and discernment materials for individuals, congregations, and presbyteries to help church members and their friends be able to articulate God’s calling on their lives in regard to participating in the armed forces, and war.”
http://www.pc-biz.org/IOBView.aspx?m=ro&id=1731
One such resource is the film “Soldiers of Conscience” (see http://www.socfilm.com/.) Made with the official permission of the U.S. Army, the documentary explores questions such as “When is it right to kill? In the midst of war, is it right to refuse?” The film focuses on eight U.S. soldiers. Some continue to serve; some have sought status as conscientious objectors; all are “soldiers of conscience,” torn between the demands of duty and the call of conscience and the tension between spiritual values and military orders. The film provides the opportunity to hear and weigh a variety of positions.
“Soldiers of Conscience” is scheduled for broadcast on P.O.V. on PBS on Thursday, October 16 at 9:00 PM. Check your local listings and contact your local station if it does not plan to air the film.
http://www.pbs.org/pov/pov2008/soldiersofconscience/preview.html
Copies of the video may also be ordered at http://www.socfilm.com.
Presbyterian Peacemaking Program Update ~ October 9, 2008
PEACEMAKING OFFERING
Missed World Communion Sunday? It’s never too late to receive the Peacemaking Offering. Find resources at http://www.pcusa.org/peacemakingoffering.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. This year’s focus is on elder abuse. The Presbyterians Against Domestic Violence Network provides a packet of resources. Learn more and download materials at http://www.pcusa.org/phewa/networks/padvn/packet.htm.
ELECTION YEAR RESOURCES
- The PC(USA) Public Policy Advocacy Team provides “Christian and Citizen” resources at http://www.pcusa.org/washington/christiancitizen.htm.
- Faithful Democracy, a non-partisan group, provides tools for communities to engage, educate and inform people about their voting rights. Find resources at http://www.faithfuldemocracy.org/
- Women’s Action for New Direction provides a resource on the roles congregations can play in legal, non-partisan election activities. Find resources at http://www.wand.org/election08.pdf .
FINANCIAL CRISIS
PC(USA) leaders sent a letter to Congress and a letter to Presbyterians on the financial crisis and the bailout plan . Find resources at http://www.pcusa.org/pcnews/2008/08730.
HIV/AIDS
October 12 is the Presbyterian Church’s HIV/AIDS Sunday. Find resources at http://www.pcusa.org/aids-international/worship-resources.htm and http://www.pcusa.org/phewa/pan.htm.
HURRICANE RESPONSE
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance offers a number of ways to respond to our sisters and brothers who have been affected by hurricanes this year. Find resources at http://www.pcusa.org/pda/
MIDDLE EAST
Twenty-one aid agencies and human rights issued a report stating that Middle East peace negotiators have failed to improve the lives of Palestinians and the prospects for peace in the region. While noting some progress, the report said the Quartet (the European Union, Russia, the United Nations and the United States) must hold all parties accountable to their obligations. It should also commit itself to bringing a swift end to the blockade of Gaza and the policy of “collective punishment,” and intensify its work towards Palestinian reconciliation. Read about the report at http://www.pcusa.org/pcnews/2008/08713.htm. Read the report at http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/VDUX-7JSSZD?OpenDocument.
NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT
- While Congress approved the nuclear deal between the U.S and India http://www.fcnl.org/action/2008/lam0923.htm), There was also good news related to nuclear weapons. For the second year in a row, Congress has refused to fund the administration's request for a new nuclear weapon. Find resources at http://www.fcnl.org/nuclear/index.htm.
- The Nuclear Age Peace Foundation has a project called “US Leadership for a Nuclear Weapons-Free World: An Appeal to the Next President of the United States” that seeks to collect one million signatures to send to the next President in January 2009. Learn more at www.wagingpeace.org/appeal.
POVERTY
Sojourners’ Vote Out Poverty campaign asks voters and candidates to make the needs of our neighbors living in poverty a national priority. Sojourners urge candidates sign the pledge themselves. The pledges will be used to hold elected officials accountable in 2009. Find resources at http://go.sojo.net/campaign/voteoutpoverty_mobilization/8u3w7569v7m8ddd5?source=act_0809_vop_ec
STOPPING TORTURE
No2Torture seeks volunteers to organize delegations to Congressional offices to ask our elected officials to encourage the next President to sign an Executive Order banning torture. Contact Carol Wickersham at CLWickersham@charter.net or visit http://presbyterian.typepad.com/peacemaking/2008/10/stopping-tortur.html for more information.
SUDAN
The Sudan Advocacy Action Forum (SAAF) provides an analysis of the positions and records of the Presidential candidates on Sudan and Darfur. SAAF makes no recommendation for either candidate, but suggests that all eligible US citizens vote and make the candidate's Sudan policy a part of the decision process. Find resources at http://www.sudanadvocacy.com/Editorial.htm .
WHINSEC WITNESS
November 21-23
The U.S. Army’s Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC), formerly known as the School of the Americas (SOA), is located in Ft. Benning, Georgia. WHINSEC is a training school for Latin American soldiers. Some graduates have been charged with human rights violations in their home countries. The PC(USA) General Assembly called for the closing of the SOA in 1994. The Presbyterian Peace Fellowship is organizing a Presbyterian presence at the event (http://www.presbypeacefellowship.org/node/125). Contact Marilyn White at marwhite@igc.org for more information. Learn more about WHINSEC at http://www.pcusa.org/peacemaking/actnow/actnow.htm#western including GA policy, and links to the official WHINSEC Web site and to information from Presbyterians supporting and opposing WHINSEC.
COMING EVENTSFair Trade Week
October 12-19
http://www.pcusa.org/trade/resources.htm
World Food Day
October 16
http://www.worldfooddayusa.org/
Bread for the World Sunday
October 19
http://www.bread.org/get-involved/at-church/bread-for-the-world-sunday/
Children’s Sabbath
October 17-19
http://www.pcusa.org/children/poverty/worship.htm
United Nations Day
October 24
http://www.pcusa.org/peacemaking/worship/worship.htm#unday
Ecumenical Advocacy Days
March 13-16, 2009
ONLINE REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN
http://advocacydays.org/
2009 Peacemaking Conference at the Big Tent
June 11-13, 2009
http://www.pcusa.org/peacemaking/conferences/2009.htmCOMMITMENT CONGREGATION ENEWSLETTER
Email mark.koenig@pcusa.org or visit http://www.pcusa.org/peacemaking/subscribe/congregationsubscribe.htm to subscribe to this monthly read-only e-newsletter.
SPIRITUAL NURTURE FOR PEACEMAKERS
http://www.pcusa.org/peacemaking/nurture.htm
SWORDS INTO PLOWSHARES
The Peacemaking Program Blog
http://presbyterian.typepad.com/peacemaking/
CONTRIBUTE TO THE PEACEMAKING OFFERING
https://www.pcusa.org/give/online/projectSelectAction.do?numberString=PM999999The Rev. W. Mark Koenig
Coordinator, Presbyterian Peacemaking Program
Compassion, Peace and Justice Ministry
General Assembly Council
100 Witherspoon Street
Louisville, KY 40202
(502) 569-5936
(888) 728-7228, ext. 5936 (toll-free)
mark.koenig@pcusa.org
www.pcusa.org/peacemaking
presbyterian.typepad.com/peacemaking