PPF Newsletter

New Report: U.S. Military aid to Colombia has direct, negative affect on human rights

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:11:00 GMT

<html> <head> <title>New Report: U.S. Military aid to Colombia has direct, negative affect on human rights</title> </head> <body> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td align="center"><table width="600" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="main" style="border-width:1px;border-style:solid;border-color:#dfdfdf;" > <tr> <td class="header" valign="top" style="background-color:#12303c;padding-top:16px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-right:16px;padding-left:16px;" ><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td width="100" valign="top"><p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;color:#ffffff;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-right:0;padding-left:0;text-align:left;" ><strong>THIS ISSUE</strong></p></td> <td><ul style="list-style-type: none; padding:0; margin:0;"> <li style="padding-bottom:5px;"><a href="#1" style="color:#ffffff; text-decoration:none;">Special Report on Colombia </a></li> </ul></td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="subheader" style="background-color:#1d2929;padding-top:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-right:10px;padding-left:30px;" ><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td align="left" valign="middle"><p class="title" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12px;font-weight:bold;color:#ffffff;text-align:left;" >The Presbyterian Peace Fellowship - Email Newsletter - Special Report</p></td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="body" style="padding-top:30px;padding-bottom:20px;padding-right:20px;padding-left:20px;" ><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td class="title"><p style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:28px; line-height:125%;font-weight:normal;color:#161f1f;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:15px;padding-right:0;padding-left:0;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;text-align:left;" ><a name="1"></a>New Report: U.S. Military aid to Colombia has direct, negative affect on human rights </p></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="desc"><p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;padding:0;margin:0;text-align:left;" >Sisters and Brothers, </p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;">Though we've been more prolific than usual with our e-communications over the past two months, and we try not to overload your inbox, the Fellowship of Reconciliation released a report on Thursday that has significant bearing on our work there. </p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;"><a href="http://presbypeacefellowship.org/node/338"><strong>Click here to get the summary, the recommendations, and the full report through our website</strong></a>. </p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;">Extensive research by FOR's staff and colleagues shows fairly conclusively that there is at least a correlation, if not a causal link, between U.S. Military aid to Colombia and the number of civilian deaths in the areas where the Colombian Military is most active. </p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;">"<strong>For the 16 largest increases of aid...the number of reported executions in the jurisdiction increased an average of 56%....</strong> In other words, when there were significant increases in assistance to units, there were increases in reported killings in the periods following the assistance in the assisted units' areas of operation." </p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;">This has significant implications for U.S. funding there, and appears to be a violation of the Leahy Amendment, which "prohibits assistance to any foreign security force unit if the State Department has credible evidence that the unit has committed gross human rights violations." </p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;">Rev. Shannan Vance-Ocampo, PPF's Director of Colombia Programs, is currently in Colombia and was present for the launch of this report. "I have seen glimpses of grace in the midst of great trauma and pain in so many that we have met. The staff of FOR and Witness for Peace who are working tirelessly for human rights in Colombia are an inspiration—as they struggle to deal with the personal pain of holding so much information and seeing so much destruction on a daily basis." </p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;">Please take the time to read the <a href="http://forusa.org/colombia-report-2010">entire report</a>, which is well-documented and powerfully written, take action by <a href="http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/2507/action/colombia-certification">contacting Secretary of State Clinton</a>, and share it with others. </p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;"> If you would like to join a group that is working on closing U.S. Military Bases in Colombia, please write to <a href="mailto:ppfwitness@gmail.com">ppfwitness@gmail.com</a>. </p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;"> Peace, peace, though there is no peace, </p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;">Rick</p> <p> </p></td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> </table>

Take Action: SB1070 and New START

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 15:29:00 GMT

<html> <head> <title>Take Action: SB1070 and New START</title> </head> <body> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td align="center"><table width="600" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="main" style="border-width:1px;border-style:solid;border-color:#dfdfdf;" > <tr> <td class="header" valign="top" style="background-color:#12303c;padding-top:16px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-right:16px;padding-left:16px;" ><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td width="100" valign="top"><p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;color:#ffffff;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-right:0;padding-left:0;text-align:left;" ><strong>THIS ISSUE</strong></p></td> <td><ul style="list-style-type: none; padding:0; margin:0;"> <li style="padding-bottom:5px;"><a href="#1" style="color:#ffffff; text-decoration:none;">Solidarity Actions for AZ on July 29</a></li> <li style="padding-bottom:5px;"><a href="#2" style="color:#ffffff; text-decoration:none;">Take Action for Nuclear Disarmament</a></li> <li style="padding-bottom:5px;"><a href="#3" style="color:#ffffff; text-decoration:none;">Luke 6 Project Seeks Elder</a></li> </ul></td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="subheader" style="background-color:#1d2929;padding-top:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-right:10px;padding-left:30px;" ><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td align="left" valign="middle"><p class="title" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12px;font-weight:bold;color:#ffffff;text-align:left;" >The Presbyterian Peace Fellowship - Email Newsletter</p></td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="body" style="padding-top:30px;padding-bottom:20px;padding-right:20px;padding-left:20px;" ><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;">Three time-sensitive items in this issue. Thank you for your attention! </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="title"><p style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:28px;font-weight:normal;color:#161f1f;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:15px;padding-right:0;padding-left:0;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;text-align:left;" ><a name="1"></a> Solidarity Actions for AZ on July 29 </p></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="desc"><p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;padding:0;margin:0;text-align:left;" >Friends,</p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;"> During our General Assembly two weeks ago, the Presbyterian Church (USA) took action to make our grave concern about the Arizona immigration law known. With important leadership from several AZ pastors, the Assembly voted by more than 65% to refuse to hold meetings of the national church in the state of AZ until the law is changed. </p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;"> The call continues to go out from our sisters and brothers there to widen the response. To that end, I wanted to share the following information with all of you. </p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;">Stay tuned. I hope to get more news out about the Assembly within the next week or two. It was an amazing Assembly for those of us who are particularly concerned for the cause of peace, nonviolence, and justice. </p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;">Blessings,</p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;">Rick</p> <p> </p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;"><strong>Solidarity on July 29</strong></p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;">A national call has gone out from the National Interfaith Immigration Coalition to: </p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;">1) intensify solidarity with AZ on July 29. </p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;">2) use viglls, services, etc as a catalyst for strengthening local networks to organize around copy-cat legislation in various regions of the country. </p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;">In AZ we would like to be able to show the people and the press that <strong>people of faith from across the nation are praying, fasting, and sharing sacred time in opposition to SB1070 and all it implies</strong>. We kick off a day of significant action with an interfaith service at the Capitol 6:00 AM 7/29. </p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;">Services will continue throughout the state throughout the day as actions occur. Please let Rev. Phil Reller (<a href="mailto:preller1@cox.net">preller1@cox.net</a>) know if you are able to identify a congregation/partner in your area (or more broadly) to host an event, which might be as simple as opening doors for prayer to hosting an interfaith service. </p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;">Phil can send liturgical pieces from IWJ, UCC, AFSC—though they are encouraging local voices. </p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;">Please respond to Phil (<a href="mailto:preller1@cox.net">preller1@cox.net</a>) immediately if you can help! </p> <p> </p></td> </tr> </table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td class="title"><p style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:28px;font-weight:normal;color:#161f1f;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:15px;padding-right:0;padding-left:0;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;text-align:left;" ><a name="2"></a>Take Action for Nuclear Disarmament</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="desc"><p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;" > The Presbyterian Peace Fellowship, in consultation with Mark Koenig of the Presbyterian Peace Program, requests your action regarding the new START treaty that President Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed on April 8, 2010. Ratification requires approval first of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and then the support of at least 67 senators on the floor. </p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;"><strong>We ask you to write members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee immediately</strong> (it may come out of committee on July 27) <strong>and your own Senators before August 3</strong> (when it may come to a vote). </p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;">The Reverend Gradye Parsons, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) said, in reference to the NEW START, "This initiative resonates with the vision of the prophet Micah who looked toward the day when nations 'shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks' (Micah 4:3). Guided by this Biblical vision, General Assemblies of the church and its predecessors have understood that following Jesus and working for God's intended order and life abundant involve seeking international disarmament and arms control measures." </p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;">Working for a world free of nuclear weapons is a goal of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America that was first articulated by the 167th General Assembly in 1955. </p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;">Thank you for taking time to write your senators. </p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;"><a href="http://presbypeacefellowship.org/newSTART">Click here for more information</a> </p> <p> </p> </td> </tr> </table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td class="title"><p style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:28px;font-weight:normal;color:#161f1f;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:15px;padding-right:0;padding-left:0;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;text-align:left;" ><a name="3"></a>Luke 6 Project Seeks Elder</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="desc"><p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;" >The Luke 6 Project, a dispersed Christian community in formation, dedicated to the study and practice of nonviolence as a member of the Community of Living Traditions, seeks an Elder to give leadership to the work of the Luke 6 Project and coordinate its relationship to the Community of Living Traditions. The Elder will have a deep experiential and studied understanding of nonviolence as a way of living in the world and as a means of achieving God's Kingdom on Earth. <a href="http://www.stonypointcenter.org/staticpages/index.php?page=20100623152907285">Click here to learn more about this position</a> </p> <p> </p> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> </table>

General Assembly Report

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 17:23:00 GMT

<html> <head> <title>General Assembly Report</title> </head> <body> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td align="center"><table width="600" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="main" style="border-width:1px;border-style:solid;border-color:#dfdfdf;" > <tr> <td class="header" valign="top" style="background-color:#12303c;padding-top:16px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-right:16px;padding-left:16px;" ><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td width="100" valign="top"><p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;color:#ffffff;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-right:0;padding-left:0;text-align:left;" ><strong>THIS ISSUE</strong></p></td> <td><ul style="list-style-type: none; padding:0; margin:0;"> <li style="padding-bottom:5px;"><a href="#1" style="color:#ffffff; text-decoration:none;">General Assembly Report</a></li> </ul></td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="subheader" style="background-color:#1d2929;padding-top:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-right:10px;padding-left:30px;" ><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td align="left" valign="middle"><p class="title" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12px;font-weight:bold;color:#ffffff;text-align:left;" >The Presbyterian Peace Fellowship - Email Newsletter</p></td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="body" style="padding-top:30px;padding-bottom:20px;padding-right:20px;padding-left:20px;" ><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td class="title"><p style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:28px;font-weight:normal;color:#161f1f;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:15px;padding-right:0;padding-left:0;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;text-align:left;" ><a name="1"></a>General Assembly Report </p></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="desc"><p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;padding:0;margin:0;text-align:left;" >After a long week at the 219th General Assembly, the PC(USA) emerges with a stronger witness to justice and nonviolence. There is much to celebrate from this week, both in the policies that were adopted and the spirit in which many in our church wrestled with complex and difficult issues. </p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;">Jan Orr-Harter was on hand as our liason for press and media, and she reported throughout the week on the progress of those overtures and issues concerning peacemaking and the areas where PPF is most active. In this newsletter you will find her reports from throughout the week, following developments through committee work to the final decisions of the Assembly. Thank you, Jan! </p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;">We are filled with gratitude for those members of our National Committee who tirelessly coordinated PPF's work and presence at GA. And thank you to so many of you who advocated, accompanied, prayed, followed, listened, spoke, helped, carried, and worked so hard to help our church follow the way of Christ more faithfully.</p> <p> </p></td> </tr> </table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td class="title"><p style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:28px;font-weight:normal;color:#161f1f;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:15px;padding-right:0;padding-left:0;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;text-align:left;" >Monday: Committee 13 Recommends Overture Opposing War in Afghanistan</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="desc"><p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;" >After careful deliberation, On Monday July 5 Committee 13 on Peacemaking and International Issues approved by 49 to 2 an overture from Presbytery of Atlanta, as amended, opposing continued US military action in Afghanistan, supporting humanitarian and economic help for Afghanistan, a tabulation of war casualties and prayer and support for all involved, including US troops and their families. While numerous efforts were made to weaken the four overtures sent from presbyteries calling for US withdrawal, the committee in fact strengthened the statement by stating that the church "opposes the war in Afghanistan." <a href="http://presbypeacefellowship.org/node/327">Click here to read more</a> </p> <p> </p> </td> </tr> </table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td class="title"><p style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:28px;font-weight:normal;color:#161f1f;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:15px;padding-right:0;padding-left:0;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;text-align:left;" >Tuesday: Peace Overtures leave committees for plenary</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="desc"><p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;" >The committees have all finished their deliberations and have forwarded their proposals to the GA plenary for final votes. </p><p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;" >Big News: the Report in Committee 11 on Reducing Gun Violence passed the committee unanimously—and this one has some teeth in it in terms of specific congregational programs and direct action against the gun stores where weapons used in crimes tend to be sold. </p><p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;" >In Committee 14 on the Middle East, it's more complex... <br /><a href="http://presbypeacefellowship.org/node/329">Click here to read more</a> </p> <p> </p> </td> </tr> </table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td class="title"><p style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:28px;font-weight:normal;color:#161f1f;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:15px;padding-right:0;padding-left:0;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;text-align:left;" >Wednesday: The Peace Breakfast</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="desc"><p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;" >Last night, some 15 of us gathered in the hotel for cookies and milk and to collate the packets for our breakfast guests. Each received Tom Driver's sermon, "Accompaniment: The Great Theme of the Bible," as well as several brochures on aspects of our work, a sign-up slip and a bookmark from the Endowment Campaign. </p><p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;" >Today we held our PPF Peace Breakfast at the Hilton hotel in a full room with a strong and well-planned experience of our work and concerns—a tour de PPF.... <a href="http://presbypeacefellowship.org/node/330">Click here to read more</a> </p> <p> </p> </td> </tr> </table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td class="title"><p style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:28px;font-weight:normal;color:#161f1f;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:15px;padding-right:0;padding-left:0;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;text-align:left;" >Thursday: Reducing Gun Violence Report Passes Overwhelmingly - "We Await Results"</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="desc"><p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;" >With resounding support, the report 11-06, "Gun Violence, Gospel Values," passed in the final Assembly vote by a show of hands. PPF has supported this, and through PPF National Committee member Jim Atwood, played a critical role. The General Assembly News reported that Rev. Catherine Snyder, Presbyterian Campus minister at Virginia Tech, wept openly as the committee passed the report. Snyder counseled and consoled students and families following the horrific handgun murders committed there by a disturbed student, killing 32 persons in 2007. </p><p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;" >This action by GA has real teeth in it to help reverse the growing support for the proliferation of guns in the United States. It calls for a comprehensive program in liturgy, pastoral care, education, advocacy and direct action, including actions at gun stores identified as selling weapons frequently used in crimes. Churches are also asked to declare their properties as gun-free zones....<a href="http://presbypeacefellowship.org/node/331">Click here to read more</a> </p> <p> </p> </td> </tr> </table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td class="title"><p style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:28px;font-weight:normal;color:#161f1f;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:15px;padding-right:0;padding-left:0;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;text-align:left;" >Friday Afternoon: Middle East Issues</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="desc"><p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;" >Some of the toughest items were up today, Committee 14 on all issues related to the Middle East. </p><p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;" >On Iraq, the assembly voted down an effort to derail the overture and then voted overwhelmingly to support US withdrawal on the stated schedule for troops and contractors and for the establishment of no permanent US bases after our withdrawal. </p><p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;" >The Middle East Study Commitee report, "Breaking Down the Walls," was approved overwhelmingly with amendments and will go out to the church. It was juggled a bit to account for what many perceived as a lack of balance. It still contains positions <strong>calling for an end to the occupation, a freeze on Israeli settlements, an end to violence on all sides, resumption of peace negotiations with help from the US and others and an end to the blockade of non-military items into and out of Gaza</strong>—and many, many other helpful steps that can be taken by and within the church.... <a href="http://presbypeacefellowship.org/node/332">Click here to read more</a> </p> <p> </p> </td> </tr> </table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td class="title"><p style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:28px;font-weight:normal;color:#161f1f;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:15px;padding-right:0;padding-left:0;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;text-align:left;" >Friday Evening: Peacemaking Issues</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="desc"><p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;" >The long-awaited GA plenary session on Peacemaking and International Issues came and went, with excellent results, but not quite as we expected the process to go. <strong>We'll take the results.</strong> </p><p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;" >On the war in Afghanistan, amendments were added to remember the 9-11 victims and their families and the US troops and their families. Personally, I think there should have been something already in the overture addressing these concerns. Even though the US was involved in Afghanistan long before 9-11, this wound pains us and needs focus from a peacemaking perspective. <strong>The overture passed overwhelmingly, stating clearly that the PC(USA) opposes the war in Afghanistan and calls for only non-military actions and a withdrawal of troops....</strong> <a href="http://presbypeacefellowship.org/node/335">Click here to read more</a> </p> <p> </p> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> </table>

Jewish Ship to Gaza

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 22:08:00 GMT

<html> <head> <title>Jewish Ship to Gaza</title> </head> <body> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td align="center"><table width="600" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="main" style="border-width:1px;border-style:solid;border-color:#dfdfdf;" > <tr> <td class="header" valign="top" style="background-color:#12303c;padding-top:16px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-right:16px;padding-left:16px;" ><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td width="100" valign="top"><p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;color:#ffffff;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-right:0;padding-left:0;text-align:left;" ><strong>THIS ISSUE</strong></p></td> <td><ul style="list-style-type: none; padding:0; margin:0;"> <li style="padding-bottom:5px;"><a href="#1" style="color:#ffffff; text-decoration:none;">Jewish Ship to Gaza</a></li> </ul></td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="subheader" style="background-color:#1d2929;padding-top:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-right:10px;padding-left:30px;" ><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td align="left" valign="middle"><p class="title" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12px;font-weight:bold;color:#ffffff;text-align:left;" >The Presbyterian Peace Fellowship - Email Newsletter</p></td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="body" style="padding-top:30px;padding-bottom:20px;padding-right:20px;padding-left:20px;" ><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td class="title"><p style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:28px;font-weight:normal;color:#161f1f;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:15px;padding-right:0;padding-left:0;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;text-align:left;" ><a name="1"></a>Jewish Ship to Gaza </p></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="desc"><p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;padding:0;margin:0;text-align:left;" > The blockade of Gaza has been very much in the news after the flotilla with humanitarian supplies was attacked by Israel on May 31. The PPF National Committee has been working on an appropriate response; last week we decided that we would make a significant donation to a project that is being organized by German and other European Jews, the "Jewish Ship to Gaza."</p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;"> Their press release states:<br /> <blockquote>"Our purpose is to call an end to the siege of Gaza, to this illegal collective punishment of the whole civilian population. Our boat is small, so our donations can only be symbolic: We are taking school bags filled with donations from German school children, musical instruments and art materials. We are taking essential medicines and small items of medical equipment, and for the fishermen we are taking nets and tackle. We are liaising with the medical, educational and mental health services in Gaza."</blockquote> </p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;"> They are also "sending a call to the leaders of the world to help Israel find its way back to reason, a sense of humanity and a life without fear." </p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;">They plan to embark in the next 4 to 6 weeks on this nonviolent humanitarian effort. </p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;">For further information about this, you may go to their website for the English version: http://jewish-ship-to-gaza.jimdo.com/home/home/ </p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;">In keeping with PPF's emphasis both to act and to speak, we support this action, and we hope to have a representative on the boat if possible. We also have written a statement about the boat and the whole issue of the blockade and the urgent call for a solution to both Palestinian and Israeli needs. </p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;">Our goal is to raise $10,000 as a significant participation in this action. We now have pledges totalling $5,710 from 22 PPFers. If you would like to take part in this, with a gift above and beyond your regular support for PPF, please send your contribution to </p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;"><blockquote>Presbyterian Peace Fellowship<br /> 17 Cricketown Rd<br /> Stony Point NY 10980<br /> <br /> On the memo line please write "Jewish ship to Gaza."</blockquote></p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;"> We wish to have the full amount in hand or pledged before the General Assembly begins on July 3, and to have a press conference announcing this action, and presenting a press statement. We'll also emphasize our very important <strong>"Principles to Guide our Work: The Conflict between Israel and Palestine,"</strong> which is <a href="http://presbypeacefellowship.org/resources/principles">on our website</a></p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;"> There are quite a few other aspects of this whole situation; if you have questions, you may direct them to Len Bjorkman <a href="mailto:LenandJudy@stny.rr.com">LenandJudy@stny.rr.com</a>.</p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;"> Finally, because we wish to have the major announcement at the press conference, we'd appreciate it if you would be very careful about sharing this with others. Obviously, you may know someone who would really like to take part. But please do not share this on any general list. </p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;"><em>By the way, if it turns out that they are not able to sail, we will work out with them if they are able to return any amount. They have gone into personal debt to fund this. In a real sense, we're all in this together.</em> </p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;">The Presbyterian Peace Fellowship</p> <p> </p></td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> </table>

Special Issue: PPF at General Assembly

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 23:16:00 GMT

<html> <head> <title>Special Issue: PPF at General Assembly</title> </head> <body> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td align="center"><table width="600" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="main" style="border-width:1px;border-style:solid;border-color:#dfdfdf;" > <tr> <td class="header" valign="top" style="background-color:#12303c;padding-top:16px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-right:16px;padding-left:16px;" ><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td width="100" valign="top"><p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;color:#ffffff;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-right:0;padding-left:0;text-align:left;" ><strong>THIS ISSUE</strong></p></td> <td><ul style="list-style-type: none; padding:0; margin:0;"> <li style="padding-bottom:5px;"><a href="#1" style="color:#ffffff; text-decoration:none;">PPF at the 219th General Assembly</a></li> <li style="padding-bottom:5px;"><a href="#2" style="color:#ffffff; text-decoration:none;">The Peace Breakfast</a></li> <li style="padding-bottom:5px;"><a href="#3" style="color:#ffffff; text-decoration:none;">Peacemaking Advocacy</a></li> <li style="padding-bottom:5px;"><a href="#4" style="color:#ffffff; text-decoration:none;">Volunteer Opportunities</a></li> <li style="padding-bottom:5px;"><a href="#5" style="color:#ffffff; text-decoration:none;">Booth Conversations</a></li> </ul></td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="subheader" style="background-color:#1d2929;padding-top:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-right:10px;padding-left:30px;" ><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td align="left" valign="middle"><p class="title" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12px;font-weight:bold;color:#ffffff;text-align:left;" >The Presbyterian Peace Fellowship - Email Newsletter: Special General Assembly Issue</p></td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="body" style="padding-top:30px;padding-bottom:20px;padding-right:20px;padding-left:20px;" ><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td class="title"><p style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:28px;font-weight:normal;color:#161f1f;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:15px;padding-right:0;padding-left:0;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;text-align:left;" ><a name="1"></a>Join Us at General Assembly in Minneapolis July 2-10 </p></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="desc"><p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;padding:0;margin:0;text-align:left;" >Friends,</p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;">Will you be attending the 219th General Assembly this July? The Presbyterian Peace Fellowship will be there! We will be hosting the Peace Breakfast, giving testimony in committee hearings, and staffing one of the busiest booths in the exhibit hall. If you will be there as a commissioner, advisory delegate, overture advocate, official participant of any type, or observer, please let us know. Send an email to <a href="mailto:ga@presbypeacefellowship.org">ga@presbypeacefellowship.org</a>. If you can not join us in Minneapolis, please forward this enews to friends who might be attending. </p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;">The General Assembly Arrangements Team<br /> <em>Peggy Howland, Shannan Vance-Ocampo, Christine Caton, MaryAnn Harwell, Marilyn White, Jan Orr-Harter</em></p> <p> </p></td> </tr> </table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td class="title"><p style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:28px;font-weight:normal;color:#161f1f;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:15px;padding-right:0;padding-left:0;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;text-align:left;" ><a name="2"></a>The Peace Breakfast </p></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="desc"><p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;" > Do you have your tickets yet? You want to be sure to get them and not to miss out on this great opportunity to gather at General Assembly with leading peacemakers in our denomination and beyond! </p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px; text-align:center;"><strong>"Faith, Conscience, and War"</strong><br /> Wednesday July 7, 2010<br /> 6:45am at the Hilton Minneapolis<br /> 1001 Marquette Avenue South </p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;">Speaker: <strong>Camilo Mejía</strong>, President of Iraq Veterans Against the War<br /> Peaceseeker Awards: 2009 to <strong>Bill Galvin</strong> for work with Conscientious Objectors<br /> 2010 to <strong>Mel Duncan</strong>, co-founder of Nonviolent Peaceforce </p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;"><a href="http://presbypeacefellowship.org/peacebreakfast">Click here for information on ordering tickets.</a> <strong>Deadline to order by mail is June 24. Deadline for online ticket sales on the PC(USA) website is June 14.</strong> </p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;">E-mail inquiries to Shannan Vance-Ocampo at <a href="mailto:svanceocampo@yahoo.com">svanceocampo@yahoo.com</a> </p> <p> </p> </td> </tr> </table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td class="title"><p style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:28px;font-weight:normal;color:#161f1f;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:15px;padding-right:0;padding-left:0;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;text-align:left;" ><a name="3"></a> Peacemaking Advocacy </p></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="desc"><p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;" >Attention Commissioners and Advisory Delegates: The 2010 General Assembly has a large number of peacemaking issues on its agenda. We have prepared short <a href="http://presbypeacefellowship.org/GA2010">briefing papers</a> that we hope will be helpful to Committees 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, and 14. We also have a <a href="http://presbypeacefellowship.org/files/GA2010/GABriefing.pdf">general review</a> of peacemaking issues. <a href="http://presbypeacefellowship.org/GA2010">Please see the GA section of our website</a> for a copy of these useful guides to the committee business dockets. <a href="mailto:ga@presbypeacefellowship.org">Send us an email</a> to let us know about your committee assignment and let us know how we can support your important work. </p> <p> </p> </td> </tr> </table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td class="title"><p style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:28px;font-weight:normal;color:#161f1f;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:15px;padding-right:0;padding-left:0;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;text-align:left;" ><a name="4"></a> Volunteer Opportunities </p></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="desc"><p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;" > PPF needs and welcomes volunteers for our General Assembly witness. Can you help with set up and hosting for the Peace Breakfast? Can you run errands or provide other assistance for our exhibit hall booth staff? </p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;"> We especially need volunteers for our peacemaking advocacy work in six committees on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. If you are willing to provide a two-minute witness to the importance of peacemaking initiatives related to Afghanistan, Colombia, Iraq, Israel/Palestine, or the future direction of peacemaking in the church, then we can assist you with talking points and help coordinate your testimony with other advocates. We are also looking for observers to track the work of these six committees. If you have a couple of hours or if you have a couple of days to follow the work of a committee, then we urge you to join our GA advocacy team. </p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;">Our GA press coordinator, Jan Orr-Harter, welcomes volunteer help to document PPF activities throughout the week with photos, video, and short articles. </p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;">To volunteer at GA, please email <a href="mailto:ga@presbypeacefellowship.org">ga@presbypeacefellowship.org</a> today. </p> <p> </p> </td> </tr> </table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td class="title"><p style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:28px;font-weight:normal;color:#161f1f;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:15px;padding-right:0;padding-left:0;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;text-align:left;" ><a name="5"></a> Booth Conversations</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="desc"><p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;" >We have invited several outstanding peace leaders to join us in the exhibit hall during the week. Please come meet them and join the discussion! </p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;"><strong>Booth #631 in the Exhibit Hall</strong> </p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;">Monday, July 5 2:00 PM<br /> <strong>"Heeding God's Call: Preventing Gun Violence in the US"</strong><br /> Rick Ufford-Chase, Executive Director of Peace Fellowship </p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;">Tuesday, July 6 10:00 AM<br /> <strong>"The Face of Accompaniment in Colombia: New Directions and Opportunities for Ministry"</strong><br /> Shannan Vance-Ocampo, Director of Colombia Programs and Sarah Henken, Former Accompaniment Coordinator </p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;">Tuesday, July 6 2:30 PM<br /> <strong>"A Ministry of Conscience: Working with Conscience Objectors"</strong><br /> Bill Galvin, 2009 Peaceseeker Award Recipient and Counseling Coordinator at the Center on Conscience and War </p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;">Wednesday, July 7 10:00 To 11:00 AM<br /> <strong>Dialogue with the Peace Breakfast Speaker on "Faith, Conscience, and War"</strong><br /> Camilo Mejía, President of Iraq Veterans Against the War and author of the book, Road from Ar Ramadi: The Private Rebellion of Staff Sergeant Mejía </p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;">Wednesday, July 7 2:00 PM<br /> <strong>"Nonviolent Peaceforce: Building an Unarmed Civilian Peacekeeping Force"</strong><br /> Mel Duncan, 2010 Peaceseeker Honoree and Co-Founder of Nonviolent Peaceforce </p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;"><em>*Please Check At The PPF Booth For Updates On This Schedule.</em> </p> <p> </p> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> </table>

Principles to Guide Our Work on Israel/Palestine

Thu, 27 May 2010 15:37:00 GMT

<html> <head> <title>Principles to Guide Our Work on Israel/Palestine</title> </head> <body> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td align="center"><table width="600" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="main" style="border-width:1px;border-style:solid;border-color:#dfdfdf;" > <tr> <td class="header" valign="top" style="background-color:#12303c;padding-top:16px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-right:16px;padding-left:16px;" ><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td width="100" valign="top"><p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;color:#ffffff;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-right:0;padding-left:0;text-align:left;" ><strong>THIS ISSUE</strong></p></td> <td><ul style="list-style-type: none; padding:0; margin:0;"> <li style="padding-bottom:5px;"><a href="#1" style="color:#ffffff; text-decoration:none;">Principles to Guide Our Work on Israel/Palestine</a></li> <li style="padding-bottom:5px;"><a href="#2" style="color:#ffffff; text-decoration:none;">General Assembly Resources</a></li> <li style="padding-bottom:5px;"><a href="#3" style="color:#ffffff; text-decoration:none;">Conference Call Reminder</a></li> </ul></td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="subheader" style="background-color:#1d2929;padding-top:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-right:10px;padding-left:30px;" ><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td align="left" valign="middle"><p class="title" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12px;font-weight:bold;color:#ffffff;text-align:left;" >The Presbyterian Peace Fellowship - Email Newsletter</p></td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="body" style="padding-top:30px;padding-bottom:20px;padding-right:20px;padding-left:20px;" ><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td class="title"><p style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:28px;font-weight:normal;color:#161f1f;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:15px;padding-right:0;padding-left:0;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;text-align:left;" ><a name="1"></a>Principles to Guide Our Work on Israel/Palestine </p></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="desc"><p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;padding:0;margin:0;text-align:left;" >Friends,</p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;"> The Presbyterian Peace Fellowship has created a statement titled "<a href="http://www.presbypeacefellowship.org/resources/principles">Principles to Guide our Work: The Conflict between Israel and Palestine</a>." This document is intended both to ground our own work in this area, and also to offer guidance for others, including commissioners and advisory delegates to the 219th General Assembly. It was approved by the National Committee of the PPF on May 24th. </p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;"> I commend it to you. It represents many years of combined experience of our members who have worked and lived in the Middle East, and a decade of intentional, thoughtful and prayerful engagement by the organization as a whole. </p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;"> We encourage you to <a href="http://www.presbypeacefellowship.org/resources/principles">share this document</a> widely with friends and colleagues. </p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;"> Peace to you, </p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;">Rick</p> <p> </p></td> </tr> </table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td class="title"><p style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:28px;font-weight:normal;color:#161f1f;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:15px;padding-right:0;padding-left:0;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;text-align:left;" ><a name="2"></a>General Assembly Resources</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="desc"><p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;" >We've been updating our website with current information on tickets for the peace breakfast, overtures, and analysis. <a href="http://www.presbypeacefellowship.org/GA2010">Click here to visit our website</a> </p> <p> </p> </td> </tr> </table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td class="title"><p style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:28px;font-weight:normal;color:#161f1f;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:15px;padding-right:0;padding-left:0;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;text-align:left;" ><a name="3"></a>Conference Call Reminder</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="desc"><p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;" >If you would like to get involved with our effort to reduce gun violence by supporting and expanding the work of <em>Heeding God's Call</em>, please send an email ppfwitness@gmail.com to let us know. We will respond with the information you will need to participate in a <strong>conference call on Wednesday night, June 2, at 9:00 Eastern Time</strong>. </p> <p> </p> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> </table>

Heeding God's Call

Wed, 19 May 2010 00:34:00 GMT

<table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td align="center"><table width="600" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="main" style="border-width:1px;border-style:solid;border-color:#dfdfdf;" > <tr> <td class="header" valign="top" style="background-color:#12303c;padding-top:16px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-right:16px;padding-left:16px;" ><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td width="100" valign="top"><p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;color:#ffffff;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-right:0;padding-left:0;text-align:left;" ><strong>THIS ISSUE</strong></p></td> <td><ul style="list-style-type: none; padding:0; margin:0;"> <li style="padding-bottom:5px;"><a href="#1" style="color:#ffffff; text-decoration:none;">Gun Violence: Heeding God's Call</a></li> <li style="padding-bottom:5px;"><a href="#2" style="color:#ffffff; text-decoration:none;">What Happened at the Convocation</a></li> </ul></td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="subheader" style="background-color:#1d2929;padding-top:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-right:10px;padding-left:30px;" ><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td align="left" valign="middle"><p class="title" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12px;font-weight:bold;color:#ffffff;text-align:left;" >The Presbyterian Peace Fellowship - Email Newsletter</p></td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="body" style="padding-top:30px;padding-bottom:20px;padding-right:20px;padding-left:20px;" ><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td class="title"><p style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:28px;font-weight:normal;color:#1d2929;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:15px;padding-right:0;padding-left:0;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;text-align:left;" ><a name="1"></a>Gun Violence: Heeding God's Call</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="desc"><p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;padding:0;margin:0;text-align:left;" >Friends,</p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;" >The National Committee of the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship has spent the last six months discerning how to get more deeply involved in the work of preventing gun violence in communities here in the United States. We have made a decision that we would like to partner with a project called "Heeding God's Call" that started last year in Philadelphia.</p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;" >Heeding God's Call is a partnership between urban and suburban churches who band together to ask gun dealers to sign onto an agreement that they will act responsibly. If dealers refuse to do so, the churches organize to use nonviolent direct action to call attention to the irresponsibility of the gun store owners. HGC is interested in expanding into other communities across the country, and is looking for partners like the PPF to do so. </p><p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;" >If you would like to get involved with our effort to support and expand the work of Heeding God's call, please send an email ppfwitness@gmail.com to let us know. We will respond with the information you will need to participate in a <strong>conference call on Wednesday night, June 2, at 9:00 Eastern Time</strong>. </p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;" >Rick</p> <p> </p></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="title"><p style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:28px;font-weight:normal;color:#1d2929;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:15px;padding-right:0;padding-left:0;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;text-align:left;" ><a name="2"></a>What Happened at the Convocation</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="desc"> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;" >The Convocation of Peacemakers at Stony Point Center was a very rich event. Keynote speaker Dr. Obery Hendricks challenged us to expand our understanding of violence to include systemic systems of violence that impact communities of color in the United States, and to demonstrate similar commitment to employ the tactics of nonviolent direct action to respond to that kind of violence. Those who attended committed themselves to work to prevent gun violence, a renewed commitment to the Colombia Accompaniment Program, and to develop a clear, unequivocal voice insisting that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan must come to an end. </p> <p style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#282828;line-height:18px;" >Take a couple of minutes to check out the <a href="http://www.presbypeacefellowship.org/node/309">great video</a> produced by Andrew Patterson! If you want to join in the work that's going on, check out our social networking site at <a href="http://network.presbypeacefellowship.org/pg/groups/5557/convocation-of-peacemakers/">network.presbypeacefellowship.org</a>.</p> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> </table>

Recommitting to Colombia Accompaniment

Wed, 14 Apr 2010 01:47:00 GMT

<html> <head> <title>Recommitting to Colombia Accompaniment</title> </head> <body> <div style="float: right; width: 200px; border: 1px solid black; margin: 0 0 10px 10px;"> <h3 style="font-size: 120%; background-color: #520C79; color: white; border-bottom: 1px solid black; padding-left: 5px; margin-top: 0;" >Also in this email:</h3> <ul> <li><a href="#1">The Convocation Online</a></li> <li><a href="#2">Take Action against Nuclear Weapons</a></li> </ul> </div> <h2 style="font-size: 130%; color: #3D095A;" >From Rick</h2> <p>Friends,</p> <p> I spent Maundy Thursday with a binational delegation of Colombians and folks from the United States in a little farming community called Via Blanca, about an hour outside of the city of Barranquilla, on the Atlantic Coast of Colombia. After sharing a meal of "Sancocho," we gathered around a small, hastily assembled shrine made up of a cross and an open Bible, a machete and a variety of hoes and shovels, a number of bowls filled with fruit and vegetables harvested on the land, and a stole draped over the entire thing. One by one, each person chose an item and spoke to its significance for the community and for the people of God. It was a moment, for me, of recommitment to the work of accompaniment in Colombia. </p> <p> After a week of bible study, theological reflection, political analysis and thoughtful evaluation of the first five years of the Colombia Accompaniment Program, what is most clear to me is that our partnership with the Presbyterian Church of Colombia is rock solid and that our work together continues. Our brothers and sisters there are clear about their commitment to confront violence, to accompany the communities of displaced persons within Colombia, and to work to construct a culture of peace. Their conviction is compelling, and we from the United States affirmed that our work will continue to be to stand with them. </p> <p> If you're interested in the specifics of our conversation, you can find an English version of our report on our website. <a href="http://presbypeacefellowship.org/files/Accompaniment%20Program%20Work%20Plan%202010-2011.pdf">Click here to download (pdf)</a>. </p> <p> Let us know if you'd like to become an accompanier! Next training will be in September. </p> <p>Rick</p> <a name="1"></a> <h3 style="font-size: 120%; background-color: #520C79; color: white; border-bottom: 1px solid black; padding-left: 5px;" >Join the Convocation of Peacemakers Online!</h3> <p> Over 70 Peacemakers will be arriving soon at Stony Point Center for the Convocation of Peacemakers, an event that promises to be transformative for PPF and the larger church. Please keep us in your prayers. Whether or not you are able to attend, please consider joining the conversations during and after the event through the group page on our <a href="http://network.presbypeacefellowship.org/pg/groups/5557/convocation-of-peacemakers/">Network website</a>. </p> <a name="2"></a> <h3 style="font-size: 120%; background-color: #520C79; color: white; border-bottom: 1px solid black; padding-left: 5px;" >Take Action to Reduce Nuclear Weapons</h3> <p> Consider taking a moment to <a href="http://act.peaceactionwest.org/peaceactionwest/issues/alert/?alertid=14908696&type=CO">contact your senators</a> to encourage them to ratify the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START). This treaty is an important step in reducing nuclear weapons and creating a more peaceful world. <a href="http://act.peaceactionwest.org/peaceactionwest/issues/alert/?alertid=14908696&type=CO">Click here to send your senators a message</a>. </p>

Holy Week in Colombia

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 00:58:00 GMT

<html> <head> <title>Holy Week in Colombia</title> </head> <body> <div style="float: right; width: 200px; border: 1px solid black; margin: 0 0 10px 10px;"> <h3 style="font-size: 120%; background-color: #520C79; color: white; border-bottom: 1px solid black; padding-left: 5px; margin-top: 0;" >In this email:</h3> <ul> <li><a href="#1">General Assembly</a></li> <li><a href="#2">Convocation Update</a></li> <li><a href="#3">Speakers</a></li> <li><a href="#4">Upcoming Events</a></li> </ul> </div> <h2 style="font-size: 130%; color: #3D095A;" >From Rick</h2> <p>Friends,</p> <p> During Holy Week, I will be traveling to Barranquilla, Colombia with a delegation of folks who have been Human Rights Accompaniers over the last five years, since the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship first partnered with the Presbyterian Church of Colombia and the PC(USA). Since the fall of 2004, the PPF has trained more than 100 volunteers, well over fifty of whom have deployed for a month or more of volunteer service. It is impossible to judge the economic value of that volunteer witness, but the payoff in terms of deep and trusting relationships has been unbelievably rich. You can read the stories of many of those accompaniers <a href="http://www.presbypeacefellowship.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/list/colombia">here</a>. </p> <p> For the past six months we've been carrying out a careful evaluation of the accompaniment program. That evaluation will culminate in our trip to Barranquilla to meet with our partners for theological reflection and celebration of our work together thus far. We'll visit many of the places our volunteers have spent time, worship with our partner churches, and plan for the next steps on our work together. </p> <p> Please hold us in prayer as you journey toward Jerusalem during Holy Week. </p> <p>Rick</p> <a name="1"></a> <h3 style="font-size: 120%; background-color: #520C79; color: white; border-bottom: 1px solid black; padding-left: 5px;" >General Assembly</h3> <p> <ul> <li> Join us for the <strong>Peace Breakfast</strong> <a href="http://www.presbypeacefellowship.org/peacebreakfast">Click here for full details</a>. </li><li> <strong>Peace Overtures:</strong><a href="http://www.presbypeacefellowship.org/GA2010/overtures/afghanistan">Five overtures on the War in Afghanistan</a>, and <a href="http://www.presbypeacefellowship.org/GA2010/overtures/nonviolence">an overture calling the church to nonviolence</a>. </li><li> If you're planning to attend GA, PPF has some lower-cost <strong>hotel rooms</strong> still available. If you're interested, please contact MaryAnn Harwell at <a href="mailto:maryann@presbypeacefellowship.org">maryann@presbypeacefellowship.org</a>. </li><li>If you'd like to <strong>help us</strong> at GA, please contact Peggy Howland at <a href="mailto:peghowland@aol.com">peghowland@aol.com</a></li> </ul> </p> <a name="2"></a> <h3 style="font-size: 120%; background-color: #520C79; color: white; border-bottom: 1px solid black; padding-left: 5px;" >Convocation of Peacemakers update</h3> <p> Over 40 people from around the country have already registered for the <a href="http://www.presbypeacefellowship.org/node/277">Convocation of Peacemakers</a> on April 15-17 at Stony Point Center. It's not too late to register, and there is still room for more at this table! If you can't be with us, please support this group of peacemakers in your prayers as they discern the movement of the Spirit in their lives and in the life of the church.</p> <a name="3"></a> <h3 style="font-size: 120%; background-color: #520C79; color: white; border-bottom: 1px solid black; padding-left: 5px;" >Speakers Bureau</h3> <p> We've recently updated our Speakers Bureau to feature two new speakers who can inform, enlighten, and inspire your congregation or organization. Tim Simpson and Parrish Jones both bring personal passion and intellectual rigor to their presentations and can speak to a variety of topics concerning the work of nonviolence in the church. We're particularly excited about their expertise on Nonviolence in Early Christianity, in light of National Capital Presbytery's recent <a href="http://www.presbypeacefellowship.org/GA2010/overtures/nonviolence">overture to GA</a>. </p> <a name="4"></a> <h3 style="font-size: 120%; background-color: #520C79; color: white; border-bottom: 1px solid black; padding-left: 5px;" >Upcoming Events</h3> <p> <ul><li><a href="http://presbypeacefellowship.org/node/277" title="Convocation of Peacemakers">Convocation of Peacemakers</a> <span class="event-timeleft">(April 15-17, 2010)</span></li><li><a href="http://presbypeacefellowship.org/node/287" title="Crossing Borders, Encountering God">Crossing Borders, Encountering God</a> <span class="event-timeleft">(April 15-17, 2010)</span></li><li><a href="http://presbypeacefellowship.org/peacebreakfast" title="Peace Breakfast">Peace Breakfast</a> <span class="event-timeleft">(July 7, 2010)</span></li><li><a href="http://presbypeacefellowship.org/node/289" title="We're All in This Together: Confronting the Structures of Injustice">We're All in This Together: Confronting the Structures of Injustice</a> <span class="event-timeleft">(July 26-August 1, 2010)</span></li><li><a href="http://presbypeacefellowship.org/node/295" title="Songs of Peace and Justice">Songs of Peace and Justice</a> <span class="event-timeleft">(October 10 -14, 2010)</span></li><li><a href="http://presbypeacefellowship.org/node/288" title="Consultation and Encounter: the Presbyterians of Iraq, Syria and Lebanon">Consultation and Encounter: the Presbyterians of Iraq, Syria and Lebanon</a> <span class="event-timeleft">(November 5-19, 2010)</span></li></ul> </p>

An overture on nonviolence

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:51:00 GMT

<html> <head> <title>An overture on nonviolence</title> </head> <body> <div style="float: right; width: 200px; border: 1px solid black; margin: 0 0 10px 10px;"> <h3 style="font-size: 120%; background-color: #520C79; color: white; border-bottom: 1px solid black; padding-left: 5px; margin-top: 0;" >In this email:</h3> <ul> <li><a href="#1">Peace Breakfast</a></li> <li><a href="#2">Convocation Update</a></li> <li><a href="#3">Delegations with CPT</a></li> <li><a href="#4">Peace Internship</a></li> <li><a href="#5">Peace Overtures to GA</a></li> </ul> </div> <h2 style="font-size: 130%; color: #3D095A;" >From Rick</h2> <p>Colleagues,</p> <p> National Capital Presbytery, at the urging of Clarendon Presbyterian Church in Arlington, VA, has passed what I believe may be the most important overture to this year's General Assembly, at least for those of us who are peacemakers. They have asked the PC(USA) to enter into a six-year long "period of discernment" about how we will respond to growing violence in our world in the 21rst Century. The overture asks for four years of study, to be presented to the General Assembly in 2014 and then shared broadly across the church for the following two years, with the hope that our denomination will vote on this potentially historic shift in emphasis in 2016. </p> <p> <a href="http://presbypeacefellowship.org/GA2010/overtures/nonviolence">The Overture</a> is carefully crafted, historically grounded, and thoughtful in its invitation to the church to consider this matter together over a period of years. The session of Clarendon was bold and prophetic in issuing this call. I invite you to share the overture with friends in your own congregation and presbytery, and to join me in prayer for it's affirmation by the General Assembly this summer. </p> <p> Makes me proud to be Presbyterian. </p> <p>Rick</p> <a name="1"></a> <h3 style="font-size: 120%; background-color: #520C79; color: white; border-bottom: 1px solid black; padding-left: 5px;" >Peace Breakfast at General Assembly</h3> <p> If you are planning to attend General Assembly this summer, please also plan to join us and peacemakers across our denomination at the Peace Breakfast on Wednesday, July 7th. Camilo Mejía, President of Iraq Veterans Against the War, will be our keynote speaker. Peaceseeker Awards will be presented to Bill Galvin for work with Conscientious Objectors, and to Mel Duncan, co-founder of Nonviolent PeaceForce. For more information and tickets, please <a href="http://presbypeacefellowship.org/peacebreakfast">visit our website</a>. </p> <a name="2"></a> <h3 style="font-size: 120%; background-color: #520C79; color: white; border-bottom: 1px solid black; padding-left: 5px;" >Convocation of Peacemakers Update</h3> <p> On April 15-17, Peacemakers from all over the country are gathering at Stony Point for a strategic meeting. How does our call to peacemaking and nonviolence manifest itself in our work? If you want to find new ways to live out your calling as a peacemaker and work with others who want the same thing, please join us for three days that could change your life, our organization, and the church. </p> <p>The format will flow from keynotes and workshops to open conversation and strategic planning, all of which will be surrounded by worship. For full details, <a href="http://presbypeacefellowship.org/node/277">click here</a>. </p> <p> Workshops to educate, empower, and inspire will include: <ul> <li>Transforming Military Exports: U.S. Military Bases & Training and Global Strategies to Resist Them </li> <li>Afghanistan: If War is Not the Answer, Then What Is?</li> <li>Peace in Our Streets: Approaches to Reducing Violence in the U.S.</li> <li>Nonviolent Accompaniment with the Church in Colombia</li> <li>An Interfaith Conversation about Israel/Palestine</li> <li>Peacemaking and the Arts</li> </ul> </p> <p> <em>Schedule:</em> </p> <h4>Thursday, April 15</h4> <p> <strong>Arrival</strong> – 5:00 pm, Dinner, Worship and Open Space Sessions </p> <p>   </p> <h4>Friday, April 16</h4> <p> <strong>Morning</strong> Breakfast, Keynote Address #1, Obery Hendricks </p> <p> <strong>Afternoon</strong> Lunch, Workshops on Skill-Building and Current PPF Work </p> <p> <strong>Evening</strong> Dinner, Keynote Address #2 and Worship </p> <p>   </p> <h4>Saturday, April 17</h4> <p> <strong>Morning</strong> Breakfast, Organizing & Action Groups </p> <p> <strong>Afternoon</strong> Lunch, Closing Worship, Departure – 3 p.m. </p> <a name="3"></a> <h3 style="font-size: 120%; background-color: #520C79; color: white; border-bottom: 1px solid black; padding-left: 5px;" >Delegations with Christian Peacemaker Teams</h3> <p> Christian Peacemaker Teams has been a valued partner of PPF for years. Delegations travel to places around the world where local people have invited CPT to provide a nonviolent presence. Consider one of these journeys to witness the power of Christian Nonviolence in places of severe conflict, and prepare to be transformed: </p> <p> <strong>COLOMBIA:</strong> DATES: May 12-25, July 14-27, and September 15-28, 2010.<br /> Based in Bogota, Barrancabermeja, and a rural community in southern Bolivar province. <br />Fundraising expectation: $1900 US / $2200 Canadian. </p> <p> <strong>IRAQ (Kurdish North):</strong>DATES: October 14-28 (apply by September 1), 2010.<br /> Based in Suleimaniyah in the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) region, with visits to outlying areas such as displaced persons camps and border villages. <br />Fundraising expectation: $2900 US or $3100 Canadian. </p> <p> <strong>PALESTINE / ISRAEL:</strong> DATES: May 18-31, July 20-August 2, October 5-18, and November 16-29, 2010. Special delegation, Reformed Church in America/Christian Reformed Church in North America, April 6-19, 2010.<br /> Based in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, the city of Hebron, and the village of At-Tuwani in the South Hebron Hills. <br />Fundraising expectation: $2750 US / $2950 Canadian. </p> <p> *** </p> <p> Delegates will meet with various individuals and groups such as human rights organizations, government officials, displaced persons and local residents, to gain perspective on the current situation. They will spend some time with CPT's long-term team and get a taste of CPT's work of human rights documentation and accompaniment, and join with local partners in public witness or advocacy against the structural violence. Some physical rigors are involved with most of the delegations, such as hiking in rough, muddy, or hilly terrain and generally long days. </p> <p> Round-trip airfare from a designated U.S. or Canadian city, all on-ground travel, two to three meals a day, simple accommodations, and all honorariums and delegation fees are covered. Those planning to travel from other than the U.S. or Canada, contact the CPT office for more information. </p> <p> For more information, contact Christian Peacemaker Teams, phone 773-376-0550; fax 773-376-0549; e-mail <a href="mailto:delegations@cpt.org">delegations@cpt.org</a>, or see CPT's website at: <a href="http://cpt.org/participate/delegation/schedule">http://cpt.org/participate/delegation/schedule</a> </p> <a name="4"></a> <h3 style="font-size: 120%; background-color: #520C79; color: white; border-bottom: 1px solid black; padding-left: 5px;" >Multifiath Peace Internship at Stony Point Center</h3> <h4>Farm the Land, Grow the Spirit: A Multifaith Peace Internship </h4> <p>Ages 18 to 28 <br /> July 6-31, 2010 </p> <p>Live in an intentional multifaith residential community, study non- violence and faith-based community organizing, plant and tend CLT* gardens, enjoy hiking, kayaking, drumming, ropes course, big puppet making and good food. Interns will co-create their time together with elders from each tradition and will support CLT's* Multifaith Family Peace Camp at Stony Point Center, July 25-31. </p><p> If you are interested, please contact Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb at lgottlieb@stonypointcenter.org. Interns will receive a $300 Stipend and room and board. They are responsible for their own travel to and from Stony Point Center. </p><p> For more information, please <a href="http://www.stonypointcenter.org/staticpages/index.php?page=20091020215409370">click here</a>. </p><p> *Sponsored by the <a href="http://www.stonypointcenter.org/staticpages/index.php?page=20091204163537153">Community of Living Traditions</a>: an intentional multifaith residential community at Stony Point Center dedicated to the study and practice of nonviolence. </p> <a name="5"></a> <h3 style="font-size: 120%; background-color: #520C79; color: white; border-bottom: 1px solid black; padding-left: 5px;" >Peace Overtures to General Assembly</h3> <ul> <li> Four presbyteries have submitted <a href="http://presbypeacefellowship.org/GA2010/overtures/afghanistan">overtures on the war in Afghanistan</a></li> <li> National Capital Presbytery has submitted an <a href="http://presbypeacefellowship.org/GA2010/overtures/nonviolence">Overture on Nonviolence</a> </li> </ul> <p>If you know of an overture to GA concerning peacemaking, please <a href="mailto:ppfwitness@gmail.com">let us know</a>. </p> <p>Will you be at GA? Would you like to volunteer with PPF? Please contact Peggy Howland at <a href="mailto:peghowland@aol.com">peghowland@aol.com</a>. </p> <p> </p>

Upcoming Opportunities

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 02:55:00 GMT

<html> <head> <title>Upcoming Opportunities</title> </head> <body> <div style="float: right; width: 200px; border: 1px solid black; margin: 0 0 10px 10px;"> <h3 style="font-size: 120%; background-color: #520C79; color: white; border-bottom: 1px solid black; padding-left: 5px; margin-top: 0;" >In this email:</h3> <ul> <li><a href="#1">Convocation of Peacemakers</a></li> <li><a href="#2">Overtures on Afghanistan</a></li> <li><a href="#3">Take Action for the Philippines</a></li> </ul> </div> <h2 style="font-size: 130%; color: #3D095A;" >From Rick</h2> <p>Friends,</p> <p> As I write these words, we're awaiting our first major snowstorm of the year here in the Hudson Valley. Our kids are excited (and having trouble concentrating on homework when they know for sure they won't have school tomorrow), and I admit that I also look forward to respite brought on by weather. </p> <p> I want to highlight a few resources and opportunities as we enter into Lent: <ul> <li style="padding-bottom:10px;">There are two <strong>Lenten resources</strong> that you might find useful. One is a dvd produced by Christian Peace Witness that contains ten to fifteen minute segments to be used weekly as a tool for reflecting on war, and violence, as we move through Lent. You can order it at <a href="http://christianpeacewitness.org">christianpeacewitness.org</a>. The second is a series from the folks thinking about "Biblical Feasting" at Stony Point Center to help individuals, families and communities to give up unhealthy and unsustainable eating for Lent. Check it out at <a href="http://stonypointcenter.org">stonypointcenter.org</a>. </li> <li style="padding-bottom:10px;"><strong>Christian Peace Witness</strong> is encouraging regional, faith-based witnesses against the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan between Easter and Pentecost. Go to <a href="http://christianpeacewitness.org">christianpeacewitness.org</a> for more information about how to plan and register an event in your area, or to find others who are interested in doing so.</li> <li style="padding-bottom:10px;">The <a href="http://presbypeacefellowship.org/node/277"><strong>Convocation of Peacemakers</strong></a> will take place at Stony Point Center in New York on April 15 to 17. Dr. Obery Hendricks will keynote what we hope will be a deep, thoughtful conversation about what it means to respond to violence, terror and war in our time. There will be worship, workshops and "Open Space" to strategize and plan together about how to impact the Presbyterian Church and the broader world. (Cost is $230 per person – minimal scholarships are available)</li> <li style="padding-bottom:10px;">The <a href="http://www.stonypointcenter.org/staticpages/index.php?page=20091020215148952"><strong>Luke 6 Project</strong></a>, a nascent, geographically dispersed, Christian Community committed to nonviolence and spiritual discipline practiced in small groups, will meet immediately following the PPF Convocation. Please stay on if you can for this unfolding conversation about the formation of this new community. (Cost is $150 per person)</li> <li style="padding-bottom:10px;"><strong>General Assembly</strong> for the PC(USA) is happening in Minneapolis from July 3 to July 10. Come join the PPF in our witness if you can, which include the <a href="http://presbypeacefellowship.org/peacebreakfast">Peace Breakfast</a> on Wednesday, July 7th, and the <a href="http://presbypeacefellowship.org/GA2010/overtures/afghanistan">Overtures to end the War in Afghanistan</a> that have now passed in numerous Presbyteries. <a href="mailto:ppfwitness@gmail.com">Let us know</a> if your Presbytery has passed an Overture on Peaceamaking that should be on our radar screen.</li> </ul> </p> <p> There's a lot going on. The work of shaping a conversation about nonviolence in the church has never been more important than it is right now. </p> <p> Hope to see you at the Convocation here in April. </p> <p>Rick</p> <a name="1"></a> <h3 style="font-size: 120%; background-color: #520C79; color: white; border-bottom: 1px solid black; padding-left: 5px;" >Convocation of Peacemakers: April 15-17</h3> <p> The <a href="http://presbypeacefellowship.org/node/277">Convocation of Peacemakers</a> is a national gathering of the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship to deepen the commitment to nonviolence and radical discipleship in the PC(USA). </p> <p> This is a different kind of conference. We are gathering peacemakers across the denomination to strategize and think deeply with each other on how to respond to violence in our time. We see this as a pivotal time for our organization and the church. Please consider joining us for a transformative gathering of radical disciples. </p> <a name="2"></a> <h3 style="font-size: 120%; background-color: #520C79; color: white; border-bottom: 1px solid black; padding-left: 5px;" >Overtures on the War in Afghanistan</h3> Hudson River Presbytery and Baltimore Presbytery have both approved overtures to the General Assembly concerning the war in Afghanistan. See the full text of these overtures <a href="http://presbypeacefellowship.org/GA2010/overtures/afghanistan">here</a>. <p> </p> <a name="3"></a> <h3 style="font-size: 120%; background-color: #520C79; color: white; border-bottom: 1px solid black; padding-left: 5px;" >Take Action for the Philippines</h3> <p> Nearly two weeks ago, 43 health workers were arrested in the Philippines. Amidst grave concerns of human rights abuse, leaders of the PC(USA) have sent a <a href="http://presbyterian.typepad.com/peacemaking/2010/02/we-are-concerned-for-our-sisters-and-brothers.html">letter to President Arroyo</a>. Our partner church in the Philippines has requeseted that U.S. Presbyterians send their own letters to President Arroyo. Please consider this act of solidarity for our sisters and brothers suffering in a climate of severe political violence. <a href="http://presbyterian.typepad.com/peacemaking/2010/02/protect-human-rights-in-the-philippines.html">Click Here</a> for information. </p>