The Peace Party Project

by Phin Washer

This past winter the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship concluded a pilot Peace Party Project, small group gatherings which sought to inform participants of the content of the legislation (H.R. 808) to establish a Department of Peace on a cabinet level in the United States government. Instruction was then offered by a pair of presenters on how to constructively communicate in print with members of Congress. Those attending were then invited to write their US Representative requesting his/her support of this significant government entity that, if established, could engineer for peacemaking a support similar to that which the military academies do for military preparedness.

The project involved 177 people of the Central Texas-Hill Country area of San Antonio and Austin who attended eleven gatherings, mostly in homes, but several in Presbyterian and Lutheran churches. One of the most moving letters was written by a young member of Peace Lutheran Church in New Braunfels, Texas to her member of Congress:

As a student of New Braunfels Middle School it is not at all unheard of here to have gang activity, fighting, bullying, and students that are drugged up. This has had me thinking, we may only be kids now, but tomorrow we will be the adults. Frankly, the idea is somewhat unnerving. I decided that in writing to you, I might try my best to persuade you into vouching for me and everyone else with hopes of passing this bill, as I am sure that it would help a great deal for you to speak about this bill and encourage it . . .

A grandfather wrote the shortest letter of an estimated sixty communications that were dispatched to Congress; it is hard to see how this missive could be improved:

For the sake of our grandchildren, support H.R. 808.

Building on this experiment, a second round of Peace Parties is now being organized, taking advantage of the learning gain from the first cycle. At its meeting in the fall of 2009, the National Committee will consider the possibilities of replicating this project on a national stage.

The pilot project was conducted under the auspices of the Abolition of War Committee which received a $3000.00 grant from the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship. Phineas Washer of San Antonio served as administrator of the endeavor.