Just Peace

Updated: October 31, 2007

October 6th evaluations

Praise for:  workshops, leaders, keynote speaker, summary at end, deep talk, imagining, hope, diversity in music, the resources (presenters and participants), well-organized, pioneering programs, variety, positive energy

Improvements and questions:
How best can we cooperate?  Coordinate?
Address realities of current world issues and threat of impending war.  Too theoretical.
Where were the young people?
Would have liked to attend more workshops
Workshops too casual and “talky”—not enough info
Put presentations or summaries on UCC website
Videotape presentations
Make workshops 90 minutes
Open all small groups with prayer
Extend to 4 p.m.
Couldn’t hear morning speakers

October 6 evaluations – future speakers, topics, etc.

Human Rights: December 10, 2008 will be the 6t0h anniversary of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Formal small peacemaking support groups – intentional group building

Barry Jacotson re: “Open House” (Palestine/Israel collaboration)

Do a conference in southern Vermont

Bring in someone from the military, politicians

Bring in someone from another faith

Need more racial diversity in speakers, presenters, attendees

Offer full-day workshops—we simply have to choose

Witness for Peace – Joanne Raney in Richmond

Christian Peacemaker Teams

Follow-up sessions on peace at the Vermont Conference Annual Meeting

Ask Will Burhans to present at the Annual Meeting

Walter Wink, Shane Claiborne, J. Matthew Sleeth

Peace through music

An in-depth by one of the speakers or one of the topics

Nonviolent skills training in our churches

In our churches, re-envisioning conflict as an opportunity rather than something to be feared

How to dispel opposition to actively pursuing peace in congregation

U.S. military budget/expenditures; nuclear weapons; interdependence of all people

Louise Diamond, IVAW, Andy Schoerke, economics

Mary Ellen McNish – AFSC in Philadelphia

Vermont Conference Just Peace Advocates’ current and potential activities
The Just Peace Advocates is a task force of the Department of Mission responsible for peace activities and witness.  Theresa Lever is the contact person. thelevers@comcast.net
802-229-0415

Follow up on 2007 Annual Meeting resolution:
No attack on Iran – meeting with Peter Welch’s staff
Increasing activity as a Just Peace Conference - ??

Communicate peacemaking opportunities to the churches

Publicly witness for peace in such areas as ending the war, opposing the death penalty, supporting programs that benefit the common good

Recognize individuals and organizations in the state who/which engage in peacemaking activities (new project)

Israel/Palestine program with Global Ministries partner Jean Zaru in the spring?

Alternatives to Violence program?

Contact Information

Joseph Gainza, - American Friends Service Committee, 802-229-2340, jgainza@afsc.org

James Connolly - Every Church a Peace Church, 860-442-6218,
jjconnollyjdphd@mac.com

Helena Halperin & Nancy Wrenn – Nonviolent Peaceforce, hshalperin@verizon.net

Dorie Wilsnack & Eric Bachman – nonviolence trainers
19 Hillside Ave., Barre, VT  05641     doriew@igc.org, ebachman@gmx.net

Mary Brownlow – Building Bridges: Middle East – U.S., mary_brownlow@yahoo.com, 802-649-1433

Patricia Roeding - Center for Cooperative Principles, 802-522-3736, unity@centerforcooperativeprinciples.org

Dot Maver – The Peace Alliance, 802-272-5504, dot@thepeacealliance.org

Libby Hillhouse – Kids4Peace, bobolink@kingcon.com, 802-592-354