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What Can You Do?
New Year's message from Dr. Ishmael Noko, General Secretary
of the Lutheran World Federation
What can the Church do to Build a Culture
of Nonviolence?
What Can Congregations Do?
What can Individuals Do?
What can Individuals Do? (Joining With
Others)
What is most urgently needed and earnestly to be prayed for in this
"New Year"?
Decade and century is the flowering of a culture of peace within and
between nations, communities (ethnic and religious) and in the hearts of
all people;
The peace of God and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit must be looked
to as the foundation for a process of such fundamental cultural change;
and
A change which can be discerned as much in the mandate of the United
Nations as in the persistent progress in the ecumenical movement.
What can the Church do to Build a
Culture of Nonviolence?
- Enhance members' understanding of God's peace and the biblical
foundation for nonviolence and justice;
- Support members' efforts to address current peace and justice
issues;
- Equip individuals and groups to model lives of nonviolence;
- Establish peace and education for children and youth as an ongoing
priority of the church; and
- Equip, support and recognize individuals and groups who are
leaders in peacemaking efforts in their communities, nation and the
world.
What Can Congregations Do?
- Study the biblical basis of peacemaking and the meaning of
nonviolence;
- Help members develop the capacity to engage in creative and
respectful conflict;
- Include examples of peacemaking in sermons and prayers in worship;
- Designate at least one Sunday each year as "Peace Sunday";
- Teach peacemaking as a way of life for all ages through the use of
games, the arts, music, videos, and storytelling;
- Create a peace mission statement and identify concrete ways to
achieve it;
- Incorporate sustainable ways of living and using resources;
- Raise awareness on issues of economic justice, restorative
justice, race and ethnicity, and global and cultural concerns;
- Support victims of domestic and civil violence;
- Identify organizations and legislative bodies adopting peace
education and nonviolence policies that you can support;
- With synods, provide one or both trainings in nonviolence for
members. For example, investigate the following training
opportunities:
Living Faithfully in Violent World
ELCA Division for Congregational Ministries
Call: 800-638-3522 ext. 2804
From Violence to Wholeness
Lutheran Peace Fellowship
Call: 206/720-0313
What can Individuals Do?
- Create a plan for peace to use at home, at school, in your
neighborhood, in your congregation, and in places of work;
- List things you do each day or week that contribute to a peaceful
family, community, and world;
- Plan time for confession and reconciliation with those closest to
you;
- Ask for forgiveness and extend forgiveness to others;
- Practice weekly affirmation of those closest to you. Focus on
words and actions;
- Consider the impact of toys, games, television, and material goods
designed for children and youth;
- Advocate for products designed and produced with peace and justice
issues in mind.
What can Individuals Do? (Joining With
Others)
- Working together is key in our efforts during the Decade.
- Working ecumenically, with community groups, and with
non-governmental organizations (NGOS) can enrich and enhance our
efforts.
- Visit www.elca.org/nonviolence for a
listing of Web sites and contact information for a variety of groups
that may be helpful
Every Church a Peace Church
A Grassroots Ecumenical Network
Call: 717/859-1958
World Council of Churches
Decade to Overcome Violence
Visit:
www.wcc-coe.org
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