Anabaptist peace forum will address theme ‘Bridging Divides.’

The Brethren Witness/Washington Office and the Anabaptist Peace Center in Washington, D.C., are jointly sponsoring an Anabaptist peace forum on the theme, "Bridging Divides: Uniting the Church for Peacemaking." The event will take place April 11-12 at Capitol Hill United Methodist Church in Washington, D.C.

The forum is for pastors, theologians, service workers, academics, and laypeople to explore how the church can unite for mission despite political divides, and also how the church can work to heal divisions in communities. The event will include plenary and seminar sessions, and each day will begin with Bible study and worship.

Myron Augsburger, president and professor emeritus of Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Va., is the keynote speaker. Other plenary and seminar speakers will include Chris Bowman, pastor of Oakton Church of the Brethren in Vienna, Va., and a former moderator of the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference; Celia Cook-Huffman, assistant professor of peace studies and associate director of the Baker Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies at Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pa.; Phil Jones, director of the Brethren Witness/Washington Office; Michelle Armster of Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) US; and Steve Brown, of Calvary Community.

Adam Tice of Hyattsville Mennonite Church, will be worship leader. A pre-conference seminar on "How We Talk When We Disagree," will be led by Grant Rissler, MCC peace and justice coordinator. Participants also are invited to join in an annual "Hymn Sing for Peace" at 5 p.m. on April 12.

The registration fee is $80, $40 for students, and those who register by Feb. 15 will receive a $10 discount. Register online at www.apcwdc.mennonite.net/Bridging_Divides or contact Keith Swartzendruber at 202-548-0010 or keith@apcwdc.mennonite.net. For more information contact the Brethren Witness/Washington Office, 800-785-3246 or washington_office_gb@brethren.org.

Source: 2/15/2008 Newslines Extra