'Peace Among the People' to gather N. American peacemakers.

An ecumenical peace conference, "Peace Among the Peoples: Overcoming the Spirit, Logic, and Practice of Violence," will be held July 28-31 at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Ind. The meeting will focus on contemporary North American responses to war. Christian peacemakers of all traditions and disciplines are invited.

Church of the Brethren general secretary Stan Noffsinger is serving on the Advisory Committee, and On Earth Peace executive director Bob Gross and Bethany Theological Seminary professor Scott Holland also have a part in planning the event.

Because of the venue's capacity, only a total of 160 registrations will be accepted for the meeting. Those interested in attending are encouraged to register as soon as possible; go to www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=office_general_secretary.

"Peace Among the Peoples" is a preparatory meeting for the World Council of Churches International Ecumenical Peace Convocation--the culminating event of the Decade to Overcome Violence (DOV) to be held in Jamaica next year. Participants will dream, discern, and strategize next steps for creating a more unified peace witness in North,America as well as encouraging churches to become peace churches. Results of the meeting will be presented at the NCC’s General Assembly in Nov. 2010 and at the 2011 Peace Convocation.

Presentations will be given by leading thinkers such as Stanley Hauerwas, Rita Nakashima Brock, and Brian McLaren. Discussions on contemporary issues will include exchanges between presenters and listeners. There will be deliberative working sessions on current ecumenical efforts like the Truth Commission on Conscience in War, conciliar peace dialogue, and the formation of a North American Ecumenical Peace Center. Morning prayer and evening worship will frame the beginning and the ending of each day with preachers including Vincent Harding, Mary Jo Leddy, Leonid Kishkovsky, and John Perkins.

Sponsors of the meeting include the Church of the Brethren, Bridgefolk, the Catholic Peace Network, the Fellowship of Reconciliation and Historic Peace Church Consultative Committee, the Institute of Mennonite Studies, the Kroc Institute and Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame, Mar Thomas Orthodox Church, Mennonite Central Committee, the National Council of Churches, the Orthodox Peace Fellowship, and the United Church of Christ.

Go to www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=office_general_secretary or www.peace2010.net for schedule and detailed program information and conference registration links. The registration fee is $225 ($250 after April 30), plus meal costs (full meal package is $71.50). Participants arrange their own housing, or may request to stay in a local home. For more information contact Peace Among the Peoples, 3003 Benham Ave., Elkhart, IN 46517; info@peace2010.net or 574-296-6203.

Source: 4/22/2010 Newsline