On Earth Peace board elects new officers, meets with Standing Committee delegation.

By Madalyn Metzger

The On Earth Peace board and staff gathered at Camp Eder in Fairfield, Pa., for their fall board meeting, Sept. 19-21.

One major item of business was the election of new board officers for 2014. Madalyn Metzger (Bristol, Ind.), who has served as the On Earth Peace board chair for five years, is stepping down from that role, but will continue on as a board member. In addition, Robbie Miller (Bridgewater, Va.) and Ben Leiter (Amherst, Mass.) will not continue on as board vice chair and board secretary (respectively), due to their terms of service ending.

“Over the past five years, On Earth Peace has taken important steps in expanding its mission and ministry,” Metzger said. “It has been my honor and privilege to help lead this work during that time, and I am excited to see what the future holds for the organization.”

For 2014, the board has called Jordan Bles (Lexington, Ken.) as board chair, Gail Erisman Valeta (Denver, Colo.) as board vice chair, and Chris Riley (Luray, Va.) as board secretary.

The board of directors and staff also welcomed a second delegation from the Church of the Brethren Standing Committee to continue dialogue regarding On Earth Peace’s statement of inclusion. Standing Committee had requested this in its meeting prior to the 2013 Church of the Brethren Annual Conference in Charlotte, N.C. The two groups considered various questions, such as how agencies, committees, districts, congregations, and individuals in the denomination may walk in love together in the face of differing interpretations of scripture and Annual Conference statements and decisions. The two groups agreed to continue the conversation in the coming months.

Other items of business included discussion of next steps in On Earth Peace’s elimination of racism training and audit--an initiative by the board and staff to continue addressing issues of institutional racism both within and outside of the organization. The board approved a budget for the 2014 fiscal year, and received updates on the “3,000 Miles for Peace” campaign, activities surrounding Peace Day 2013, and updates on other programmatic areas.

During the meeting, the board welcomed new members John Cassel (Oak Park, Ill.) and Chris Riley. The group recognized outgoing board members Robbie Miller, Ben Leiter, Joel Gibbel (Lititz, Pa.), and Lauree Hersch Meyer (Durham, N.C.) for their service.

As an agency of the Church of the Brethren, On Earth Peace answers Jesus Christ’s call for peace and justice through its ministries; builds thriving families, congregations, and communities; and provides the skills, support, and spiritual foundation to face violence with active nonviolence. On Earth Peace conducts discussion and decision-making by consensus.

-- Madalyn Metzger is concluding her term of service as chair of the On Earth Peace board.

Source: 10/19/2013 Newsline