Tuesday, April 01, 2014

On Earth Peace begins 40th anniversary celebrations, board establishes team for elimination of racism work

By Jordan Bles

The On Earth Peace board and staff gathered at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., for their spring meeting March 13-16. One major business item was continuing the organization's elimination of racism training and audit--an initiative of the board and staff to continue addressing issues of institutional racism within the organization.

The board received a report from the Elimination of Racism Team, which consisted of board and staff, and committed to the formation of a transformation team to help On Earth Peace implement the steps identified in the report.

The board also committed to spending this year celebrating 40 years of On Earth Peace, and envisioning the next 40 years of peacemaking, with a theme of “Visions and Dreams of Building Peace.” The celebration will include opportunities for people across the country to become involved in telling their own stories of peacemaking and visions and dreams for building peace. People are encouraged to interview someone or be interviewed by someone as part of this project. An invitation will be extended to share interviews via a short web video, podcast, or transcript, through hosting a house party about On Earth Peace, or through a number of other ways. More information on how to participate will be forthcoming.

The board engaged in conversation with staff around current programs and vision for the future, while continuing to be in conversation and discernment with the Standing Committee of Annual Conference regarding the On Earth Peace statement of inclusion.

The board also welcomed new member Caitlin Haynes of Baltimore, Md.

-- Jordan Bles is chair of the board of On Earth Peace.

Source: 4/1/2014 Newsline

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