Anti-racism training, positive financial report highlight On Earth Peace meeting.

The On Earth Peace Board of Directors and staff met Sept. 24-25 at New Windsor, Md., with the theme "Living God's Peace—Together." The agency's Advancement, Personnel, Finance, and Executive Committees met Sept. 23. Led by chair Bev Weaver, the board continued use of the "Formal Consensus" process for discussion and decision-making.

"The group took time to reflect on bringing together our passionate concern for all people, our covenant of service, our need to forgive and be forgiven as a part of reconciliation, and our recognition to remember and represent the Body of Christ in the work that we do to answer Christ's call to peace," said co-executive director Barb Sayler. Highlights of the meeting were a training with the General Board's Anti-Racism Training Team, a positive financial report, calling of new leaders, and a case study.

Board and staff spent a morning and part of an afternoon with Barbara Cuffie, Torin Eikler, and Sharon Reich of the Anti-Racism Training Team. The training recognized the tendency to assign privilege according to class, power, and ethnicity, and examined On Earth Peace's institutional practices through the lens of race. "The training allowed the group to see more clearly how On Earth Peace, in its programs and projects, is affected by white privilege," Sayler reported. Next steps include planning for changing the effects of privilege and racism in the work of On Earth Peace, and dialogue among board and staff to propose projects not oriented to white, middle- and upper-middle-class people. Also at the meeting was Orlando Redekopp, pastor of First Church of the Brethren, Chicago, Ill, and a member of the Christian Peacemaker Teams Steering Committee, who challenged On Earth Peace "to go deeper in its peacemaking," she added.

The financial report, given just days before the end of the fiscal year, showed a positive balance of income to expense, with a drop in congregational giving and an increase in individual giving. A budget of $440,000 was adopted, "reflecting the program expansion anticipated in the coming year in response to requests and rising expectations from the denomination," Sayler said. The Advancement Committee is developing a program for the fundraising role of the board and introduced "Talking Points" for board members.

It was announced that the next round of organizational evaluation will be accomplished in a larger assessment of the Church of the Brethren as a Living Peace Church. Time was spent on a case study of how to respond in situations in which the peace testimony of the church is not supported. After working in small groups, the board shared ideas about dialogue, building relationships, and speaking the truth in love.

The board welcomed new member Verdena Lee, who is filling an unfinished term. Other new members are Henry Pierre, also filling an unfinished term, and Robbie Miller, elected by Annual Conference. Bev Weaver and David Jehnsen were re-elected by constituents.

The process of calling a new Executive Committee included naming responsibilities and qualities needed for each position, a time of silence and prayer, opportunity to name those who may be able to serve well, and time to be in prayer about the decision overnight. Executive Committee members are chair Bev Weaver, vice-chair Ken Frantz, treasurer Phil Miller, secretary Lauree Hersch Meyer, and at-large members Doris Abdullah and Dena Gilbert. Vice-chair Tom Leard Longenecker, who led the process, was recognized for completing a five-year term on the board.

Source: 10/15/2004 Newsline
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