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Date: Sept. 1, 2005
Contact: Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford
V: 847/742-5100 F:  847/742-6103
E-MAIL: _CoBNews@AOL.Com_ (mailto:CoBNews@AOL.Com) 
 

CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN NEWSLINE
September 1, 2005
 
Church of the Brethren Witness/Washington Office highlights upcoming peace  
events
 
Sept. 1, 2005 (Elgin, IL) --  The Church of the Brethren General  Board's 
Brethren Witness/Washington Office is encouraging participation in  upcoming 
peace-related events: the Seeking Peace Conference, Sept. 8-11, in 
Indianapolis, 
Ind.; a March on Washington and three days of action against the  war in
Iraq, 
Sept. 24-26; the International Day of Peace on Sept. 21; and "Shift  Your 
Space, Transform the World: Young Adults Connecting Ecumenically for Peace 
and 
Justice," Oct. 8-10 in Chicago.
 
The Seeking Peace Conference Sept. 8-11 will be a multi-faceted and  
intergenerational gathering providing opportunities to build mentoring 
relationships 
and explore practical and intellectual approaches to peace and	peacemaking. 
Sponsored in part by the Brethren Witness/Washington Office and On  Earth 
Peace, a Church of the Brethren peace education program, the conference  will

feature workshops and seminars, a large book table and resource center,  
applications for all careers, youth participation, fellowship, and biblical, 
dynamic 
worship. For more information contact the office at 800-785-3246 or  visit 
_www.plowsharesproject.org_ (http://www.plowsharesproject.org) . 
 
The days of action against the war in Iraq, Sept. 24-26, will begin with a  
march, rally, and festival Saturday, Sept. 24 in Washington D.C. Brethren are
 
encouraged to gather at the Brethren Witness/Washington Office (337 North  
Carolina Ave. SE), at 10 a.m. to march together to join the larger rally at
the  
Washington Monument (watch for the Church of the Brethren display table on
the 
 mall). Other scheduled events include an interfaith religious service and 
day of	grassroots training on Sept. 25, and a large-scale grassroots
lobbying 
day and  mass nonviolent direct action and civil disobedience on Sept. 26.
For 
more  information call the Brethren Witness/Washington Office or visit 
_www.brethren.org_ (http://www.brethren.org)  or _www.unitedforpeace.org_ 
(http://www.unitedforpeace.org) . Contact the  office for assistance in
scheduling 
lobbying visits on Sept. 26.
 
Brethren are invited to join people from around the world in observing the  
International Day of Peace on Sept. 21. The vision for this day is a global  
cease-fire, as well as lifting up the principles of nonviolence. The day was 

established by a United Nations resolution in 1981, with the intention of  
setting aside a specific time for the UN and its member states to promote the
 
ideals of peace. "We understand that this is only a symbolic day, but one
that  
can and should raise the consciousness of peacemakers in all places. The  
challenge is to transform this symbolic day into reality," commented Phil
Jones,	
office director. The day is supported by the World Council of Churches (WCC)
as  
the International Day of Prayer for Peace. Resources are available at 
_www.overcomingviolence.org/peace2005_
(http://www.overcomingviolence.org/peace2005) 
.  Participants may commit to a peace vigil and record the information at 
_www.idpvigil.com/commitment_ (http://www.idpvigil.com/commitment) .  Contact
the 
Brethren Witness/Washington Office for more peace-related resources  or 
assistance in vigil promotion.
 
"Shift Your Space Transform the World," Oct. 8-10, is for young adult  
leaders in peace and justice work to build ecumenical connections.
Seminarians,  
students, and youth delegates to the WCC's 9th Assembly will find links with
the  
vision for peace promoted by the Decade to Overcome Violence (DOV). 
Activities  will include participation in peace and justice projects, an
action with 
the  Chicago chapter of the National Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice,

time  for sharing resources, space for theological reflection with leaders in

the WCC  and member communions, and a visioning process with members of the
US 
DOV  Committee. The Church of the Brethren is represented on the committee by

Phil  Jones of the Brethren Witness/Washington Office and Matt Guynn of On 
Earth  Peace. Young adults are invited to stay in Chicago to attend the
Annual 
Meeting  of the US Conference for the WCC and the WCC 9th Assembly Pre-Event,

Oct. 10-12.  Scholarships are available for Brethren who need assistance in
order 
to attend.  Registration information is available at _www.wcc-usa.org_ 
(http://www.wcc-usa.org) . "Shift Your Space Transform	the World" will cost
$75 for 
the event, food and hostel-style lodging; or $35  without lodging. 
Registration deadline is Sept. 16.
 
The Church of the Brethren is a Christian denomination committed to  
continuing the work of Jesus peacefully and simply, and to living out its
faith  in 
community. The denomination is based in the Anabaptist and Pietist faith  
traditions and is one of the three Historic Peace Churches. It celebrates its
 300th 
anniversary in 2008. It counts about 130,000 members across the United	
States and Puerto Rico, and has missions and sister churches in Brazil, the  
Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Nigeria.
 
# # #
 
For more information contact:
 
Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford
Director of News Services
Church of the  Brethren General Board
1451 Dundee Ave.
Elgin, IL 60120
847-742-5100  ext. 260
_cbrumbaugh-cayford_gb@brethren.org_ 
(mailto:cbrumbaugh-cayford_gb@brethren.org) 
 
*****************************************************************
The  Church of the Brethren Newsline is produced by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford,

 director of news services for the Church of the Brethren General Board. 
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