Title: Brethren help sponsor Christian peace witness on Iraq anniversary Feb. 15, 2007 Church of the Brethren News Service Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, News Director 800-323-8039 ext. 260 -- cobnews@brethren.org
CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN MINISTRIES HELP SPONSOR CHRISTIAN PEACE WITNESS ON 4th ANNIVERSARY OF WAR
(Feb. 15, 2007) Elgin, IL -- Two Church of the Brethren ministries--the Brethren Witness/Washington Office and On Earth Peace--are among peace and justice groups and denominational peace fellowships sponsoring a "Christian Peace Witness for Iraq" in Washington, D.C., on March 16-17.
The event will mark the fourth anniversary of the Iraq war. The Brethren Witness/Washington Office hopes to have a large number of Church of the Brethren members participate.
The witness begins at 7 p.m. Friday evening, March 16, with an ecumenical worship service at the Washington National Cathedral. A candlelight procession to the White House will take place after the worship service, with a prayer vigil following.
On Saturday morning, March 17, Brethren are invited to gather at 9 a.m. at Washington City Church of the Brethren for breakfast. Following the breakfast, all are encouraged to participate in a March 17 national protest titled "March on the Pentagon," commemorating the fourth anniversary of the Iraq War and calling for the withdrawal of US troops. The march will assemble at 12 noon at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
"We believe it is imperative that members of the Church of the Brethren raise their voices in protest against the current direction of our nation's foreign policy, specifically in regards to the Iraq war," said an announcement from the Brethren Witness/Washington Office. An invitation from On Earth Peace asked those not attending the event in person to join in prayers and preparation for nonviolent resistance in their own contexts. The website for the event (www.christianpeacewitness.org) offers suggestions for participation in congregations and communities around the country.
Participants are asked to register at www.christianpeacewitness.org (registration is required for the worship service at the National Cathedral). Brethren planning to attend are requested to communicate with the Brethren Witness/Washington Office at 800-785-3246 or washington_office_gb@brethren.org.
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 Nigeria, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and India.
# # #
For more information contact:
Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford Director of News Services Church of the Brethren General Board 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120 800-323-8039 ext. 260 cobnews@brethren.org
********************************************************** To receive Church of the Brethren news via an e-mail list serv, go to http://listserver.emountain.net/mailman/listinfo/newsline