wfn.org | Pizza, conscientious objection bring youth together in Denver

[COBNews@aol.com]

Date: Jan. 5,  2006
Contact: Cheryl  Brumbaugh-Cayford
V: 847/742-5100 F: 847/742-6103
E-MAIL: _CoBNews@AOL.Com_ (mailto:CoBNews@AOL.Com) 
 
PIZZA, CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION BRING YOUTH TOGETHER IN DENVER
 
Jan. 5, 2006 (Elgin, IL) -- On Dec. 2-3, 2005, a group of 25 students and  
eight sponsors gathered in Denver, Colo., to discuss peacemaking and  
conscientious objection to military service. Male and female youth from
Church	of the 
Brethren and Mennonite congregations in the Colorado communities of  Denver, 
Colorado Springs, Arvada, Lakewood, Fort Collins, and Littleton gathered  for
an 
event called "Pizza and Justice: Considering Conscientious Objection." 
 
Peacemakers packets were available for youth to consider filling out to  
document their beliefs. Erin Durban of the American Friends Service Committee
 
described current requirements for military registration, prompting questions
 
and discussion about the potential for a military draft. The draft was
simulated 
 by a lottery system: those whose birthdays were randomly assigned lower 
numbers  were given clean-up chores.
 
The 1987 movie "Good Morning, Vietnam" stimulated discussion about  
comparisons between Vietnam and Iraq, press coverage and censorship, trust
and  
betrayal, and being insulated from the atrocity of war. Participants
discussed  risk 
taking, reflecting on risks that those in the military take and the risks  
taken by the four members of Christian Peacemaker Teams who had been kidnaped
in  
Iraq one week earlier.
 
Participants focused on positive and creative peacemaking, brainstorming a  
"Shalom Whirlybird" of ways to foster right relationships with God, self,  
others, and the environment. A peace quiz challenged participants to identify
 key 
events and statements about peace and justice. Small groups studied and  
analyzed passages of scripture comparing Jesus' teachings with cultural norms
 
today. Each group then gave a presentation on what peacemaking might look
like  
in their everyday journey, based on their passage. One concluded that it was 

"interesting to see other views and other youth be passionate about these  
issues." 
 
The event closed with worship and silent reflection. Youth will now decide  
how to document their beliefs. While many participants said that the event  
answered many questions, there were still more questions, and a lot of
interest  
in following up with another event.
 
Many of the participants attend historic peace churches in Colorado, some  of

which were begun when persons doing alternative service in Colorado decided  
to stay in the state. Mennonite Urban Ministries, a Denver faith-based	
organization, sponsored the event. 
 
For more information, contact Gail Erisman Valeta at 303-892-6416.
 
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. 
Newsline  stories may be reprinted provided that Newsline is cited as the
source. 
To  receive Newsline by e-mail, write _cobnews@aol.com_ 
(mailto:cobnews@aol.com)  or call 800-323-8039 ext.  260.