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International Day of Prayer for Peace

Each September 21st, people around the world lift up prayers for peace as part of the International Day of Prayers for Peace.  The 2013 theme, "Who Will You Make Peace With?" call us each to reflect on resolving conflict in our own lives, as we pray for peace around the world.  In 2012, over 100 UCC members offered prayers for peace which you can read here.  A special thank you to those who took part!

The United Church of Christ:  A Just Peace Church 

The Just Peace Church vision is a hallmark of United Church of Christ theological identity.  For over two decades, the Just Peace Church pronouncement has inspried a grassroots movement of UCC congregations committed to corporately naming and boldly proclaiming a public identity as a justice-doing, peace-seeking church.  The Just Peace pronouncement articulated the UCC position on war and peace distinct from other approaches such as crusade, pacifism, or “just war.”  Grounded in UCC polity and covenantal theology, the position focuses attention on alleviating systemic injustice of all types using non-violence and calls us to offer the message, grounded in the hope of reconciliation in Jesus, that “Peace is possible.”

Justice and Witness Ministries is committed to a revitalized Just Peace Church movement and to empowering and resourcing congregations to create a stronger justice and peace witness.  In 2011, you will be hearing more about the Just Peace movement in the UCC—as well as the wider ecumenical context as Just Peace is being promoted by both the World and National Councils of Churches.  In 2011, the WCC will be holding an International Ecumenical Peace Convocation and releasing a “Declaration on Just Peace” for consideration by its global member communions.  Now is the time to rekindle our commitment to Just Peace and make visible our longstanding witness to this approach.  To do so, we will be working to update the list of Just Peace Churches in the UCC and will keep this site up to date with educational resources.     

Does your church consider itself to be a Just Peace congregation? What is your church doing to live out its calling to be a Just Peace church?  What does it mean to be a Just Peace Church in times like these?  I hope you will take the time to update your church’s information on our site and offer your responses to these questions.   Your energy and voice is needed to reinvigorate and shape the direction of our collective movement.

For more information contact Mike Neuroth and join us in coversation via Facebook and Twitter @JustPeaceUCC.