You're Part of a Team

The Peacemaking Program exists at every level of the church structure. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is an extensive connectional body consisting of 2,525,330 members, 11,178 congregations, 173 presbyteries, 16 synods, 69 higher educational institutions, and 12 theological institutions. It spans fifty states and Puerto Rico. Presbyteries range in size from 13 to 204 congregations.

Peacemaking happens through:

• congregations (usually supported by a peacemaking committee under the session of the church);
• presbyteries (through a Peacemaking committee or subcommittee sometimes lodged under a social justice or mission committee — the name varies);
• synods (some have peacemaking committees) and
• the General Assembly level through national staff.

Stories from the Network

Send us information about what your Peacemaking Committee is doing. We'll put it on the Web to share ideas with other Peacemakers.

Hiroshima Day observed

Paper peace cranes transform the fence at Ridgewood Presbyterian Church. Photo by the Rev. Victoria L. Moss

On August 9, Ridgewood Presbyterian Church, Ridgewood, N.Y., observed  Hiroshima Day with a special morning worship service.  As a response to the Word, the story of Sadako Sasaki was told. The worshipers then all folded 100 paper cranes. At the end of the service when the peace of Christ was passed, the worshipers took the cranes outside and hung them on our iron fence.  All ages participated and the fence became a little less threatening with all of the colorful cranes flying in the breeze. Keep reading. 

Ethiopia travel/study seminar

Participants in the travel/study seminar and their hosts in Ethiopia. Photo courtesy of Debby Vial

On November 5–15, 2008, eight Presbyterians learned from and walked with brothers and sisters of Christian, Muslim and Orthodox faiths in Ethiopia. The travel/study seminar was organized in cooperation with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s partner the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus. The Presbyterian Interfaith Relations Office and the Presbyterian World Mission Africa Office helped shape the event. Participants had the opportunity to learn about interfaith interactions and peacemaking ministries. Dana Olson of Calvary Presbyterian Church in Alexandria, Virginia, shares an Ethiopian reflection.

Renewing the Commitment to Peacemaking: A Guide for Sessions and Congregations

This new resource is designed for sessions and congregations that have affirmed the Commitment to Peacemaking in the past and are looking for a way to renew and revitalize their peacemaking ministry. The resource is designed as a retreat although it may easily be adapted into three or four one-hour segments or many shorter segments. More time can also be devoted to any of the sessions or activities. It includes a process for identifying peacemaking ministries.

Free • PDS #24-358-08-009

Addressing gun violence

The 218th General Assembly (2008) called the church to renew its attention to the issue of gun violence.

Clare Mackie describes the Stop Gun Violence project. Photo by Mark Koenig

The Peacemaking Program, Presbyterian United Nations Office, Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy, Stony Point Center and the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship sponsored a colloquium on Gun Violence and Gospel Values on September 15-17. Participants proclaimed the call of Jesus to live in peace and be peacemakers, learned about the realities of gun violence, organized to respond to gun violence and began to build a network of concerned Presbyterians. Action plans are currently being developed. Watch for opportunities to become involved.

• On Addressing the Tragedy of America’s Gun Violence — 218th General Assembly (2008)
• To tip the scale of justice toward safety
• STOP Gun Violence Through Prayer, Education and Action
• Presby Bloggers Unite: Gun Violence
• Read a story about the colloquium from the Presbyterian News Service
• Read about Philadelphia Presbytery's efforts to address gun violence

Peacemaking Program celebrates the Commitment to Peacemaking

Some 150 people gathered at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in San Jose for the Peacemaking Program’s General Assembly dinner and celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the Commitment to Peacemaking on June 25. Participants came on foot, by light rail and in taxi cabs. The dinner began right after the plenary session ended and the celebration lasted until right before the plenary reconvened. It took intentionality to be there; it took some juggling of time; but it was worth the effort.

Jazz pianist and peace activist Harry Pickens provided a concert. Banners from 49 congregations and two presbyteries surrounded the fellowship hall. The banners celebrated their peacemaking efforts and reminded the diners that in Christ, peacemakers are one across the bounds of time and space.

Innovative program raises nearly $15,000 for peacemaking

One Sunday morning last September, a very surprising thing happened at the New Wilmington Presbyterian Church in western Pennsylvania.  Following a sermon based on the parable of the talents, pink envelopes containing crisp, new $5 bills were distributed to the congregation as the first step in what was to be called the "Multiply the Gift" program that raised nearly $15,000 for peacemaking ministries along the U.S. Gulf Coast, the Sabeel Center in Israel and in relief and reconstruction work in areas of Lebanon affected by last summer’s violence between Israel and Hezbollah. Keep reading about the "Multiply the Gift" program.

More stories from the Peacemaking Network

• Peacemaking Offering sends toys to Iraq
• Endorsing a statement of conscience against torture
• Ministry on the home front
• Celebrating Peace at Afton Presbyterian Church
• Every child a Peacemaker
• Holston Presbytery Affirms the Commitment to Peacemaking
• Forest Hill Church (Presbyterian) Reaffirms the Commitment
• 2006 Peacemaking Educational Event in Israel/Palestine
• Peacemaking in the Presbyterian Church: An Overview

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