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Spring 2001 |
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Justice and Peace Links
The newsletter of the Presbyterian
Women Justice and Peace Committee
"And what does the Lord require of
you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly
with your God?" |
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To: Friends in the Presbyterians
Women's Justice and Peace Network
On behalf of the Justice and Peace Committee
of Presbyterian Women, I want to welcome you to the challenge
of advocacy for justice and peace. For those of you who served
during the last triennium, we are thankful for your on-going
interest and support; for those who are new to the network,
we are truly thankful for your interest, enthusiasm and willingness
to speak out for others.
If this mailing arrives after you have completed
your official term representing Presbyterian Women in this
area, please pass this information on to your successor and
have her notify the Presbyterian Women's office in Louisville
to update the network roster. Call toll free (888) 728-7228,
x8015 for Patricia Longfellow. We are working hard to keep
our records up to date.
The Justice and Peace Committee has been hard
at work since the PW Gathering in Louisville last summer, trying
to implement the tasks we were given by the voting representatives.
One of those tasks was to develop antiracism training and the
other was to establish a task group to study Presbyterian Women
from the perspective of race. We have identified the associate
for Antiracism Training in Racial Ethnic Ministries to lead
our training and plan to have two sessions held in late fall
or early winter 2002. We need to train four Presbyterian Women
from every synod who will in turn train others in the presbyteries
and local congregations. This is a challenge that our committee
has worked hard to address because we understand fully the importance
of this issue as it affects our organization, the church and
our communities. If you know of someone who would be interested
in being a part of this important work, please contact your
PW Synod Moderator. She will be selecting the women for this
training. Also, we have established the task group which will
be studying and evaluating the organization of Presbyterian
Women from a racial standpoint to determine those things which
impede or prohibit us from being the "inclusive, caring
community." Their final report will be made to the voting
representatives at the Business
Meeting in 2003. Now that these two tasks are taking shape,
the Justice and Peace Committee is ready to move forward to
address other advocacy issues.
The committee is sending this newsletter with
several advocacy issues which we feel are critical. We are hoping
that by providing information and resources you will select
what is meaningful to you, learn more about it and become involved
in advocacy. There are so many concerns which Presbyterian Women
have for justice that sometimes the list becomes overwhelming.
We are asking that you encourage women to select one and become
informed and involved!
We want to hear from you concerning this
approach to our newsletter—both the positives and the
negatives. We are here to make your job easier in any way
we can and to help you be a more informed advocate. Feel free
to contact me directly by email at: taylergebi@triton.net.
If you would like to be a part of an email network for information
and action alerts, please contact Patricia Longfellow at (888)
728-7228, x8015 or email.
From: Gerry Tayler, Vice-Moderator for Justice
and Peace Concerns of Presbyterian Women |
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Justice and Peace Committee (CCT/PW) |
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Mission Statement: |
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The Justice and Peace Committee
shall work for justice and peace through advocacy and education. |
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Goal Statement: |
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The Justice and Peace Committee
is called to participate in God's activities "in the world
through its life for others," and to share "with Christ
in the establishing of his just, peaceable, and loving rule in
the world" (Book of Order G-3.0300). |
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Justice and Peace Committee
(CCT/PW): |
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Rita Fossell (chair), Sandra Gisner,
Melanie Hardison, Gay Rooney, Helen Sears, Gerry Taylor and Alberta
WIlliams |
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In keeping with the PW
Purpose, the committee shall strive to enable PW to work toward
eradicating racism; empower women at all stages of life; promote
education for girls globally; advocate for sustainable development. |
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Resources |
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Seeking to be Faithful Together: Guidelines
for Presbyterians During Times of Disagreement |
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Knowing that as human beings we
do not always agree all the time—that in fact sharing different
points of view in love helps us grow and be more informed—this
two-page guide helps us through that listening process toward
the final point which is "Include our disagreements in our
prayers, not praying for the triumph of our own view points, but
seeking God's grace to listen attentively, to speak clearly, and
to remain open to the vision God holds for us all." To order
call PDS at (800) 524-2612 and ask for Item
#25993928. |
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Stewardship of Public Life |
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A wonderful resource for putting
your concerns for justice and peace into action is to be a part
of the Stewardship of Public Life Advocacy Network. The Presbyterian
Church (U.S.A.) has an office in Washington,
D.C. which monitors the work of Congress on actions that have
been addressed by our own General Assembly. Quarterly publications
are sent out updating members of the networks about legislation.
Networks include Africa, Asia/Pacific, Civil Rights & Religious
Liberties, Ecology & Environment, Global Security, Health
Care, Hunger and Human Needs, Latin America, Middle East, and
Women and Families. Interested in any of these networks? Contact
Presbyterian Washington Office, 110
Maryland Ave. NE, Washington, D.C. 20002, phone (202) 543-1126. |
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Prayer Vigils for Palestine-Israel |
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Please join in an ecumenical prayer
vigil for all those who are suffering in the Holy Land—Palestinians,
who include Christians, and Israelis—and for peace in the
Middle East. The vigil will be on the same day of each month in
each state until the violence in the Middle East ends and all
can celebrate a just and lasting negotiated resolution to the
Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Perhaps, like apartheid in South
Africa, the conflict of Israel-Palestine is so complicated and
the anger runs so deep that it is difficult for many of us to
pray with confidence for a just and lasting solution. By engaging
in this vigil, we are declaring that God's grace is the source
of all peace. It is an opportunity to incorporate the welfare
of the people of the Middle East into the heart of our church
life—worship, learning and advocacy. For prayers and updated
information, go to www.cmep.org
and click on "Prayer Vigil for Middle East Peace." |
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Another way to be in solidarity
with women for peace in the Middle East is by participating
in the "Black on Friday" movement. Women in several
U.S. cities have organized to do so and you certainly can create
that opportunity in your group/community. Wearing a black armband
would be even more eye-catching than simply wearing black clothing
if you are alone or in a very small group. Take some time to
educate yourself about this issue, and be prepared to answer
others' questions about why you wear the armband.
Wendy Mathewson, a young adult volunteer with the PC(USA),
has recently returned from her post in Jerusalem. She is currently
developing resources for Presbyterians to engage in advocacy
around this issue. For more information you may email her at
email
Wendy or call toll free (888) 728-7228, x5261. |
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Prayer Vigil Schedule |
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On the 1st day of the month people in NJ are
asked to be in prayer;
2nd — NM;
3rd — AL/NY
4th — AK/NC;
5th — AZ/ND;
6th — AR/OH;
7th — CA/OK;
8th — CO/OR;
9th — CT/PA;
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10th — DE/RI;
11th — FL/SC;
12th — GA/SD;
13th — HI/TN;
14th — ID/TX;
15th — IL/UT;
16th — IN/VT;
17th — IA/VA;
18th — KS/WA;
19th — KY/WV;
20th — LA/WI; |
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21st — ME/WY;
22nd — MD/DC;
23rd — MA/PR;
24th — MI/VI;
25th — MN;
26th — MS;
27th — MO;
28th — MY;
29th — NE;
30th — NV;
31th — NH. |
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Things to Watch For |
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Jubilee USA Network (formerly
Jubilee 2000): the campaign to cancel the debts of the world's
impoverished nations. International debt cancellation will free
up millions of dollars to be spent on healthcare, education,
nutrition and other social services in Latin America, Africa
and Asia. For more information write Jubilee USA Network, 222
E. Capitol St., NE, Washington D.C. 20003; call (202) 783-3566;
or visit www.j2000usa.org.
Or contact Melanie Hardison of the PC(USA) by calling (888)
728-7228, x5626 or email
Melanie.
Enough for Everyone: a program
for congregations to take action on the issues of debt, sweatshops,
fair trade and the environment. It seeks to assist people in
emerging nations to become proud, self-sustaining people treated
with fairness and dignity. You'll soon be hearing about what
your congregation can do to take part.
GA will be presenting a new study piece on family violence
called "Turning Mourning
Into Dancing." Doesn't the title itself make you want
to channel that concern in your own community now?
As our Year of the Child
ends, the United Nations will be celebrating the 10th anniversary
of the World Summit for Children and the 11th anniversary of
the Convention on the Rights of the Child. In September 2001
the world's governments will gather to review the world's progress
in meeting the goals set at the UN World Summit for Children
held in 1990. One goal was universal ratification of the UN
treaty, Convention of the Rights of the Child, adopted by the
UN in 1979. The CRC is the most widely recognized human rights
agreement in history. Only two countries have not ratified CRC—the
United States and Somalia! See the March/April issue of Horizons,
page 33. |
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