Minnesota Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
A liberal religious congregation  in the Minneapolis area

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PEACE PROGRAM
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Updated May 9  2008
A SHORT INTRODUCTION TO THE NEWEST STUDY/ACTION ISSUE: PEACEMAKING.
 The UU Association, Commission on Social Witness, was established in 1984 with the mission “to engage us in an ongoing process of study, action and reflection on pressing social issues to deepen our faith, to foster a greater sense of association among UUs and to proclaim our vision of justice in the world”.

It is with study, action and reflection of Congregational Study/Action Issues that we fulfill this mission. A Study/Action Issue is not a statement – it is a question. The question this year reads: Issue: Should the Unitarian Universalist Association reject the use of any and all kinds of violence and war to resolve disputes between peoples and nations and adopt a principle of seeking just peace through nonviolent means?

As UUs we begin a three year study of this issue and together we will draft a statement that will be taken to the General Assembly held in 2010 here in Mpls. At that Assembly, the statement will be adopted or referred to additional study by two-thirds vote. If adopted it becomes a UU Statement of Conscience.

The goal of the MVUUF Program Committee this year is to give us the opportunity to study, act and reflect on this topic of Peacemaking and we began September 23rd, 2007 with Anne Peek speaking to us about Personal Peace.

Monica Williams, Peacemaking Committee/Social Justice Committee
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"Is Religion Killing Us?"
On Sunday, April 2, 2006, Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer,  an Assistant Professor of  Justice and Peace Studies at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul spoke to the Fellowship. He argues in his book Is Religion Killing Us? that nonviolence is crucial to the future of humanity and the violent behavior presented in the sacred texts of Judaism, Christianity and Islam needs to be challenged .  The Fellowship read and discussed the book in  book discussions and a  Fireside Chat .

Nonviolence:
 Broader Topics:
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“It is not enough to pray for peace. Work for justice!” “War is a coward’s escape from the problems of peace.” “We must be governed by the force of law, not by the law of force.”
---William Sloane Coffin
Eight Paths to Peace :  What Now?
by Mary Samuels and Anne Peek
Thank you to everyone who participated so fully and creatively in the interactive service on January 15, 2006!

For those of you who could not attend, the purpose of the service was to introduce peace activist Louise Diamond’s idea that all of us are peacemakers in various ways (she posits eight major paths), and that we tend to gravitate to one or two primary ways of expressing this. We took an inventory to identify our primary path(s) and then sat in groups with others on our path to discuss how we express that path, discover who else in the fellowship shares our path, and brainstorm ideas to implement peace at MVUUF. 

Many wonderful recommendations for our church community came out of the brainstorming portion of the service:
  • Spiritual Path:  Form a committee to discuss ways to create inner peace; have adult RE classes on meditation and other inner peace practices; bring in speakers on inner peace.
  • Leadership Path: Create a system of leadership development, including exploring why some do not see themselves as leaders; sponsor a scholarship for the Wellstone leadership camp.
  • Creative Path:  Create artistic events in cooperation with other churches; play music along with other musical groups; engage in creative activities with wide participation, such as a large group “tribal dance” or creating an art object for the church.
  • Educational Path:  Holding an adult RE workshop on non-violence and reading books on peace, with commitment to follow through.
  • Global Path:  Support the UU Service Committee; continue to bring in speakers on world affairs; create and encourage church participation in global social action; children’s RE might raise funds for global charities such as Heifer International or Seva.
  • Relationship Path:  Have adult RE classes address peace in relationships, including classes on conflict resolution between peers and between adults and children.
  • Personal Path:  Offer and encourage new and old opportunities for personal centering and balance, such as yoga, self-hypnosis, meditation, singing and book clubs.
  • Activist Path:  Form a Neighbors for Peace group; encourage MVUUF members to support Sen. Dayton’s Dept. of Peace at party caucuses and write letters advocating it to newspapers; encourage more peace demonstrators on street corners; urge city to commit to mayor’s pledge to reduce greenhouse gasses.
We imagine that these ideas will generate many more, so we have placed a clipboard downstairs on the social justice table for members to add ideas. 

We hope that those who are moved to do so will take action on some of these ideas by attending appropriate committee meetings (adult RE, program, social justice, etc.) and making them happen.      
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MVUUF PEACE SITE
Rebecca McPeek, Coordinator, MVUUF Peace Program
Who-What-When-Where-Why a Peace Site

I will attempt to answer some of the questions I’ve been asked about MVUUF becoming an International Peace Site.

Q: I’m not sure I’m against the war in Iraq.
A: Becoming a peace site is a bigger picture than just anti-war. It includes working towards economic justice, feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, educating children and youth. It is also not living in fear. To transform yourself into a peacemaker, you won’t become an activist marching in the streets. You will not be “anti” anything. All you are asked to do is to go within and dedicate yourself to peace. Even if you don’t immediately see a decline in violence around the world, you will know in you heart that you have dedicated your own life to peace.

Q: Why do we need a sign saying we are for peace?
A: A peace pole planted in the MVUUF garden is a visual message to all who enter MVUUF and to the community that we at MVUUF value, promote, encourage and study peace. The single best reason to become a peacemaker is that every other approach has failed. Right now there are 21.3 million soldiers serving in armies around the world. Can’t we recruit a peace brigade ten times larger? We don’t know what number the critical mass is, the best we can hope is to bring about change by personal transformations. 

Q: We don’t study peace at MVUUF. How can we call ourselves a peace site if we don’t study peace?
A: Oh, but we do. Peace related activity at MVUUF is included in 1) calling ourselves a  Welcoming Congregations, living in peace with and understanding differences; 2) regular work crews on Habitat for Humanity projects; 3) selling peace coffee; 4) supporting Religious Coalition for Reproductive Rights; 5) Supporting VEAP; and 6) encouraging a sustainable Green Sanctuary.

Q: How much will it cost?
A: This spring a request was issued to the MVUUF Women’s Group to consider funding our International Peace Site registration and Peace Pole planting for our Peace Garden. MVUUF Women’s Group responded with a total of $320 to be used for $160 for International Peace Site Membership; $100 for four “May Peace Prevail on Earth” message plaque ($25 each, one in English and three other languages to be determined) to be placed on the Peace Pole for our Peace Garden; $10 for one 6’ 4x4 wood pole; $50 for plants for Peace Garden.

Q: What are peace studies? How do you study peace?
A: A group of MVUUF members have developed a MVUUF Peace Program. The committee headed up by Becky McPeek includes Beth Smith, Bill Smith, Nan Corliss, Ruth Keely, Sharon Wildfang and Monica Williams. The program covers 3 major areas: Action, Communications and Studies: Actions include vigils, International Peace Site registration and dedication, International Day of Peace, September 21 service and celebration, and special Sunday services devoted to Peace Programming.  Communications include monthly column in MVUUF newsletter, announcements in Sunday bulletin, Peace Calendar on MVUUF website with links to peace activism information, and Sun newspaper articles. Studies include progressive film nights, book group selections, peace activism speakers, and potential youth and adult peace studies curriculum.
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PEACE VIGILS
Beth Smith at Peace Vigil War Costly: Peace Priceless
Beth Smith has led a group of loyal social activists in a peaceful vigil every Tuesday afternoon at 4:00 PM at the corners of 98th Street and Lyndale Avenue in downtown Bloomington.  Several MVUUF members join her on a regular basis.  Beth also holds weekly vigils in Eden Prairie, Edina and south Minneapolis.

If you plan to join the weekly vigil , please park in the center of the lot. The portions with yellow painted curbs belong to the clinic. Now that the weather is nicer, we’d love a larger presence for our vigil.  – Beth Smith, Coordinator






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