newsletter of the presbyterian peace briefly · sunday morning, october 9, was highlighted by a...
TRANSCRIPT
Newsletter of the Presbyterian PeaceFellowship
Be Bold: Nonviolence Works
Puppetistas on both sides of the border present a tale ofimmigrants crossing the border into the Arizona desert, theborder patrol tracking them down, and butterflies andhummingbirds flooding the scene to remind the world thatborders are artificial barriers to life.
...BRIEFLY
Volume 72: Fall 2016 presbypeacefellowship.org @presbypeace
SOA Watch Converges on US/Mexico BorderBy Gary Cozette, Chicago IL
In early October I traveled to the Arizonadesert to participate in the SOA WatchInternational Border Convergence in Nogales,a town which straddles the US/Mexico border.
Here’s the backstory, which you largely know.The longtime mission of SOA Watch is toclose the US Army’s notorious School of theAmericas (SOA) that has trained LatinAmerican soldiers who have subsequentlycarried out egregious human rights violationsagainst their own people. After the US Houseof Representatives voted in 1999 to defundthe SOA, the Pentagon renamed it theWestern Hemisphere Institute for SecurityCooperation (WHINSEC) in an attempt towhitewash the SOA’s legacy of torture,assassinations, massacres, and militarycoups. Each year on the anniversary of theassassination of 6 Jesuit priests, theirhousekeeper, and her daughter by SOAgraduates in El Salvador, a weekend vigil hasbeen held at the front gate of Ft. Benning GA(where the SOA is located), to remember thethousands of people killed by SOA graduates,and to call for the SOA to be closed. SOAWatch continues efforts to closeWHINSEC/SOA as today it engages in abroader grassroots campaign to demilitarizeUS policy and practices in our hemisphere.
For the first time, SOA Watch relocated itsannual grassroots mobilization to theUS/Mexico border at Nogales, Arizona, tobetter understand the causes that promptimmigrants and refugees to cross into theUnited States. This year, we learned how UStrade and economic policies have displacedthousands of rural farmers in Mexico andCentral America, converting them into
US-bound immigrants seeking work to sustaintheir destitute families. We also learned howthe militarized US “War on Drugs” hasfomented waves of refugees seeking toescape this drug-and-gang-related violence aswell as the repressive violence of the state.
Friday evening, October 7, opened the BorderConvergence with a vigil organized by PuenteMovement & SOA Watch in Eloy, Arizona, atthe massive immigrant detention centerlocated in a desolate stretch of the desertbetween Phoenix and Tucson.
Saturday morning, October 8, included amarch through the streets of Nogales on boththe US and Mexico side of the border,culminating in a joint rally within sight of the
A Peacemaker's Calendarspot where a 16-year-old Mexican boy, JoseAntonio Elena Rodriquez, was shot and killedby a US Border Patrol agent. The march wasfollowed by afternoon teach-ins on both sidesof the border, and an evening concert at theborder fence. Sunday morning, October 9, was highlightedby a morning memorial vigil held jointly onboth sides of the border fence. It honoredvictims murdered by Border Patrol agents andSOA trained soldiers. On Sunday evening,SOAW and local activists converged on theUS Border Patrol’s mandatory traffic-stopcheckpoint at kilometer 41 on the highwaybetween Nogales and Tucson. A direct action“die-in” portrayed SOA and Border Patrolvictims with wailing women between theBorder Patrol highway checkpoint office andthe passing cars. No arrests were made asprotesters negotiated to leave after the20-minute die in.
As with past SOAW grassroots mobilizationsat Fort Benning, Georgia, and in Washington,DC, I found the Border Convergence wasempowering, illuminating, and energizing.
...BRIEFLY is the newsletter of the
Presbyterian Peace Fellowship17 Cricketown Road Stony Point, NY 10980
presbypeacefellowship.org
@presbypeace
Aric Clark and Shannan Vance-Ocampo, Co-Moderators
Len Bjorkman, Moderator Emeritus
Rick Ufford-Chase, Secretary Dylan Rooke, Treasurer
Ben Heimach-Snipes, Assistant Treasurer
Emily Brewer, Executive Director 929-251-3277
Art Hunt, Deputy Director [email protected]
Kathy Dean, Bookkeeper
Lora Burge, Colombia Accompaniment Coordinator
Sarah Prager, Web Content Manager
...BRIEFLY is funded entirely by gifts from our readers, members& friends. Send donations, address changes, and subscription
needs to 17 Cricketown Road, Stony Pt NY 10980 Contact theeditors at: Jan Orr-Harter PO Box 930, Aledo, TX [email protected] 817-291-3952 & Marilyn White 2705 Eden-wood Dr. Austin, TX 78745 [email protected] 512-450-2766
Nov. 19 - 26: PPF Delegation to Standing Rock,ND will show solidarity with the waterprotectors who are being subjected to arrestand police abuse for peacefully protesting theDakota Access Pipeline.([email protected]) Nov. 27 - Dec. 24: Advent. The 2016 AdventDevotional: Proclaiming the Good News of God'sPeace focuses on the need for Christ'stransformative hope amidst the themes ofdesolation and isolation found in immigrantdetention and mass incarceration.(store.pcusa.org/2435816003)
Jan. 9 - 20, 2017: Presbyterian PeacemakingProgram and Environmental Ministries TravelStudy Seminar to Guatemala and Costa Rica.(www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/peacemaking/travel_study/) Jan. 16: Martin Luther King Day is a time topractice, promote, and celebrate nonviolence.
April 21 - 24: Ecumenical Advocacy Days. Joinus in Washington for “Confronting Chaos,Forging Community” to grapple with theintersectionality of racism, materialism, andmilitarism. (advocacydays.org)
April 24 - May 6: Presbyterian PeacemakingProgram Travel Study Seminar to Madagasgar.(www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/peacemaking/travel_study/) April 27 - 29: PPF Spring Activist CouncilGathering in Chicago. We'll learn from activistsin the Alianza Community and ChristianPeacemaker Teams and offer a witness on theintersection of overcoming racism andpreventing gun violence. Everyone welcome!Registration will begin in January.(presbypeacefellowship.org)
Spring, 2017: Colombia AccompanimentTraining. Stony Point, NY. Date TBA.([email protected])
Sept. 26-29: Presbyterians for Earth Care 2017Conference. Menucha Retreat Center on theColumbia River, OR. (presbyearthcare.org)
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PPF Volunteer Timothy Wotring helps serve100 delicious dinners.
John Fife makes the award presentation.
Gene LeFebvre is honored for his work withNo More Deaths.
Gene Lefebvre Receives Barstow Driver Award
By Emily Brewer, New York NYPhotos by Elizabeth Smith
On October 9, a hundred peacemakersgathered at St. Mark’s Presbyterian Church inTucson, Arizona to celebrate Rev. GeneLefebvre, who is the 2016 recipient of theAnne Barstow and Tom Driver Award for Excellencein Nonviolent Direct Action in Retirement. Manyhad come from out of town to participate inthe School of the Americas Border Encuentrohappening throughout the weekend, gatheringat the wall to pray and sing and demand thatthe wall be torn down.
Rev. John Fife, Moderator of the 204thGeneral Assembly, said a few words about hisfriend and co-founder of No More Deaths / NoMas Muertes. In his remarks, John told a storyabout how Gene uses his age to hisadvantage as he walks migrant trails in thedesert. For the times when he encounters theBorder Patrol and is at risk of arrest for hishumanitarian work, Gene carries a list of allthe medications and medical attention he will
require should he be arrested. While somethink that old age prohibits activism, Geneuses his age to his advantage.
It was made clear throughout the evening thatGene helped found an organization and acommunity that is truly multi-generational,sharing leadership, experiences, andrelationships as they seek to providehumanitarian aid to migrants and challengeunjust policies and laws. Rick Ufford-Chase’skeynote address also emphasized theimportance of intergenerational relationshipsin these faith-based justice movements. If theChurch is to survive into its next life, we mustshare power, access, wisdom, and resources
among people of diverse ages, backgrounds,experiences, and identities.
The evening was truly a celebration of theinspiring life and work of Gene and manyothers who have been a part of the movementfor migrants’ rights. We raised over $8000through this event, and a portion of what weraised was donated to No More Deaths / NoMas Muertes. We give thanks for Gene, for allwho came to the dinner, for all who donated inGene’s honor, and for all of you who give yourenergy, time, and resources to work for peacein our world.
Visit nomoredeaths.org to learn how to support orvolunteer with No More Deaths.
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PPF Executive Director Emily Brewer(photo by Elizabeth Smith)
"This is My Church" A Reflection and Summary of thePPF Activist Council Fall MeetingBy Emily Brewer, New York NY
“This is my church,” wrote one person at theend of the PPF Activist Council Fall Meetingat Stony Point Center where about 50Peace-seekers gathered. Another personposted on Facebook: “These are my people,yes they are."
For decades, PPF has been church to manypeople. We realize that we have been throughtremendous transitions over the past 18months at the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship-- our staff and Executive Committee leader-ship has changed almost completely, we cre-ated the Activist Council to be the real ‘handsand feet’ of the organization, and wetransitioned our office from a physical to avirtual one so that more of our resources aregoing to programming instead of overheadcosts. That is A LOT for any organization. YetI have been amazed at how PPF has em-braced these changes, supporting each otherthrough these transitions, and laughing andlearning from our mistakes when we discoverthem. Being church together.
I shouldn’t really be surprised. It’s one of thethings we do best. Rick Ufford-Chase hasoften described PPF as an organization that is“quick and light on its feet,” and we have cer-tainly embraced change and moved into thisnew era of our life with grace, humor, andflexibility. And at this Activist Council meetingwe spent more time than ever meeting inworking groups to figure out how best to liveinto the calling to be peacemakers in theworld over the next year and beyond:
The Colombia Accompaniment working groupformed a new Alumni Council that will helprecruit for and support the program as we pre-pare to respond in whatever ways our part-ners need as Colombia enters a “post-Ac-cords” time that will certainly bring new chal-lenges and accompaniment needs.
The Climate Change & Conflict working groupstrategized with Fossil Free PCUSA modera-tor Abby Mohaupt about how our organiza-tions can best work together to continue to
push for divestment and prophetic action forclimate justice in the PC(USA).
The Middle East working group made plansfor further education and learning through del-egations (stay tuned for more information anddates coming soon!) and has plans to workmore closely with the Israel/Palestine MissionNetwork to continue to advocate for peaceand be in solidarity with Palestinians.
We have new energy and ideas for how topromote Gun Violence Prevention work in the
United States byworking with otherdenominationalbodies and educat-ing churches aboutgun violence andwhat they can do toprevent it in theirown communities.
We also formed anAnti-Racism work-ing group that willlook at PPF as anorganization to seehow we are perpet-uating White Su-premacy throughour policies andstructures as well
as engage in the Black Lives Matter move-ment for racial justice in the United States.
The Development Committee met over mealsand throughout the weekend to think abouthow to support the work of the PPF and en-sure that we have the financial resourcesneeded to do the work that we commit to.
We also had groups talking about the PeaceCommunities Initiative that has been going onnow for several years, immigration, what itmeans to be a Peace Church, and other top-ics related to peace in our communities, coun-try, world, and Church.
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We hope you’ll join us. The PPF Activist Council isopen to anyone who affirms the nonviolence of JesusChrist, commits to being active in the life of PPF, andcontributes financially in whatever amount feelsgenerous. If you are not a member yet, you can signup at presbypeacefellowship.org.
We talked, dreamed, planned, schemed, wor-shipped, and shared meals, discerning to-gether the ways that we are being called inthis moment to seek “the things that make forpeace,” as the gospel-writer says. We gath-ered as people of all ages, from many placesin the US and the world to be Church to-gether.
Let us work together to resist the war-like val-ues that the Empire teaches us -- racism, vio-lence, greed, and consumption -- and to em-body the values that the Gospel teaches us --mutuality, actively working for peace, equality,and wholeness and justice for all creatures.Let us recognize on this day the things thatmake for peace, roll up our sleeves, and getto work.
PPF Welcomes New Staff
Rev. Lora Burge has joined the PPF staff asthe part-time Colombia Accompaniment Pro-gram (CAP) Coordinator. Lora is a graduate ofMcCormick and lives in Chicago. She was anaccompanier for several months, is fluent inSpanish, and has served on the CAP volun-teer team as the contact person with the Co-lombian Presbyterian Church. As we welcomeLora, we thank outgoing coordinator LindaEastwood for all of the hours, energy, andwisdom she has poured into this work. Lindawill continue as a CAP volunteer.
As we bid thanks and farewell to Co-DirectorFritz Gutwein for his work with PPF, ActivistCouncil member Art Hunt has stepped for-ward to serve for one year as unpaid DeputyDirector, covering some of the work that Fritzdid. Godspeed, Fritz! Thank you, Art! Welcome to the world, our newest little PPFer, Elea-nor Hermione Prager. Congratulations to moms Sa-rah and Liz.
A Response to the "No" Vote in ColombiaFrom the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship
With our sisters and brothers in Colombia, we lament and grievethat during the plebiscite vote on October 2, 2016 in Colombia,by a slim majority of just 50,000 votes, the country has voted“No” in its referendum on the peace process with the FARC. This was a peace process that was negotiated over the lastfours years in Havana, Cuba.
We affirm our full and complete commitment to our partners inthe Iglesia Presbiteriana de Colombia and to the Gospel ofnonviolence, hope and reconciliation as found in the life anddeath of our Savior Jesus Christ. We intend to continue withthe practice of accompaniment, walking side-by-side with com-munities and leaders who are seeking new ways forward inColombia. We intend to continue to press our own governmentfor funding for Colombian that supports the peace process. Wewill continue to press against our own government to opposeany and all military funding for Colombia. We renounce vio-lence in all its forms.
Our partners in the Iglesia Presbiteriana de Colombia wrote aletter to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in which theylamented the “no” vote, affirmed their trust in our partnershipand re-committed themselves to the work that is before us inboth Colombia and the United States which is deep soul-work,renewing and reforming our spirits to conform to that of JesusChrist, Prince of Peace:
"For this reason, today more than ever, we invite you to con-tinue accompanying us with your prayers and with your actionsand may you know that from this corner of the world, the Churchcontinues to stand firm, guided by the light of the Gospel andthe power of the Holy Spirit. From our communities, our schoolsand university, from our social ministries, we will continue towork to build a better country."
We are mustard-seed people. And so we live in hope. Godcalls us to peace, justice and reconciliation. There is muchwork to do to change and reform our hearts, minds, and soulsindividually and collectively away from violence and towardsdiscipleship in Jesus Christ which is nonviolence. This is thework we pledge to be about: walking hand-in-hand, side-by-sidewith our sisters and brothers in Colombia who are our family.
As we continue the ministry of accompaniment we still havespots open for our next training. Please [email protected] to receive more informa-tion and to register.
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Dylan, Christine, and Emily at IPMN meeting
Blessed are the peacemakers......Briefly recently asked members of thePresbyterian Peace Fellowship Activist Council,"Have you been doing anything interestinglately?"
Melinda Thompson (DE): "Emily Brewer, ChristineCaton, Timothy Wotring, Don Mead, Dylan Rookand I attended the annual Israel/Palestine MissionNetwork meeting, which was a celebration of 10years of existence for IPMN. Fahed Abu Akel,Hunter Farrell, Victor Makari, and Phillip Woodswere with us at Pittsburgh TheologicalSeminary. I'm also helping PPF plan a joint trip toIsrael-Palestine next summer with AmericanMuslims for Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace.Dates will be announced soon!"
Peggy Howland (FL): "Being in the 'battlegroundstate' of Florida, I've spent some time making phonecalls for the Hillary for America campaign, attendedrallies with Tim Kaine and President Obama, andhave been working with a small group of residents inmy retirement community to research all of the localcandidates and ballot questions for early voting. InFlorida, we're trying to get the word out that theproposed Amendment One, while disguised asenvironmentally friendly, is actually helpingcorporations to keep the citizens from all of theirbenefits from solar heating."
Bruce Gillette (DE): "Carolyn's hymns are gettinglots of visibility these days with the NPR featurestory on her hymn writing and Presbyterian Outlookpromoting her new Advent hymns. I just wrote anlong article on resources for preaching on gunviolence for the Journal for Preachers. Jim Atwoodgave me some helpful tips for it."
Kathryn McLean (FL): "I've spend the last few yearsdoing my doctoral research through McCormickTheological Seminary's 'Building BelovedCommunity' tract. The title of my thesis is 'StepsToward the Other - The Labyrinth's Role in BuildingBeloved Community'. My proposal was accepted topresent the results of my study in a workshop at TheLabyrinth Society's Annual Gathering in HoustonNov 10-12, and my hope is that the World PeaceLabyrinth that I helped create will continue to beused for peacemaking work, restorative justice, andalternative dispute resolution. It is a 24' canvaslabyrinth with 7 small focal points within the labyrinthdesign that represent the 7 continents -- the originaldesign was commissioned by the Chaplain's Interfaith office at the Salt Lake City Olympics for theolympic athletes and the para-olympic athletes andvisitors to use -- and it included symbols of peacefrom different cultures of the world."
Barb Smith (MI): "More Light Presbyterians (MLP) ispresenting a three part online teach-in on racismand racial justice. Part 1 was presented byCrossroads Anti-Racism Organizing and Training,which our Dismantling Racism working group will berecommending to all of PPF. The MLP teach-ins arefree, available in the comfort of your own home, noneed to travel. Sign up at www.mlp.org."
Elizabeth Welliver (NC): "I am serving for one yearin the Chaplain's Office at Davidson College tosupport students of minority faith traditions andbuild relationships around religious diversity acrossthe institution."
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Border Convergenge (photo by Gary Cozette)
Barbara Clawson (NC): "I recently attended thePC(USA) conference at Montreat, 'God’s SeekingGrace Amidst the Disgrace of Racism.' Challenging,heartbreaking, hopeful—excellent conference. I’vealso read and recommend 'Trouble I’ve Seen:Changing the Way the Church Views Racism' byDrew Hart. In addition to addressing numerousissues related to racism, he 'offers concretepractices for churches that seek solidarity with theoppressed and are committed to racial justice.'"
Phin Washer (TX): "Over the last several weeks Ihave taken the lead in our congregation(Northwoods, Houston) organizing a six week seriesto begin early in 2016 on 'Understanding the MuslimFaith from (mostly) the Inside.' We have a line upthat includes an activist housewife, a prisonchaplain, and Andy Deadman (a non-Muslim),associate dean of Fuller Seminary, TX. NewCovenant Presbytery awarded the congregation agrant that is fully covering expenses."
Lois Baker (WI): "I would like to see some thought[and a great deal of prayer and commitment] givento ways we need to act to heal the great dissensionand disunity in our nation."
Parrish Jones (FL): "Since returning from the SOAWBorder Convergence, I've been recovering fromHurricane Matthew. In the midst of the mess theneighbors have banded together. One rented about8 U-Haul pods to provide for free to the neighborsdespite her own house being genuinely trashed."
Rick Ufford-Chase (NY): "I felt called to go toStanding Rock to be there for the clergy and churchleader witness on Nov. 2. It's just a few days andsuch a tiny, personal step to take responsibility forthe ways Christians paved the way - led the way - inthis colonization project."
Timothy Wotring (NY): "The School of the AmericasProtest has become my activist family reunion. Forthe last five years, I’ve marched with many of thesame people from organizations I trust and love.This year we converged on the Mexico/US border inNogales. This choice, in my opinion, was politicallynecessary. With the fascist rhetoric ofanti-immigration, mostly about those from the globalSouth, it seems only appropriate at this time to showour solidarity. And it's true, overall, I don't knowmuch about the border, so when a Colombianactivist said, 'You can tell me about the politics ofLatin America, but you don't know what's happeningon your own border,' it struck me. One weekend inArizona is not going to give me the full story aboutthe militarization at the border or the use of dronesor the great work of solidarity by churches to thosecrossing the desert. I have much more to read,experience, and stories to listen to. Throughout theweekend, as usual, much creativity was on display:from the puppetistas to the Peace Poets to the noisydemonstration outside the ICE Dentention Center. Idecided then I didn't want to only write a reflection,but a song. You can watch me sing it on YouTube(just put 'Timothy Wotring' in the search bar)."
Marilyn White (TX): "I've been reading 'FaithfulResistance: Gospel Visions For the Church in aTime of Empire,' by Rick Ufford-Chase on myKindle. It fills me with hope that the church of thefuture will be courageous, activist, creative, and anti-empire. (Available in paper and e-reader fromAmazon.) I've also been putting together the Fallissue of Briefly with support from Jan Orr-Harter,Emily Brewer, and all of our wonderful contributors. Ihope you're as inspired by the people and work ofthe Presbyterian Peace Fellowship as I am."
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Presbyterian Peace Fellowship17 Cricketown RoadStony Point, NY 10980
www.presbypeacefellowship.org@presbypeace
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FALL 2016
Inside: Convergence on the BorderJoin the Activist Council! - p. 5
PPF Joins Call to End the War in SyriaOn September 21, the International Day of Peace, the Presbyterian PeaceFellowship participated in the Global Day of Action and Prayer in New York City. Atthe New York press conference on the day of action, 28 co-sponsoring organizationspresented an interfaith “Call for an End to the War in Syria.” The call stated “It is longpast time for war and violence to stop and to advance the hard work of finding a newway forward, toward a future where all Syrians can live together in peace and justice.We must use a just peace approach: scaling-up trauma healing, restorative justice,unarmed civilian protection, and transformative dialogue with all stakeholdersinvolved in the conflict to build a sustainable just peace.” Over 100 peopleparticipated, including about 25 PPF Activist Council Members, and we hope thatyou, too, will continue to remember the people of Syria. For resources on “the thingsthat make for peace,” please visit http://www.globalministries.org/global_day_of_action_and_prayer_for_syria.