peace

Tomorrow, August 9th -- on the anniversary of the bombing of Nagasaki -- the nation's capitol will host an international peace gathering. I learned about this program through FOR member Johnny Sonneborn, a long-time member of our NYC Local Group who chaired that chapter some years ago. Johnny wrote to me:

A Global Peace Festival will occur in Washington, DC., on Saturday, August 9.  1) An interfaith rally with the theme "We are all one family under God" and to embody Dr. King's statement that "We must promote peaceful ends through peaceful means" will be held on the western lawn of the Capitol Building from 2-5 p.m.  2) An expo with some 40 booths of relevant organizations will be in the National Mall area near 3rd Street from 12-2.  All true peace lovers are invited. For more information visit the website or call 888-636-8852.

In the tradition of the courageous Dietrich Bonhoeffer, German Christians have authored one of most challenging declarations against economic wars. They dare say: "As baptized Christians we therefore solemnly declare: Whoever prays for soldiers but, at the same time, supports military doctrines for the advancement of economic objectives, commits blasphemy. Those who use national economic objectives to justify military actions no longer adhere to the Gospel and separate themselves from the community of the faithful."

Cindy Sheehan, now a candidate for Congress, was in Charlottesville during my recent visit and I was invited to extend a welcome to the community on behalf of FOR at an event where she was speaking. David Swanson, member of Charlottesville’s Center for Peace and Justice had invited Sheehan to join him at last weekend’s “Building a New World Conference” at Radford University in Radford, Virginia.

We all owe a debt of gratitude to Cindy Sheehan for speaking truth to power, calling in to question the commitment of political leadership to their public promises to act to bring the occupation of Iraq to an end and to stop the killing. She has stepped in to the space of citizen leadership herself by running for public office.

When I was 8 years old, my grandfather, Elder James Thomas, whispered in my ears the words whispered in his ear by his father. "You are of a royal priesthood. You are the heir of a rich tradition, born in the heat of slave, breed in the backwoods, go and preach the word given to your fathers and make your people free!" I have whispered these words in the ears of my five children with the hope that they will continue the prophetic preaching tradition.

While I am a third-generation ordained Pentecostal clergyperson, my work has been both ecumenical and interfaith with progressive orientation. I hold credentials in the National Baptist Convention (licensed minister) the Church of God in Christ (Ordained Elder), and in-care with a local United Church of Christ, where I serve as Senior Community Minister. I was privileged to serve as the founding National Coordinator of Clergy and Laity Concerned about Iraq. I spend so much time in one Mosque that the "brothers" there call me the Imam's Pastor. That Imam, my dear friend and brother, El Hajj Talib Abdur-Rashid, once commented publicly, "I do not know if a Rev. Sekou is a preacher posing an Imam or an Imam posing a preacher."

The need for real dialog, candid debate, and mutual respect among various faith traditions is central to bridging the widening gap between religions at home and aboard. The claim that peace sits at the center of the Abrahamic faiths begins by "walking together" in the quest for justice. For five years, a group of faithful folks have walked together in Philadelphia, PA. On May 18th, they will continue to make the road of hope, peace and justice by walking to a Christian Church, Unitarian gathering place, a mosque, and synagogue. Please join them. For more information go to: www.interfaithpeacewalk.org

U.S. Civilian Diplomacy Delegation Departs for Iran;
Woman Rabbi Makes Historic Visit for Peace
April 28, 2008 -- For Immediate Release

In the wake of comments on April 21st by U.S. presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Clinton, who responded to a question of a theoretical future attack by Iran on Israel by saying, “I want the Iranians to know that if I’m the president, we will attack Iran,” a 21-person interfaith peace delegation to Iran will depart New York on Tuesday, April 29, 2008. The two-week delegation is organized by the Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR), the oldest and largest interfaith peace organization in the United States, and is FOR’s seventh fact-finding and friendship delegation to Iran.

Last night while at a farewell party for outgoing FOR Development Director Anita Fee, my wife Evelyn and I chatted with George Houser. I knew of him mainly as a leader both in the civil rights struggles of the ‘60’s and also in the addressing of contemporary African issues, though I am sure there are myriad other things he has done for peace and justice throughout the years. “I could learn so much from you,” I told him. “Are you giving any talks or leading any workshops these days?”

“Every now and then,” he said. “There’s an article in the local newspaper just today about a visit I made to one of the local schools.” You can see that article and an accompanying video HERE, an excerpt is below.

Check out this beautiful photo I just got from a supporter on our e-mail list!