Description:
Our culture seems more violent than ever, if the media is giving us accurate reports of what is happening in our families, our communities, our nation, and our world. The violence that is daily reported in the media, the events of 9/11, our government's' decision to respond with a pre-emptive war, and the threat of a new arms race cause peace activists to often feel frustrated, angry, and discouraged.
But there are many signs of hope; we have seen the power of non-violence at work during the past century in the lives and work of Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, as well as in several countries in which non-violent resistance has brought about political changes, such as the Philippines and Haiti. Christians have Jesus Christ's life and teachings to inspire us to love our enemies and to find non-violent ways to resist injustice, but we also respect and seek to be in community with those of other faith traditions who are committed to non-violence.
It also gives us hope that there is a growing interest in teaching people how to be peacemakers. The Episcopal Peace Fellowship has launched a training program entitled "Creating a Culture of Peace". It is a ten-part process that includes reading, reflection, group discussion, interactive exercises, journaling, and planning specific applications of what has been learned in one's own life. It is focused on the spirituality and practice of active non-violence, its holistic approach is directed towards nonviolent personal, interpersonal, and social transformation.
The EPF's National Chairperson, Janet Chisholm, along with Jacqueline Lynn, EPF's Executive secretary are coordinating these training events. In May 2000 Janet joined the Fellowship of Reconciliation as coordinator for nonviolence training and the Decade of a Culture of Peace and Nonviolence. She has been active in civil rights, war resistance, and nuclear abolition. She has also been a director of religious education and social outreach in Hawaii, and in Connecticut, taught student teachers in college labs and classes, developed child-care programs and community resources, organized caregivers and parents, and administered state social services.
We are very happy and fortunate to announce that Janet Chisholm has agreed to co-facilitate a training event for 30 people at St. Andrew's church in Marblehead MA the week-end of December 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. The Peace and Justice Committee is subsidizing the cost, but there will be a fee of $90 for meals, snacks, and materials for the participants
It is hoped that some of the participants will become trainers for these events themselves. Contact Rev. Beulah Koulouris at 781-631-4951 or bkoulouris@adelphia.net for more information.

Contact Email:
bkoulouris@adelphia.net