"Brother, would you have something you would like to share with us ? Just 15 minutes or so, as the Spirit leads?"

It was the Sunday before Christmas and I was visiting a small charismatic church in Belgrade. What to say? My immediate thoughts were that I am here in this part of the world because of a commitment to peace building, so why not talk about loving your neighbor. Before I could settle into comfortable thoughts about what I would say, I was struck by the realization that this would be the first time I had spoken about peace here, in this country, where my own nation had so recently bombed. Could I speak to these fellow Christians about loving their enemies, when the enemy is my own people?

After a period of energetic singing and dancing in worship, it was my turn to speak. I briefly introduced Mennonites and spoke of Mennonite Central Committee's (MCC) response to needs around the world. I said in addition to meeting humanitarian needs, MCC has been working to respond to conflict, which too often underlies the needs.

I said that we are all aware that our nation has so recently bombed their country, so it is especially important to us personally, to MCC as an organization, and to the Mennonite church, that we are here, to extend the hand of friendship, to communicate that we do not support the war that was inflicted on them, to build relationships of trust. Heads were emphatically nodding all over the room.

I spoke of our call to love our neighbor, to love even our enemies, from international enemies to the "enemy" who lives within our own churches or even our households, who can sometimes be the hardest enemy of all to love. All the while, the emphatic heads continued to nod in supportive response.

When I sat down, the pastor responded. This church had prayed throughout the bombing that they would be spared from hatred and bitterness, he said. He expressed gratitude that they had been able to maintain a spirit of forgiveness. This was the first visit of Americans since the war, he said. He invited the congregation to pray a bless-ing over us as a symbolic way of praying a blessing on the American nation.

So we were once again invited to the front of the room. Brothers and sisters from the congregation joined us, laying their hands on us. The praying broke out all around, some in Serbian, some in English and some in tongues we could not understand. They prayed for forgiveness and for blessing. Tears began to flow. The pastor embraced me. We prayed aloud together, thanking God for the gift of Christian brothers and sisters: brothers and sisters experiencing God's grace across the divide of nations, even across the divide of war. We prayed for the healing of our nations and for the healing of people in both nations.

I had been wondering how I would rediscover Advent, here in Serbia, where many of the things that usually activate the Christmas feeling for me would be absent. On this inauspicious evening it was just a small group of believers. An unremarkable evening in an unremarkable room. But the unexpected happened. The peacemakers brought greetings, nothing so remarkable. But the gift given in return? Spectacular! The gift of peace to the peacemakers.

Isn't that the way it has always been? Even when we are not expecting it, the grace of God's gift breaks into our experience with a surprise.

MCC workers Dan and Evanna Hess serve in Belgrade, Serbia, with Bread of Life, the relief agency of Serbian evangelical churches.

******

So far this year, one topic has dominated headlines in newspapers in German-language areas: the political party donations scandal, particularly of the Christian Democratic Union party. Scandalous are not only the misdeeds themselves; what is also frightening is that because of the whole scandal other very important events such as Russia’s brutal war against the Chechen people receive only passing notice. The few appeals against this war are weak and muted. There is scarcely any public recognition of the almost unimaginable suffering of the civilian population, of the fact that the lives of young Russian soldiers are being wilfully put at risk. No public statement resisting the war is to be heard from the Russian Orthodox Church. In contrast, a recent issue of epd-Wochenspiegel (journal of the Evangelical Church in Germany) carried positive news from the group of German initiatives working for a ban on landmines: “Following the Ottawa Agreement (of 1 March 1999), for the first time more landmines were destroyed in the same period of time as were laid ... of the 54 nations which formerly produced these Ôdreadful weapons’, only 16 are still active in their production. There is a near cessation in the export of these mines. Simultaneously, action worldwide for humanitarian mine clearance and help for victims continues to increase.” (epd- Wochenspiegel , 10/2000) However, China, Russia and the United States have not yet signed the Ottawa Agreement.

In this issue you will find more copied materials than usual. The necessary reduction of a halftime position in the office also requires a reduction in our work program. For this reason the newsletter will continue to focus on current reports, announcements and calendar items, though the format may be more modest than previously. This issue begins with reports and impressions from the Balkans region.

******

Christian Hohmann

The ...kumenische Informationszentrum (...IZ-Ecumenical Information Center) in Dresden is located across from the Church of the Cross with its famous choir. The ...IZ is actually more of an advice and discussion center with many different emphases such as refugee assistance, immigration issues and pluralism in society. The warm, inviting Cafe Cabana on the ground floor is also a part of the services the center offers. Further concerns include accompanying and advising conscientious objectors and giving advice on ecological issues for individuals and church members who wish to have environmentally-friendly living and working spaces. Members of Amnesty International and the Initiative RumŠnien - work with Roma and Sinti peoples - also meet regularly at the ...IZ. At present the ...IZ is the only Church and Peace member in the former East Germany.

The ...IZ considers its activities as being linked with the conciliar process for justice, peace and the integrity of creation. The founding of the ...IZ can be traced to the Ecumenical Assembly in 1989 in East Germany; following this assembly, the Dresden city ecumenical group founded the Ecumenical Information Center on 1 July 1990. In autumn of 1989 the peace movement in the former East Germany was still very strong, and the prayers for peace in Dresden as well as the Monday prayer services in Leipzig were well attended. Many of these peace groups no longer exist. “Most peace workers today must stand alone,” remarked Annemarie MŸller, ...IZ Peace Unit Secretary and co-organizer of prayers for peace each Monday. During the war in Kosovo there was significant interest in Dresden in the prayers for peace. This was an important sign of solidarity for ...IZ’s partners in Novi Sad who run an ecumenical relief organization and who suffered in the nightly air raids.

At the beginning of our discussion, I had the chance to meet Frieder and Isabella as well. Frieder had just started his term of alternative service at the ...IZ and could already tell me much about the resources in the center’s library on the conciliar process. An average of three to four persons come daily to make use of the approximately 8000 books and journals in the former peace library.

Isabella is from Lublin, Poland, speaks fluent German and had just started her work as a trainee at the ...IZ. “Contacts in Poland, the Czech Republic and other eastern European countries are very important for us,” explained MŸller.

Randi Gontrude Weber also joined our group for part of the discussion. A pastor, theologian and Director of the ...IZ, she is also responsible for planning worship services and prayers for peace and for contacts with the Lutheran regional church in Saxon and the ecumenical movement. She regrets that socially critical voices are not understood by the Lutheran regional church in Saxon. She commented ironically that because it would be unthinkable to criticize the long-desired democratic government, Church and State are seen as one unit.

In April the ...IZ took the initiative of commemorating the 1989 Ecumenical Assembly and used the occasion to ask what has become of the conciliar process - suggested by the East German delegation at the World Council of Churches Assembly in 1983 in Vancouver - over the past ten years. The ...IZ held a weekend conference in Dresden on 16-18 April 1999 entitled “Is the hope gone?”. The consensus of the conference was two-fold: the trias of justice, peace and integrity of creation “continues to be valid” and, with the specter of the war in Kosovo, the “preferential option for nonviolence” was confirmed by a vast majority. Still, participants determined that “we have only minimally succeeded in motivating young people to take part in the conciliar process”.1

In Dresden more and more traces of the horrible destruction of WWII, particularly the firebombing of 13 February 1945, are being removed. Symbolic is the disputed reconstruction of the Frauenkirche. The ruins of this church long stood as an obvious memorial and a plea that there can be no more wars. To fight the tendency of many to forget that which many of the older residents of Dresden can never forget, the ...IZ will continue with its educational and awareness-raising work and remind everyone that war and violence are the consequences of global injustice and to overcome them the development of a lifestyle of solidarity is required.

1. Documentation from the conference is available in German. Contact the ...IZ, Kreuzstr. 7, D-01067 Dresden, Tel: +49 351 492 33 65, Email: [email protected]

******

Ivo Markovich, a Franciscan priest, heads Face to Face Interreligious Service, an independent, nongovernmental, non-partisan, non-profit, voluntary organization for the promotion of interreligious dialogue, cooperation and understanding in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Pontanima, a choir whose members include singers from Bosnia's major religions, is one Face to Face project. Face to Face is supported by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) and the Province of Bosnian Franciscans, "Bosnia Argentina." MCC workers John and Karin Kaufman Wall serve with Face to Face. Here Karin conducts an interview with Markovich.

Kaufman Wall: What gives you vision for your work?

Markovich: Faith gives me vision. My work in interreligious dialogue is inspired by my experiences in the war. I saw how xenophobia, fear and distance can be dangerous and can produce hatred and violence among humans.

Kaufman Wall: How does Pontanima choir, with its Muslim, Serbian Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Protestant and Jewish members, promote interfaith relationships?

Markovich: Through the choir, we can improve the relationships of common people through the power of art, spiri-tuality, music and cooperation. Through this choir, we wanted to show that we, in the Balkans, can live together. Not only live together, but sing the songs of our neighbors and interact together. In this way, we remove xenophobia and build understanding and participation in other cultures. Religions are often involved as instruments in war. Monotheistic religions demand that their religion is unique the only way to God, and because of that, they are often the cause of aggression and violence.

Kaufman Wall: What does that mean in a Christian worship setting?

Markovich: Pluralism is a term that has been misunderstood. It means living together while preserving our uniqueness, not blending into one. We enrich our own identity and stability through communication with others. In isolation, we can't enrich our identity, we lose it.

If we as Christians try to change others' identity, to convert them from one identity to another, we produce defense mechanisms and hatred against Jesus Christ and everyone/thing identified with Christ. In a pluralistic life we have the possibility to inform people about salvation through Jesus Christ. With grace, we hope people will find an approach to Jesus Christ. We can prepare the road on which God is coming. Only God has the power to convert people.

Our goal is that we can sing in worship with Christian, Islamic and Jewish communities. During worship services, we sing only the songs of that religion, the songs that can be integrated into worship. Those of us from that particular religion will participate in worship, and others will be there in respect, as guests who are with their friends in the most important part of their lives.

Kaufman Wall: What were some of the joys and difficulties in making the choir a reality?

Markovich: When we started this choir in 1996, some members couldn't easily accept singing the songs of their "enemies." But over time, singing together, they soon felt the advantages of life together, reconciliation, healing and forgiveness. The choir as a community has the same problems as any community, but our differences are constructive.

When we sang in Zagreb, Croatia, after the war, we sang Serbian Orthodox songs that could be integrated into the Catholic liturgy. These were the songs of their enemies. But instead of opposition, we found people were delighted with the idea and experienced the power of reconciliation.

We have also met with a great deal of opposition. My own life was threatened by a Catholic brother because he saw me singing an Islamic song with the choir in Sarajevo. Under the exclamation of this song, thousands of people from my group (Croats) had been killed. During the war, songs that had been written as worship songs to praise God were distorted into military anthems to unite ethnic groups and turn them against each other. Many people were killed, tortured and terrorized by these sacred songs that were misused as instruments of war. By singing these songs, together with people of various ethnic groups, we restore the songs to their intended purpose: to praise God.

Markovich is featured in the 18-minute MCC video "The Balkans: Wounded and searching for peace," available for free loan from the MCC Europe Office, CP 52, CH-2720 Tramelan, Tel: +41 32 4875756, Email: [email protected]

*******

The world watched in horror as artillery shells destroyed 600-year-old buildings and snipers shot people who chose the wrong moment to step outside their houses. When the horrific Bosnian war finally ended in 1995, Sarajevo was left in ashes and its residents who had once lived together peacefully despite religious and ethnic differences were deeply divided.

A chorus of voices is rising above the ruins, its melodies bringing healing to a shattered nation. Pontanima, a choir whose members include singers from Bosnia's major religions Muslim, Serbian Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Jewish communities has performed throughout Bosnia, proving that religion can bring people together.

Many scars remain in post-war Bosnia. Choir member Lirija Krusa, 24, who sought refuge in Macedonia during the war, recalls returning to Sarajevo to find her dreams of home destroyed. The city was torn apart, most of her friends had left. Some who stayed during the war criticized her for leaving. "And then one day three years ago, I joined this choir and found something that looked almost unbelievable. I found the spirit of my hometown before the war," says Krusa.

Some friends questioned how Krusa, a Muslim, could sing in an interreligious choir that rehearses in a Roman Catholic church. The choir sings Western Christian music and Jewish, Orthodox and Muslim songs as well as songs from Far East religions. They asked how she could sing music of all religions. "My response was always the same: Why not? They never answered me. They couldn't find an appropriate response," she recalls.

Seeing people from different backgrounds blending their voices has been an example for their audiences. Krusa sees "that this choir, with me in it, is making a difference in this town [Sarajevo]. A lot of changes have happened, for the best of course, in ordinary peoples' minds."

"Now, more and more, people think that this kind of [inter-religious] orientation, which my choir has, is a good way of healing wounds. And I am proud to be a part of that healing process," she says.

Pontanima choir is a project of Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) partner Face to Face Interreligious Service, a dialogue center in Sarajevo. MCC workers John and Karin Kaufman Wall serve with Face to Face; both sing in the choir and coordinate its activities. "I believe this choir has the power to bring to life dialogue about differences of religion and culture among people," says John. "This is extremely important in light of the increase of conflicts based on ethnic and religious hatred in the world today."

******

Delegation of Responsibility among Staff

In response to personnel transitions subsequent to the Church & Peace Administrative Committee meeting at the end of October last year, we have restructured the areas of responsibility in the International Office to make them more transparent. For us it is important that you within the Church & Peace network know exactly how the office is structured and who the contact person is for which areas of responsibility. In the International Office in Laufdorf responsibilities have been divided as follows:

- Office Director: Christian Hohmann

- Communications and Publications: Terri Miller

- Finances, Fundraising and Bookkeeping: Gerlinde Simon and Christian Hohmann

- Christian Services Unit: Terri Miller

- Church & Peace Germanic Region: Christian hohmann and Silvia von Verschuer (contact person)

- Church & Peace Anglophone, Francophone and East European Regions: Terri Miller

Generally we hold a staff meeting once a week to discuss projects, calendar items, longer-term planning and division of labor.

The Christian Service Unit has taken over the work of the former Liaison Centre for Ecumenical Services. The focus of this work is the regular updating of a directory of church-related voluntary service organizations worldwide, which, according to their statements of purpose, make a contribution to the conciliar process for justice, peace and the integrity of creation.

Translations for the newsletter and the pamphlet series “Theology and Peace” comprise a significant portion of our work. Persons outside of the International Office undertake a large part of this translation work. The following persons are responsibility for translation into:

- German: Volunteers in the Germanic region, coordinated by the International Office

- English: Terri Miller

- French: Volunteers in the Francophone region, coordinated by Ruth Wenger Sommer

- Hungarian and Russian: Coordinated by the East European Regional Office

Because Church and Peace is a European network, an important part of our joint work is done in the two regional offices and by the regional committees and staff. There is regular contact between the regions and the International Office. Contact persons in the regions are:

- Church & Peace Britain and Ireland: Gerald Drewett

- Church & Peace Francophone Regional Office: Sylvie Gudin Poupaert, Coordinator

- Church & Peace East European Office: Kati Simonyi; David Fülep (Webmaster)

The central decision-making body of Church & Peace is the Annual General Meeting (AGM). The AGM elects the Administrative Committee and the auditors. The Administrative Committee in turn elects the Director and determines the personnel composition in the International Office and the regions.

The International Office and staff in the regions carry out the decisions of the AGM and the Administrative Committee, reporting back regularly to these bodies concerning their work and making suggestions for future projects and forward planning. The International Office works at maintaining close working ties with both the Administrative Committee and the members.

*******

We are pleased that Ms. Gerlinde Simon has been working in the International Office approximately 6 hours per week since January of this year. Ms. Simon is responsible for the bookkeeping and finance-related adminstration in the office. She also assists with the production and mailing of the newsletter and other publications.

Ms. Simon has worked in several different offices and companies in the Wetzlar area. She is married and has two children.

*******

Reflections on voluntary service term in the International Office

Blaise Amstutz

Eleven months have passed, and my time with Church and Peace has come to an end. Despite the fact that I was in the office only 10 hours per week, I feel that I was well integrated into the office team of Christian, Birgit and Terri even if differences in mentality surfaced from time to time, though no more than can be expected when persons of three different nationalities work together in an office.

This was a year of change for Church and Peace. Of course there were low points, specifically the termination of Birgit’s position. However, many new ideas and initiatives showed me that Church and Peace desires to move ahead: the nomination of six new Administrative Committee members, the beginning of Terri’s work as an employee, the restructuring of the Quarterly into a newsletter and the publication of the first issues in the Theology and Peace pamphlet series.

One highlight for me personally this past year was the opportunity this summer to visit several communities who are a part of the Church and Peace network. This was a tremendous experience for me as a Mennonite, because I was able to “immerse” myself in other confessional contexts. One aspect of Church and Peace that I particularly appreciate is its ecumenical nature. I had the chance to observe this ecumenism during the symposium at Bienenberg which took place during the war in Kosovo, and Baptists, Orthodox, Catholics, Protestants, Mennonites and others met to talk about this crisis situation.

Since Church and Peace does not have concrete projects as does Eirene or MCC for example, the network has to work “behind the scenes” so to speak, something that is not always easy. Despite this, I am happy that Church and Peace continues to move forward in its work for peace. So let us work together and move forward together towards Christ who is the only one who can bring us love, peace and justice.

*****

Paul Gentner

Ernest Dawe died on Saturday, 12 Feb 2000 in Ludwigshafen, Germany. He was 76.

English theologian Ernest Dawe will be remembered as a messenger of reconciliation by many - in the Lutheran Church in the Palatine where he was a pastor; in the “Blue Cross” association of which he was honorary president; and in various peace organizations such as Church and Peace and the German branch of the International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR).

I met Ernest for the first time 30 years ago at an annual general meeting of the German branch of Eirene, of which he was a member. This initial meeting was followed by many committee meetings and other Eirene International events in which he took part at times as an IFOR delegate; for many years he attended Eirene board meetings as a representative of the founding organizations.

Ernest was involved in the development of Eirene’s voluntary service programs in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. He located appropriate projects and then visited project partners, volunteers and German conscientious objectors doing their alternative service abroad. He freely offered his far-reaching experience to the English-speaking North Committee, which helped to run the volunteer program.

Along with other friends, Ernest helped to found Church and Peace and was active in the Administrative Committee for many years; he also carried out careful audits of the financial reports.

In my work together with Ernest that which particularly impressed me was his unconditional respect for principles and rules, for agreements, for committees and tasks of peace organizations. When Ernest agreed to a task, then it was certain that this would be accomplished over a period of years. He did not speak much but his presence had a positive influence on an entire meeting. He made certain that hasty decisions were avoided. As such he quietly but yet significantly helped to shape the structures and actions of peace organizations and movements. In Ernest, word and deed formed an integrated whole.

We thank Ernest for his loyal involvement. May God’s blessing accompany him to his true home.

*****

For the Peace from Above

An Orthodox Resource Book on War, Peace and Nationalism

editors: Hildo Bos and Jim Forest; Syndesmos: Bialystok 1999, 208 p. hardcover

Are Christians allowed to kill during war? May weapons and armies be blessed? What about prayer for governments that persecute the Church? What is the role of the Orthodox Church in situations of civil war like Bosnia and Kosovo? What is the Orthodox position on racism and nationalism?

"For the Peace from Above" is a unique resource tool for anyone wishing to know more about these and other questions, the Syndesmos Resource Book on War, Peace and Nationalism offers a wealth of information. Over 200 pages of reference texts from Scripture, Church canons, the Fathers, Liturgical texts and contemporary authors. Official Orthodox Church statements on racism and on conflicts in Nagorno-Karabach, Russia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo. Essays by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholemeos I, Metropolitan George of Mount Lebanon, Archbishop Anastasios of Albania, Bishop Irenaeus of Backa, Olivier Clement, Fr. Sergi Tchetverikoff. Clear and challenging definitions from dictionaries, Fathers of the Church and contemporary authors.

The Resource Book offers also suggests ways to range of study tools for workshops and group activities. The variety of the material used makes it accessible and useful for all.

$20 plus shipping costs. Contact: Syndesmos, PO Box 22, PL-15-950 Bialystok. Tel: +48-85: 6534-884; Fax: +48-85: 6543-747, Email: [email protected]

From Judson Press, PO Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482, USA. +1 800 458 3766:

Reconciliation: Our Greatest Challenge-Our Only Hope

Curtiss Paul DeYoung, $14.

DeYoung considers biblical reconciliation in its broadest sdense with periodic asides to illusrtate parctical approaches to separation based on race, gender, culture, class, nationalism etc. He examines numerous ways in which reconciliation is inhibited and undermined by the complexity and depth of the fragmentation of society.

Christian Peacemaking: From Heritage to Hope

Daniel L. Buttry, $15

In this thorough and definitive work on the peace movement, author Daniel Buttry offers historical and biblical background as well as a report of recent and conmtinuing community, naitonal and international happenings.

Peace Ministry: A Handbook for Local Churches

Daniel L. Buttry, $15

Whether the congregation is just beginning to try peace ministry or has been active for peace for decades, Buttry’s handbook will prove valuable in sparking creativity in peace program development for a local church.

******

Summer Peacebuilding Institute

The Summer Peacebuilding Institute (SPI) is a program of the Conflict Transformation Program at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. SPI is designed to provide specialized, intensive training in peacebuilding, conflict transformation, and restorative justice to practitioners from around the world. SPI 2000 runs from May 8 to June 30 and will offer five sessions, each with three 7-day intensive courses running concurrently. The courses are sequenced for practitioners at various experience and skill levels. For more information contact the Conflict Transformation Program at EMU, tel: +1 540 432 4490, fax: +1 540 432 4449, email: [email protected]

*****

Church & Peace Annual General Meeting in 2000

7-8 April 2000

Ingolstadt, Germany

English-speaking regional conference

“Reconciling Divided Communities”

9-11 June 2000

The Ammerdown Centre, UK

Germanic regional conference

“Possibilities and Limits of Military and Civilian Conflict Resolution - Ensuring peace through a

partnership of dissimilar parties?”

20-22 October 2000

Homberg/HŸlsa, Germany

Francophone regional conference

“Church, power and nation” - Christian perspectives on nationalism

27-29 October 2000

Grandchamp Community, Switzerland

Church & Peace International Conference

Focus on the WCC Decade to Overcome Violence

26-29 April 2001

Elspeet, NL

Calendar

Shalom – God’s Generous Space

Mennonite European Regional Conference

1-4 June 2000, Luwigshafen, Germany

Program includes Bible studies – “Standing in God’s Creation” (Psalm 104) and “Living in God’s Justice” (Amos) -, worship services, cultural activities and workshops on a variety of topics: environment, liturgy, relationships, baptism, the media, justice, decision making,leadership etc.

For information and English-language registration forms, contact Winfried Schmutz +49 621 8799155.

“Don’t let the Dream Die”

3-9 June 2000, Iona

This course is being run by the Iona Community to celebrate the World Council of Churches Programme to Overcome Violence and the UN Decade for a Culture of Nojviolence.

Program details from Helen Steven at the Scottish Centre for Nonviolence (+44) 01786 824730. For booking forms contact the Booking Office at the Iona Community: (+44) 01681 400460.

“Preparing for the Decade of Peace for the World’s Children”

Anglican Pacifist Fellowship Annual Conference

21-23 July 2000 at Sneaton Castle Centre, Whitby, North Yorkshire

The conference theme will address those issue relating to children and peace - child soldiers, peace education, work of NGOs - and include tpoical speakers and related workshops, musical entertainment, Bible study and much good fellowship!

Contact Christine Hall, 21 Welwyn Close, Redesdale Park, Wallsend NE28 8TE

"Blessed are the Peacemakers"

Orthodox Peace Fellowship North American Conference

27-30 July 2000, St. Joseph's Orthodox Church, Wheaton, IL (USA)

The theme, "Blessed Are the Peacemakers," draws us to core of the Gospel. Every baptized person is called to be a peacemaker. But how to we live Christ's peace in a world of war, injustice, abortion, crime, racism, and widespread destruc-tion of the environment? Speakers include Fr. Irinej Dobrijevic, Fr. Pat Reardon, Alice Carter and Jim Forest. There will be workshops on a wide range of topics. Contact: John Oliver +1 330-453-3012, e-mail: [email protected]