This subcommittee aims to educate ourselves and our church community, creates awareness about the issues of war and peace, and develops a vision of a culture of peace. There are many events scheduled on a regular basis. Please contact the Chair of Peace Issues for more information.
Delegates at the 2006 General Assembly in St. Louis, Missouri, selected “Peacemaking” to be the 2006-2010 Congregational Study/Action Issue (CSAI) of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations.
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?
Background and Reasons for Study: As the human population has increased there has been a corresponding increase in contact between groups of people who were largely isolated from one another in the past. This contact, coupled with differences in politics, religions, moral values, and beliefs as well as economic injustices and competition for resources, have led to countless conflicts around the world.
To study the issue at the Allen Avenue UU church, the Social Action Committee established
a Peacemaking subcommittee. Our church will send comments on the issue to the Commission on Social Witness in the spring of 2009 and it will be on the agenda for the 2009 General Assembly for a final vote. In preparation for that vote, we have engaged in the following activities:
- DECEMBER 2006: Created a mission statement: “Educate ourselves and our church community, create awareness about the issues of war and peace, and develop a vision of a culture of peace.”
- MAY 2007: Facilitated a Sunday service offering various viewpoints with a lively discussion period after the service.
- JUNE 2007: A Friday night showing of the movie
Why We Fight followed by discussion.
- SEPTEMBER 2007: Held a discussion on a Friday night to discuss the intersection of Poverty and War.
- FEBRUARY 2008: Showed the film
A Force More Powerful with a discussion.
- FEBRUARY 2008: Sent in the Commission on Social Witness form.
- MAY 2008: Showed the film
The Good War, and Those Who Refused to Fight It.
- SEPTEMBER 2008: Panel discussion of theologians from various religious beliefs (in the planning stages)
Allen Avenue UU church supports
Peace Action Maine with our
Share the Plate and refers readers to its website for additional information on peace related activities around the Portland area and in Maine. http://www.peaceactionme.org/ Our members are out at numerous rallies supporting the cause of peace.