Proclaim Peace

Repay no one evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends upon you, live peaceably with all.

Romans 12:17–18

An Historic Peace Church

The Church of the Brethren is an Anabaptist denomination of 142,000 members that consists of 23 districts that span most of the United States. It was formed in 1708 when the Brethren movement began in central Germany. We celebrate our 300th anniversary in 2008.

To quote from the Brethren Witness—Peace and Justice page on the Church of the Brethren General Board website:

The Church of the Brethren is known as a Historic Peace Church. In other words, since the beginning Brethren have turned away from violence as a means of solving interpersonal or international problems. The basis for this conviction is firmly rooted in the New Testament, and more specifically in Jesus' teachings on loving our enemies and Paul's admonition that Christians seek to live peaceably with all and that they strive to “overcome evil with good.” Brethren also knew firsthand of the brutality of war; the church came into existence in the aftermath of Europe's Thirty Years War. …

Today members of our denomination follow Christ in his work for peace in many ways. Details about these efforts can be found on the Peace and Justice page. Highlights include:

Brethren Witness/Washington Office

The Brethren Witness/Washington Office of the Church of the Brethren “seeks to resource and call to action the larger church in relation to issues of peace, justice and the global community.” Its Witness to Washington newsletter is available for online reading.

Conscientious Objection

The Church of the Brethren continues to encourage its young men and women to refrain from participation in the military, counseling conscientious objection to war instead and providing conscientious objection resources. As Phil Jones, Brethren Witness/Washington Office Director, says in his letter Conscientious Objection: Living out the convictions of our faith:

The Church of the Brethren, since its beginning in 1708, has repeatedly declared its position against war. Our understanding of the life and the teachings of Christ as revealed in the New Testament led our Annual Conference to state in 1785 that we should not “submit to the higher powers so as to make ourselves their instruments to shed human blood.” In 1918 at our Annual Conference we stated that “we believe that war or any participation in war is wrong and incompatible with the spirit, example and teachings of Jesus Christ.” Again in 1934 Annual Conference resolved that all war is sin. We, therefore, cannot encourage, engage in, or willingly profit from armed conflict at home or abroad. We cannot, in the event of war, accept military service or support the military machine in any capacity.” This conviction, which we reaffirmed in 1948 and now reaffirm again, grew out of such teachings of Christ as the following:

Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To him who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also (Luke 6:27, 28).

“So whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them; for this is the law and the prophets” (Matthew 7:12).

“Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword” (Matthew 26:52).

As Brethren COs throughout history have discovered, making a committment to peace in a time of war is not easy. Brethren peacemakers have put their lives on the line working unarmed in war zones to help the victims of war; in World War II some Brethren COs volunteered for dangerous military medical experiments, others were imprisoned for their resistance. But Brethren and other historic peace denominations consider these challenges to be an opportunity to offer a witness of conscience to Christ’s way of peace.

Decade to Overcome Violence

As we enter the 21st century, The Church of the Brethren joins Christians around the world in calling for a Decade to Overcome Violence. Our hope is that Christians will take the lead in setting a different, more peaceful course for the next century. The Church of the Brethren, through its representatives to the World Council of Churches, was instrumental in calling on global Christianity to set this theme for the years 2001-2010. The Decade is not organized around set programs, but rather is an invitation for all Christian bodies to offer their own gifts for peacemaking according to their own calling.

On Earth Peace Assembly

The On Earth Peace Assembly, founded in 1974 by M.R. Zigler, is “a movement grounded in the Church of the Brethren dedicated to following the teaching of Jesus Christ in renewing and living out our biblical and denominational heritage of peace.” Through programs such as Peacemaker Formation, Peace Witness, Conflict Transformation, OEPA seeks to “empower people to discern the things that make for peace…seeking the realization of God's will on earth as in heaven.”