Year in Review FYE 2006

CPT: Getting in the Way  2005-2006

February 1, 2005 - January 31, 2006

The final months of 2005 plunged Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) into the most intense crisis of its 18-year peacemaking ministry.

On November 26, 2005 CPTers Tom Fox (USA) and Jim Loney (Canada) along with delegation members Norman Kember (UK) and Harmeet Sooden (Canada/New Zealand) were kidnapped in Iraq.

Tom Fox was killed on March 9, 2006. Jim, Norman and Harmeet were freed two weeks later on March 23 after 118 days of captivity.

Throughout those days of crisis, CPT was surrounded and upheld by a great outpouring of compassion – messages of support, acts of mercy, prayers, and public peace actions from all corners of the globe.

From the Co-Directors.

From the banks of the wide Euphrates in Iraq, to the lakes of northern Ontario to the Magdalena River in Colombia, CPT has been through the waters. And yet the tremendous grace of God through teammates and partners in peace the world over has been a raft that has held strong and carried us far.

From ancient deep wells in the West Bank to the tanks of sun-warmed water in the Arizona desert, CPT has been privileged to witness, receive and share the life-giving water of a way out of war and violence.

There are times when we look at what we do and wonder – does it make a difference? Is it enough? Our work for justice seems so small compared to crushing occupation.

One precious gift that came to us during the time our brothers were held captive in Iraq was a clear message from people all over the world, especially from the places where we work: What CPT does, matters!

When Colombian human rights leader, Héctor Mondragón, speaking to an audience of North American Christians, was asked, “What is the most important thing we can do?” he responded:

“You can go and share the fate of Colombians like CPT does. CPT accompanies communities that are in danger of being massacred. They do not use arms to defend people. They are there in the hope that their presence will protect people. And if something happens they will share in their fate.”

Héctor was right. In March, after months of captivity in Iraq, CPTer Tom Fox, a gentle and powerfully peaceful man, was killed. Tears of grief flow into streams of action as we take up the work Tom left behind.

Stone seems stronger than water. War looks more powerful than peace. But appearances lie.

Once, a builder friend inspected the land sloping down towards the foundation of a house. She shook her head and said, “Water always wins.”

Like water, nonviolence has the strength of fluidity that overcomes hardness of heart and undermines the barriers built against justice.

In the end, we believe in the resurrection as a participatory event. What is your part in this chapter of that story? Participation in a short-term delegation? Joining the Corps of Christian Peacemaker Teams full time or as a Reservist? Local activism? Persistent prayer? Financial support? We welcome each drop of water in this stream of peacemaking.

Co-directors: Carol Rose & Doug Pritchard

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Peacemaker Delegations

Short-term delegations of 7-14 days link communities experiencing violence with concerned individuals, churches and community groups, offering participants a first-hand experience of the transformative power of Gospel nonviolence. Delegations serve as a primary mechanism for persons interested in active peacemaking  and human rights to participate directly in CPT's violence-reduction ministry. Often short-term delegations can ask questions, visit certain officials, or test new avenues of nonviolence in ways that strengthen the work of on-going teams.

In 2005-2006, 161 people participated in 19 CPT delegations:

• Seven to Palestine/Israel in February, April, May, July, September, November, and January.
• Two international delegations to Colombia in May and September; one national delegation during Holy Week.
• Four to Iraq, in February, May, September, and November.
• Four to the Arizona/Mexico border in May, June, July and October.
• One to Kenora and Asubpeeschoseewagong (Grassy Narrows, Ontario) in February.
  

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Palestine

a continuing presence since June 1995

In Hebron, Israel tightened its military control of the Old City, forcing more Palestinian families to leave and further isolating remaining Palestinian families living near Israeli settlements.

Caption:  Above: Israeli soldier stops Palestinian students at checkpoint, preventing the girls from getting to school on time. Left: CPTer Maureen Jack intervenes as Israeli soldier harasses Palestinian student on her way to school.

In Hebron, Israel tightened its military control of the Old City, forcing more Palestinian families to leave and further isolating remaining Palestinian families living near Israeli settlements.

In late summer the Israeli military installed gates and metal detectors at four points around the Old City. Three of these blocked the daily passage of Palestinian teachers and students to local primary schools. Two were installed in small metal cabins operated by an Israeli soldier. Female teachers of child-bearing age and students refused to walk through the metal detectors, citing two concerns: 1) health risks from frequent exposure to the equipment, and 2) violation of modesty from being closed in a metal cabin with a male soldier. After days of protest and noncompliance, the Israeli military agreed to allow teachers with school ID and students to bypass the cabins.

Over the next months, as Israeli soldiers rotated in and out of Hebron, new troops frequently disregarded the agreement and attempted to force all pedestrians through the cabins. CPT monitored the checkpoints daily and accompanied children from the Old City to their schools.

In at-Tuwani, CPT, together with members of the Italian peace group Operation Dove, accompanied Palestinian shepherds, farmers and school children in the area around Ma’on settlement and its outposts along Route 317.

During most of the school year the Israeli military and police escorted Palestinian children from Tuba to and from the school in at-Tuwani in order to prevent settler attacks. Whenever the military escort was late, CPTers and Doves reported this to the authorities and accompanied the children.

In the spring, Israeli settlers spread rat poison throughout pastures in the area, killing many of the sheep belonging to at-Tuwani residents.

In the fall, the Israeli military announced plans to build a low concrete wall the length of Route 317 (an Israeli bypass road from the Green Line to Hebron) which would effectively cut off the entire South Hebron Hills region from jobs, schools, and hospitals in Hebron and Yatta.

When four CPTers were kidnapped in Iraq, Palestinians from both Hebron and at-Tuwani worked tirelessly with team members to advocate for their release.

Palestinians held press conferences and rallies and placed testimonials to CPT in the Arabic media.

In 2005-2006, CPT Palestine:

• Monitored treatment of Palestinians at Israeli military checkpoints and roadblocks.
• Provided daily accompaniment for Palestinian children walking to and from school.
• Accompanied Palestinian shepherds and farmers to fields where they are exposed to assault by extremist settlers.
• Joined Palestinians and Israeli peace activists in acts of public nonviolent resistance to Israel’s construction of a “security wall” which cuts through Palestinian territory.
• Visited Palestinian families in and around Hebron to maintain relationships and learn of changes or problems.
• Provided on-scene briefings and updates for officials from various embassies, international journalists, fact finding groups, and individuals from Israel,
  Palestine, and overseas.
• Sent regular reports on events in Hebron and the south Hebron hills to international supporters and media.
• Facilitated contact between long-separated Israelis and Palestinians whose families in Hebron were friends seventy-five years ago.
• Hosted seven peacemaker delegations.

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Colombia

a continuing presence since February 2001

More than four decades of violence has cost over 200,000 Colombian lives, including 30,000 political assassinations in the last 10 years. Both leftist guerrillas and right-wing paramilitary groups use violence to maintain, consolidate or wrest control of markets, territory, resources and people, swelling the numbers of displaced civilians fleeing for their lives to over three million.

Once counted among those displaced by violence, CPT accompaniment helped farmers and fishers from the township of the Ciénaga del Opón in northern Colombia near the oil-refining city of Barrancabermeja return to their homes and begin to rebuild their lives four years ago. Following a rash of killings at the end of 2003, residents faced a difficult choice – flee again, or stay and resist the violence as a community. Most chose to stay.

With the support of local peace, development and human rights groups from Barrancabermeja, the communities launched their “Process for Life, Liberty and Dignity of the Ciénaga del Opón” in 2004, thereby joining a network of “Humanitarian Spaces” across the region.

CPT maintained a weekly violence-reduction presence in the Ciénaga del Opón in 2005, and added a regular presence in the township of Micoahumado in the hills above Morales. Both municipalities form part of the “Laboratory of Peace” in the Magdalena Medio region. Like all designated “Humanitarian Spaces,” these communities insist that armed actors respect the rights of local residents to live in peace and to organize for their own economic and social development.

Paramilitary demobilization under the Colombian government’s much-debated “Justice and Peace Law,” which amnesties the majority of paramilitaries who lay down their arms, began in the Barrancabermeja area mid-year. However, CPT documented and denounced numerous paramilitary incursions into the Ciénaga del Opón, including patrols in which known paramilitaries were integrated with Colombian army units. The Team also witnessed the ongoing presence of the paramilitary-controlled gasoline cartel in the zone.

Despite ongoing human rights violations – including selective assassinations and threats against human rights defenders, labor and community leaders – Colombia is the fifth largest recipient of U.S. military financing. Much of this money goes to a controversial aerial fumigation program to eradicate coca crops. CPT-Colombia continues to document and speak out against the negative effects of fumigation on food crops and human health in communities in the Magdalena Medio region.

In 2005-2006, CPT-Colombia:

• Maintained regular patrols and visits to rural communities in the townships of the Ciénaga del Opón and Micoahumado in the Magdalena Medio region.
• Monitored activity of the gasoline cartel and its paramilitary protectors on the Opón and Colorado Rivers.
• Organized a nationally-reported, non-violent direct action on the tarmac of Barrancabermeja’s civilian airport in front of planes and helicopters used for aerial fumigation.
• Documented specific incidents of Colombian army patrols which included known paramilitaries, and other violations of human rights committed by armed
  groups; distributed reports to Colombian authorities, U.S. and Canadian embassies, media, church and human rights networks.
• Accompanied community leaders participating in national and local conferences, meetings, and events focused on reclaiming civilian space from armed actors.
• Met regularly with human rights groups and advisors in Barrancabermeja for planning and coordination.
• Participated in numerous vigils, marches and demonstrations organized by human rights organizations in Barrancabermeja.
• Hosted one national and two international delegations as well as regular meetings for former Colombian delegates in Bogotá.
• Sent mobile teams to investigate and report on peacemaking activities elsewhere in Colombia, including impoverished urban neighborhoods in Bogotá affected by paramilitary violence and indigenous Nasa communities in northern Cauca enduring both guerrilla attacks and state repression.
• Cosponsored the “Partnering for Peace in Colombia” conference in Chicago.

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Iraq

a continuing presence since October 2002

The situation in Iraq continued to be very difficult for Iraqis and internationals throughout the year.

For CPTers, based in Baghdad, the year was marked by the November 26 kidnapping of team members Tom Fox and Jim Loney, and delegation members Harmeet Sooden and Norman Kember. Tom was killed on March 9, 2006 and the other three were freed on March 23.

Throughout that crisis, team members were sustained by faith and the outpouring of support from Muslims, Christians, political leaders, and human rights organizations around the world calling for the release of the four CPTers. Meanwhile, thousands of kidnapped Iraqis, abducted mostly by criminal gangs, received little media attention or support.

Other violence also continued at a high level with daily bombings and extra-judicial killings, particularly in Baghdad and central Iraq. This severely restricted the ability of Iraqis and CPTers to engage in public witness to counter the violence, and nudged team members to seek other ways to promote nonviolent alternatives.

Throughout the year, daily life for Iraqis was made more difficult by the continuing shortage of basic services and infrastructure. Oil and electricity production levels are still lower than before the March 2003 war. Clean water remains in short supply and sewage pools on many city streets. Unemployment is high. Reconstruction efforts have been slow and plagued by lack of planning, mismanagement, corruption, attacks, and high security costs.

In August, Iraqis approved a new constitution, and in December held constitutionally-based elections. High voter turnouts signified Iraqis’ continuing hopes for a better and freer future. However, months later no new government had yet emerged from these elections, and attempts to divide the people along sectarian lines multiplied.

There are still 150,000 Multi-National Forces (MNF) operating in the country alongside the growing Iraqi National Guard and police forces.

CPTers were among the few internationals living outside the Green Zone in Iraq and working without guns or engineering contracts. Iraqis working at the grassroots to build a civil society say that CPT’s presence and partnership gives them hope.

In 2005-2006, CPT-Iraq:

• Assisted with the training of a Muslim Peacemaker Team (MPT) in Karbala and worked with a group in Najaf interested in forming another such team.
• Joined the mostly Shi’a MPT for a day of clean-up in the Sunni-dominated city of Fallujah decimated by a U.S. military assault.
• Accompanied Iraqis at risk as they sought information or compensation from authorities, or gave testimonies to international groups such as the UN, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch.
• Provided a presence in Palestinian camps under attack and accompanied a group of Palestinians fleeing to the Syrian border.
• Ended the Adopt-a-Detainee Campaign, but continued to monitor the MNF’s detention of 14,000 Iraqis and assist those seeking information about loved ones detained by Iraqi authorities.
• Documented and reported on human rights abuses including illegal detention, torture and extra-judicial killings.
• Accompanied a relief convoy taking supplies to Tel Afar.
• Worked for the release of the four kidnapped CPTers.
• Maintained regular contact and support for religious and civil leaders and groups seeking to promote unity and tolerance.
• Reported first-hand observations and perspectives through extensive speaking tours at home, dozens of media interviews in Iraq and at home, and 170 releases on CPTNet.
• Provided information and support for the autumn Camp Casey presence in the USA, and the January Shine the Light Campaign in the USA and Canada, calling for an end to human rights abuses in Iraq.
• Hosted four peacemaker delegations.

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Kenora, Ontario

a periodic presence since August 2004

This year saw significant shifts in CPT’s work in Kenora, Ontario. On May 31, CPT ended its full-time presence in favor of a periodic presence (8-10 weeks several times a year) combined with short-term delegations.

CPT’s full-time presence in Northwest Ontario began near the end of 2002 at the invitation of Asubpeeschoseewagong First Nation (Grassy Narrows). The community blockaded logging trucks to stop the clear-cutting of forests on their traditional land.

Less than two years later, the blockade had brought most of the clear-cutting to a halt and positioned the community to negotiate further treaty disputes.

As the threat of overt violence at the blockade subsided, CPT moved into nearby Kenora, a paper mill town and regional center where Anishinaabe people from more than a dozen surrounding communities come to do their shopping, banking, and personal business.

CPT maintained a full-time presence in Kenora from August 2004 through May 2005. In partnership with the Anishinaabe Peace and Justice Coalition, team members worked to address the racist violence perpetrated against aboriginals, many of whom routinely experience stereotyping and mistreatment in the course of shopping, attending school or obtaining health care in Kenora. The team’s efforts focused on engaging citizens in public witness and anti-racism education.

A two-month presence from mid-October to mid-December continued that same focus.

In 2005-2006, CPT-Kenora:

• Held a series of meetings with local church leaders regarding the problem of racist violence in Kenora.
• Conducted a Community Organizing workshop which brought non-aboriginal residents and Anishinaabe people together around the issue of undoing racism.
• Documented incidents of abuse against Anishinaabe people in Kenora.
• Held public witness actions calling attention to the lack of safety for Anishinaabe people in Kenora.
• Hosted one CPT delegation in February.

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Arizona

a seasonal presence since summer 2004

Over 280 migrants were found dead in southern Arizona last year. U.S. immigration policy has increasingly militarized the border, forcing migrants to take remote routes through the deadly-hot desert. Local residents fear legal prosecution if they offer emergency aid to undocumented migrants or report the abuse of migrants by Border Patrol agents. The ominous presence of vigilante groups also contributes to a climate of fear in the borderlands region.

Borderlands religious and civic leaders concerned about the rising migrant death toll have denounced the flawed nature of current U.S. immigration policy and issued an alternative set of faith-based principles for immigration reform. Some point out the structural violence of “free trade” agreements which facilitate the movement of goods and capital while criminalizing the movement of people.

For the second summer, CPT responded to an invitation from the No More Deaths movement, a coalition of human rights and humanitarian aid groups assisting migrants, to place a team in Cochise County, Arizona where threats of vigilante violence were strong. From April through September 2005, team members lived in the border town of Douglas, home to the largest Border Patrol Station in the country. A smaller team continued CPT’s border presence into the fall and winter.

In 2005-2006 CPT-Arizona:

• Joined the 75-mile “Migrant Trail Walk” through the Arizona desert from Sasabe on the U.S./Mexico border to Tucson, kicking off the summer “No More Deaths” campaign.
• Organized Public Witness Actions to remember those who died in the deserts of Cochise County, to witness against the failed immigration policy that contributed to those deaths, and to help draw media attention to border issues.
• Conducted public memorial services for migrants found dead.
• Engaged in a three-day fast at the U.S.-Mexico border wall.
• Organized a campaign of cross-painting on the US-Mexico border wall as a way of visualizing and remembering the deaths of migrants. When Border Patrol covered over the white crosses with black paint, CPT repainted them.
• Observed and reported on the U.S. Attorney’s trial against two No More Deaths volunteers facing felony charges for providing medical evacuation to migrants in distress.
• Rendered limited emergency aid to migrants in distress as a humanitarian act of political resistance to harmful immigration policies and enforcement.
• Monitored and engaged Minutemen vigilante teams present in Cochise county in April and beyond. Provided basic nonviolence training for local legal observers watching the Minutemen.
• Organized a 20-person delegation to Washington, DC to advocate for comprehensive immigration reform.
• Made visits to other areas of border violence in New Mexico.
• Maintained regular contact with Border Patrol agents and monitored their treatment of migrants.
• Joined local residents in regular prayer vigils.
• Hosted four CPT delegations to the borderlands region.

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Regional Groups

CPT Regional Groups are built around a core of trained CPTers together with CPT supporters who work to reduce violence both in their local regions and by supporting or serving on already-established CPT projects. Regional Groups are a primary mechanism for expanding the breadth and depth of CPT support across the continents.

CPT-Cleveland held their annual peace prayer vigil to draw attention to youth violence, led workshops on nonviolent responses to violence for high school youth, and organized a 24-hour prayer vigil on behalf of the CPT hostages. Contact: Wanda Ngolo; 216-291-4077; mhngolo600@wmconnect.com.

CPT-Colorado held monthly meetings which included updates on CPT activities, prayer and spiritual reflection, and planning. Members of CPT-Colorado served as peacekeepers and trained peacekeepers for various local peace rallies. The group sponsored a local Sabeel conference on Palestine and helped accompany a migrant rally in Topeka, KS. Members of CPT-Colorado served on teams in Arizona and Palestine. Contact: Marilyn Miller; 303-499-5229; marilynfmiller@comcast.net.

CPT-DC helped host CPT’s campaign to “Shine the Light” on the abuse and illegal detention of over 14,000 Iraqis being held by the U.S. military in Iraq. The group met monthly to share a meal and offer support to members returning from field service. CPT-DC publicized talks, provided hospitality, and set up meetings for CPTers visiting their congressional representatives on Capitol Hill. Members of CPT-DC served on teams in Arizona, Colombia, Kenora, and Palestine. Contact: Sally Hunsberger; 202-232-0858; sallyhunsberger@juno.com.

CPT-Manitoba facilitated and participated in anti-racism trainings in Red Lake and Kenora and organized weekly prayer vigils at the University of Winnipeg on behalf of the CPT hostages. Contact: Lisa Martens; 204-779-8594; con21stri@yahoo.com.

CPT-Northern Indiana (CPT-NI) initiated two-week peace encampments in Ft. Wayne, Elkhart and Mishawauka. The encampments, inspired by Cindy Sheehan’s Camp Casey at U.S. President Bush’s Texas ranch, called for an end to the war in Iraq and focused on counter-recruiting. CPT-NI continued to co-sponsor Wednesday prayer vigils against the Iraq War. In the spring, the group hosted a regional training that included ten participants from Chicago and Northern Indiana. Members of CPT-NI served on teams in Arizona, Palestine, and Iraq. Contact: Rich Meyer; 574-202-3920; richm@cpt.org.

CPT-Ontario (CPT-O) hosted CPT’s first Continuing Peacemaker Education weekend on community organizing with over 35 participants. Group members were active in public witness and advocacy to end the war in Iraq. CPT-O organized daily vigils, press conferences, public actions, and helped staff the Toronto office during the hostage crisis. Members of CPT-O served on projects in Colombia, Iraq, Kenora, Palestine, and Arizona. Contact: Rebecca Johnson; 416-423-5525; canada@cpt.org.

CPT-United Kingdom (CPT-UK) staffed a booth at the large Christian Greenbelt Festival in the summer and gave over a dozen presentations on CPT work. The kidnapping of British CPT delegate, Norman Kember, in Iraq catapulted CPT-UK into the public spotlight. CPTers in England and Scotland, primarily Reservists, handled volumes of media inquiries. Group members helped organize weekly vigils on behalf of the CPT hostages during December and January and drafted an open letter signed by 42 prominent religious leaders (www.cptuk.org.uk) calling for the release of the CPTers and justice for Iraqi detainees. Members of  CPT-UK served in Colombia, Palestine, and Iraq. Contact: Tim Nafziger; 011-02-08-341-6807; nafziger@gmail.com.

CPT Upper-Midwest (CPT- UM) met periodically to hear field reports and to plan participation in local peace witnesses. The Minnesota subgroup participated in a large peace vigil at a depleted uranium weapons manufacturer, Alliant Tech in Minneapolis. Members of CPT-UM served on teams in Palestine and Iraq. Contact: Michele Naar-Obed; 218-728-0629; obedsinduluth@yahoo.com.

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Public Witness

In 2005-2006, CPTers spoke truth to power in bold acts of public witness and nonviolent resistance in the streets and at the doors of weapons manufacturers, military recruiting centers, congressional and parliamentary offices, military training schools, federal buildings, military bases, and courthouses.

Hundreds of CPT members and supporters across Canada, the UK and the USA participated in a January campaign to “Shine the Light” on torture, hostage-taking, and abuse of detainees.

CPT supporters encircled the globe with public prayers on behalf of Iraqi detainees and CPT captives in communities from Hebron to Harrisonburg, from Baghdad to Bogotá, from Kenora to Cleveland, from New York to New Zealand to Chicago to Toronto to London and beyond.

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Training

CPT provides intensive training in nonviolence and peacemaking skills for full-time and Reserve Corps members.

In January, with 4 peacemakers still held captive in Iraq, CPT held its 25th training since the Peacemaker Corps was formed in 1993. Seventeen of those trainings have taken place in Chicago. Eight regional trainings have been conducted: 4 in Canada and 1 each in Colorado, Ohio, Washington, DC, and Northern Indiana.

A total of 296 individuals have participated in CPT’s training program. Of those, 92% graduated with a three-year commitment to CPT work.

In 2005-2006, 28 people completed training

:

• 18 individuals participated in CPT’s four-week “peacemaker boot camp” held in Chicago in July/August and January.
• 10 people completed a regional training in Northern Indiana / Chicago in the spring.
• 2 training graduates joined CPT full-time and 22 committed to serve as Reservists.

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Additional Work

Congo: Africa is home to 15 of the world’s 36 armed conflicts today. In October/November 2005, CPT sent a four-person exploratory delegation to Burundi and Eastern Congo where millions of people have been displaced or killed. All parties in the conflict use rape as a weapon of war. Every church leader, human rights worker, and women’s group the delegation met pointed out the United States’ responsibility in funding the bloodshed.

Christian Peacemaker Congress VIII: Nearly 450 people attended CPT’s bi-annual peacemaker gathering held September 8-11 in Indianapolis, Indiana in partnership with the Plowshares Peace Studies Collaborative. The theme, “Seeking Peace: the Courage to Be Nonviolent.” encouraged participants to drink deep from the well of resources that nourish boldness for the often difficult work of peacemaking. A wide array of over sixty workshops and twice-daily worships integrated faith with learning. Plenary speakers included CPTer Peggy Gish on Iraq and Damu Smith, founder of Black Voices for Peace, among others.

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Communications Ministry

Providing fresh, first-hand stories and information for churches and supporters worldwide who advocate for victims of organized or state-sponsored violence can have a significant impact on public policy.

In 2005-2006, CPT’s Communications Ministry included:

• “Signs of the Times” - distributed 18,000 newsletters each quarter to individuals and groups in 77 countries including 2500 to Canada.
• “Getting in the Way: Stories from Christian Peacemaker Teams” edited by CPT Reservist Tricia Gates Brown, was published by Herald Press and is available from CPT for $15 (U.S.), $20 (Cdn).
• Internet Services - posted an average of 6 news reports, action alerts, reflections, and updates from teams in the field each week to 2500 e-mail recipients via CPTNet; field teams maintained Listserves for people with specific interest in Arizona, Colombia, Hebron, Iraq, and CPT’s Campaign for Secure Dwellings; issued short Prayers for Peacemakers each Wednesday for use by congregations in worship and church bulletins; CPT’s Web Site served as a primary source of information for the media and CPT constituents during the Iraq kidnapping crisis – web traffic in just two months (December/January) registered nearly double that of the previous 12 months, at times reaching 5000 hits a day. To subscribe to these services, send a message to peacemakers@cpt.org.
• Speaking and Writing - opportunities to speak about CPT’s peacemaking ministry and commitment to nonviolence, especially in mainstream media, multiplied exponentially during the Iraq kidnapping crisis. CPTers gave an estimated 2,500 presentations at churches, schools, universities, conferences, and community settings. Several CPTers set up national or regional speaking tours. Contact CPT offices or visit the Speaker’s Bureau on our web site to schedule a CPTer to speak in your area.

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Personnel

CPT’s Christian Peacemaker Corps is made up of trained peacemakers committed to three years of full-time or part-time service.

In FYE 2006 the Peacemaker Corps totaled 193:

• 47 trained peacemakers gave full-time leadership to CPT’s violence-reduction ministry.
• 154 Reservists joined them on teams for periods of two to twelve weeks or more during the year.
• 15 Corps members (12 full-time and 3 Reservists) formed CPT’s Support Team working out of offices in 3 locations in Canada and the U.S.

Current full-time and Reserve Corps members come from 31 U.S. states, 6 Canadian provinces, 3 Colombian Departments, England, New Zealand, the  Philippines, and Scotland. Five Reservists currently live in Bahrain, England, Jerusalem, and Haiti.

CPT Reservist Rose Whiteside died of cancer on November 23, 2005. She and her husband Haven served on teams in Colombia, Iraq and Arizona. Haven
continues as a Reservist.

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Interns and Volunteers

• One intern, Michelle Stanley (Canandaigon, NY), served with CPT in Palestine during the year.
• Student interns from Northwestern and DePaul Universities in Chicago logged 127 hours helping with special research projects, translation and cataloging CPT’s library resources.
• Volunteers in the Chicago area saved CPT significant dollars by stuffing, sticking and sealing close to 70,000 envelopes and newsletters for mailing.
• Dozens of volunteers stepped up to help in the Toronto and Chicago offices during the Iraq crisis. Our deepest gratitude goes out to each one.

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Financial Summary   Donate to CPT

U.S. and Canada (in U.S. dollars)

[As a religious organization, CPT is exempt from filing audited annual financial statements (IRS Form990). We provide this financial summary reviewed by a professional accountant.]

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Supporting Denominations and Organizations

Church of the Brethren (COB)

Friends United Meeting (FUM)

Mennonite Church Canada (MC-Canada)

Mennonite Church USA (MC-USA)

Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America (BPFNA)

Congregation of St. Basil (the Basilians)

Every Church a Peace Church (ECAPC)

On Earth Peace (OEP)

Presbyterian Peace Fellowship (PPF)

Steering Committe

The work of CPT is guided by a Steering Committee of representatives from supporting denominations, organizations and at-large members.  Those who served on CPT’s Steering Committee in 2005-2006 were:

Lois Baker (Monroe, WI) - PPF (substitute for Rich Ufford Chase)

Tony Brown (Hesston, KS) - MC-USA

Ruth Buhler (Osler, SK) - MC-Canada

Walter Franz  (Winnipeg, MB) - MC-Canada

Elizabeth García (Brownsville, TX) - Peacemaker Corps Representative

David Jehnsen (Galena, OH) - OEP

Cliff Kindy (North Manchester, IN) - COB

Susan Mark Landis (Orrville, OH) - MC-USA

Lee McKenna duCharme (Toronto, ON) - BPFNA

Phil Miller (Conrad, IA) - OEP

Maxine Nash (Waukon, IA) - at large

Orlando Redekopp (Chicago, IL) - COB

Ben Richmond (Richmond, IN) - FUM

Hedy Sawadsky (Vine-land, ON) - at large

Colin South (Richmond, IN) - FUM

John Stoner (Akron, PA) - ECAPC

Brian Young (Richmond, IN) - FUM.

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Peacemaker Corps:  Full-time and Reserve

Corps Members serving FULL-TIME in 2005-2006 were:

Scott Albrecht (Kitchener, ON)

Kristin Anderson (Willmar, MN)

Adaía Bernal (Colombia)

Chris Brown (San Francisco, CA)

Cal Carpenter (Minneapolis, MN)

Joe Carr (Kansas City, MO)

Matt Chandler (Springfield, OR)

Kryss Chupp (Chicago, IL)

Susanna Collerd (River Forest, IL)

Noah Dillard (Freedom, ME)

Claire Evans (Chicago, IL)

Tom Fox (Clearbrook, VA)

Mark Frey (Chicago, IL)

Elizabeth García (Brownsville, TX)

Peggy Gish (Athens, OH)

Julián Gutiérrez (Colombia)

Tracy Hughes (Miamisburg, OH)

Diane Janzen (Calgary, AB)

Rebecca Johnson (Toronto, ON)

Kathleen Kern (Webster, NY)

Scott Kerr (Downers Grove, IL)

Cliff Kindy (North Manchester, IN)

Erin Kindy (Tiskilwa, IL)

Joel Klassen (Toronto, ON)

Amy Knickrehm (Chicago, IL

Kim Lamberty (Washington, DC)

Jerry Levin (Birmingham, AL)

John Lynes (East Sussex, England)

Rich Meyer (Millersburg, IN)

Anne Montgomery (New York, NY)

Maxine Nash (Waukon, IA)

Jessica Phillips (Chicago, IL)

Kimberly Prince (Carrollton, GA)

Doug Pritchard (Toronto, ON)

Sheila Provencher (Somerville, MA)

Sara Reschly (Chicago, IL)

Sandra Rincón (Colombia)

Dianne Roe (Corning, NY)

Greg Rollins (Surrey, BC)

Carol Rose (Chicago, IL)

Matt Schaaf (Winnipeg, MB)

Pierre Shantz (Colombia)

Kathie Uhler (New York, NY)

Luna Villota (New York, NY)

Stewart Vriesinga (Lucknow, ON)

Maia Williams (Dale City, VA)

Keith Young (Gobles, MI)

Diana Zimmerman (Baltimore, MD).

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Reserve Corps Members serving in 2005-2006 were:

• Justin Alexander (Chipping Norton, England) • Art Arbour (Toronto, ON) • Matthew Bailey-Dick (Waterloo, ON) • Nina Bailey-Dick (Waterloo, ON) • Bill Baldwin (Ottawa, ON) • Benno Barg (Kitchener, ON) • Nathan Bender (Toronto, ON) • Jan Benvie (Fife, Scotland) • Christy Bischoff (Asheville, NC) • Rafael Boria (Chicago, IL) • Lisa Brightup (Wichita, KS) • Sally Britton (Norwich, VT) • Paul Brohaugh (Brooklyn, NY) • Ellis Brown (St. Agatha, ON) • Michael Brown (Baltimore, MD) • Tricia Brown (Newberg, OR) • Mabel Brunk (Goshen, IN) • Chris Buhler (Waterloo ON) • Cynthia Burnside (Madison, WI) • Judith Bustany (Los Angeles, CA) • Bob Carlsten (Denver, CO) • Elluage Carson (Shaker Heights, OH) • Amy Clark (North Liberty, IA) • David Cockburn (Shepperton, England) • Dave Corcoran (Des Plaines, IL) • Dan Dale (Chicago, IL) • Anita David (Chicago, IL) • Angela Davis (Natchez, MS) • Jenny Dillon (Washington, DC) • Rusty Dinkins-Curling (Roanoke, VA) • Cassandra Dixon (Wisconsin Dells, WI) • Bill Durland (Colorado Springs, CO) • Genie Durland (Colorado Springs, CO) • Korey Dyck (Winnipeg, MB) • Liz Dyrst (Chicago, IL) • Duane Ediger (Chicago, IL) • John Engle (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) • John Finlay (Walkerton, ON) • Jim Fitz (Tiskilwa, IL) • Alyce Foster (Cleveland, OH) • Jill Foster (Montreal, QC) • Lorne Friesen (Winkler, MB) • Ron Friesen (Loveland, CO) • Elizabeth García (Brownsville, TX) • Christina Gibb (Dunedin, New Zealand) • Art Gish (Athens, OH) • Michael Goode (Chicago, IL) • Jesse Griffin (Bedford Heights, OH) • Bob Gross (North Manchester, IN) • Matt Guynn (Richmond, IN) • Laurie Hadden (Markham, ON) • Carol Hanna (Shaker Heights, OH) • Wes Hare (Chapel Hill, NC) • Julie Hart (Newton, KS) • Anne Herman (Binghamton, NY) • Donna Hicks (Durham, NC) • Bob Holmes (Toronto ON) • Lisa Hughes (Portland, OR) • Sally Hunsberger (Washington, DC) • Maureen Jack (Fife, Scotland) • David Janzen (London, ON) • Allen Johnson (Dunmore, WV) • Rebecca Johnson (Toronto, ON) • Kathy Kamphoefner (East Jerusalem) • Kathy Kapenga (Manama, Bahrain) • Bourke Kennedy (Skaneateles, NY) • Esther Kern (London, ON) • Erin Kindy (Tiskilwa, IL) • Nicholas Klassen (Fort Langley, BC) • Michael Lachman (Athens, OH) • Kim Lamberty (Washington, DC) • Mary Lawrence (Lunenburg, MA) • Wendy Lehman (Chicago, IL) • Gerry Lepp (Harrow, ON) • Gina Lepp (Harrow, ON) • Sis Levin (Birmingham, AL) • JoAnne Lingle (Indianapolis, IN) • Jim Loney (Toronto, ON) • Jan Long (Ft. Wayne, IN) • Reynaldo Lopez (Paranaque City, Philippines) • Murray Lumley (Toronto, ON) • Barb Martens (Ruthven, ON) • Lisa Martens (Winnipeg, MB) • Dave Martin (Lombard, IL) • Ben Martin Horst (Eugene, OR) • K. Elayne McClanen (Sandy Spring, MD) • Cathy McLean (Strathroy, ON) • Paul-Philip (Paco) Michelson (Huntington, IN) • Bruce Miller (Madison, WI) • Cynthia Miller (Shaker Heights, OH) • Marilyn Miller (Boulder, CO) • Robin Miller (Shaker Heights, OH) • David Milne (Belleville, ON) • Phyllis Milton (Orange Village, OH) • Anne Montgomery (New York, NY) • Denis Murphy (Santa Fe, NM) • Michele Naar-Obed (Duluth, MN) • Tim Nafziger (Goshen, IN) • Paul Neufeld Weaver (Worthington, MN) • Henri Ngolo (Cleveland Heights, OH) • Wanda Ngolo (Cleveland Heights, OH) • Pieter Niemeyer (Stouffville ON) • Germana Nijim (Cedar Falls, IA) • Kathleen O’Malley (Albuquerque, NM) • Gerald Paoli (Chicago, IL) • Jerry Park (Mt. Ranier, MD) • William Payne (Toronto, ON) • Jocelyn Perry (New York, NY) • Amy Peters (Hanley, SK) • Lorin Peters (San Leandro, CA) • Paul Pierce (East Jerusalem) • Rick Polhamus (Fletcher, OH) • Kimberly Prince (Carrollton, GA) • Jane Pritchard (Toronto, ON) • Sheila Provencher (Somerville, MA) • Beth Pyles (Fairmont, WV) • Kathy Railsback (Boise, ID) • Steve Ramer (Washington, DC) • Jim Roynon (Archbold, OH) • Jacqui Rozier (Euclid, OH) • Stephani Sakanee (Thunder Bay, ON) • Jim Satterwhite (Bluffton, OH) • Eric Schiller (Ottawa, ON) • Betty Scholten (Mt. Rainier, MD) • Chris Schweitzer (New Haven, CT) • Sarah Scruggs (Washington, DC) • Janet Shoemaker (Goshen, IN) • Lena Siegers (Blyth, ON) • Andrea Siemens (Toronto, ON) • Allan Slater (Lakeside, ON) • Char Smith (Gibson City, IL) • Michael Smith (Gibson City, IL) • Scott Smith (Grants Pass, OR) • John Spragge (Toronto, ON) • Carol Spring (Washington, DC) • Charles Spring (Washington, DC) • Jerry Stein (Amarillo, TX) • Harriet Taylor (Germantown, MD) • Carol Tyx (Iowa City, IA) • Kitty Ufford-Chase (Tucson, AZ) • Rick Ufford-Chase (Tucson, AZ) • Kurtis Unger (Winnipeg, MB) • Will VanWagenen (Provo, UT) • John Volkening (Chicago, IL) • Annaliese Watson (Grants Pass, OR) • Dwayne Wenger Hess (Baltimore, MD) • Haven Whiteside (Palm Harbor, FL) • Rose Whiteside (Tampa, FL) • Matthew Wiens (Winnipeg, MB) • Sue Wilkinson (Chicago, IL) • Dick Williams (Boulder, CO) • Gretchen Williams (Boulder, CO) • Jane MacKay Wright (Providence Bay, ON) • Mary Yoder (London, OH) • Brian Young (Richmond, IN).

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Support Team

• Scott Albrecht - Toronto Office and Publications Support; scotta@cpt.org
• Robin Buyers - Colombia Project Support Coordinator; robinbuyers@sympatico.ca
• Kryss Chupp - Training Coordinator, Publications Coordinator; kryss@cpt.org
• Claire Evans - Delegation Coordinator; clairee@cpt.org
• Mark Frey - Administrative Coordinator; markefrey@cpt.org
• Bob Holmes - Pastoral Support Coordinator; bobh@cpt.org
• Rebecca Johnson - CPT-Canada Co-Coordinator, Regional Training Coordinator; rebeccaj@cpt.org
• Jim Loney - CPT-Canada Co-Coordinator; Kenora Project Support Coordinator; jamesl@cpt.org
• Rich Meyer - Palestine Project Support Coordinator; richm@cpt.org
• Amy Knickrehm - Chicago Office Coordinator; amyk@cpt.org
• Jessica Phillips - Personnel Coordinator; jessicap@cpt.org
• Doug Pritchard - Co-Director - Program; dougp@cpt.org
• Sara Reschly - Regional Group Development Coordinator, Training Co-coordinator; sarar@cpt.org
• Carol Rose - Co-Director - Operations; carolr@cpt.org
  

Contact CPT

CPT Chicago Office:

Christian Peacemaker Teams
P.O. Box 6508
Chicago, IL 60680
Tel: 773-277-0253; Fax: 773-277-0291
e-mail: peacemakers@cpt.org

CPT Canada Office:

CPT-Canada
Équipes Chrétiennes D'Action Pour la Paix-Canada
25 Cecil St., Unit 307
Toronto, ON M5T 1N1
Tel: 416-423-5525; Fax: 416-423-7140
e-mail: canada@cpt.org