CPTnet
May 24, 2003
CHICAGO/TORONTO: Iraq Phone-In Conversation Features Weldon Nisly and Lisa
Martens from Baghdad
Mennonite Church USA peace workers have organized a call-in panel
discussion Thursday night, May 29, on the topic "Does War Ever
End?" People calling-in will be able to listen to the facilitated panel
conversation but will not be able to talk. While the panel features
Mennonites, the discussion is relevant to all people of faith concerned
about peace. Two
CPT-related folks -- Weldon Nisly (Iraq delegation participant) and Lisa
Martens (CPT Iraq team) -- will be on the panel. Martens will call from
Baghdad. Listeners must register ahead of time and will be assigned a
toll-free 800 call-in number; a suggested donation of $12 per phone line is
requested. Groups are encouraged to gather around a speaker phone to share
the cost. The invitation from the organizers follows:
--------------------
Theme: Does war ever end?
An invitation to join a phone-in peace call
Thursday, May 29, 2003
9:00-10:00 p.m. EDT (6:00-7:00 p.m. PDT)
President Bush has declared the end of armed conflict between the
United States and Iraq. But we wonder, "Does war ever end?" We invite you
and your congregation to listen to a conversation about the intersection of
our faith
and the actions of our country. Speakers on this call-in conference phone
call will include:
-Weldon Nisly, pastor of Seattle (WA) MC and a short-term Christian
Peacemaker Team member in Iraq during the bombing
- Lisa Martens has been in Iraq since February 1 and will stay through the
end of June. She is a recent graduate of Canadian Mennonite University,
worked for MCC Canada for a year on hydro-justice, is a CPT corps member and
a member of Hope MC, Winnipeg, MB. (Lisa plans to join us at 9:45 EDT. Watch
the PJSN web site for updates about Lisa's participation:
http://peace.MennoLink.org)
-Conrad Moore, MCC East Coast staff associate for peace education and MCC
US Damascus Road co-coordinator. He served in the Marines 1971-78, saw
active duty in Vietnam, and is a member of Crossroads Mennonite Church,
Lancaster, PA
-Titus Peachey, director of peace education for MCC US, an MCC service
worker in Laos (1980-1985, 1994), bombie specialist, and a member of East
Chestnut Street MC in Lancaster, PA
- Susan Mark Landis (facilitator), Mennonite Church USA Executive Board
peace advocate and a member of Oak Grove MC, Smithville, OH.
Arrangements:
Thursday, May 29, 2003
9:00-10:00 p.m. EDT (6:00-7:00 p.m. PDT)
To participate: Please register on-line at www.ecirsvp.com Reference Number
3947808 (or call Kathy Harshbarger, 574-523-3047) so enough phone lines
available. You will then be given the toll-free number to call. Your phone
link will be mute -- you won't be able to speak on this phone call.
You will hear music until the call begins. Please gather as groups around
speakerphones so we use fewer lines-and so you have a local sense of
community.
Submit questions
Speakers hope you'll send questions for their response. Please send them to
Kathy Harshbarger, PA administrative assistant, 574-523-3047;
kathyH@mennoniteUSA.org by Tuesday noon, May 27. Topics on this call might
include:
-The war with Iraq is over. The administration decided military might was
the best way to deal with President Saddam Hussein The media tells us that
victory was quick and as humane as possible. Do we see events the same way?
Are we naïve to have thought there were nonviolent alternatives to deal
with a dictator?
-What are the long terms effects of war, on the country where it takes
place, and on the people in the military and their families? In what ways
was this war racist? What is the media not telling us?
- The war quickly got rid of the Hussein regime. Does that make it God's
best way to overcome evil? How does two-kingdom theology speak to this
situation?
-What are the challenges to our faith as we live in the United States as
citizens of God's kingdom? How do we continue making peace now that the war
is over?
Contributions
The phone call costs approximately $12 per line (Costs are more this time
because of possible connection to Iraq and additional speakers). There are
no budgeted funds to cover this call. Donations almost covered the last
phone call. We'll be able to plan other calls only if this call pays for
itself. Designated donations may be sent to:
Peace Projects
Mennonite Church USA Executive Board Office
PO Box 347
Newton KS 67114-0347
Any surplus funds will go toward Peace Advocate expenses that have
increased as a result of the war with Iraq
Please join us!
Susan Mark Landis, peace advocate
Mennonite Church USA Executive Board
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