International Day of Peace - What You Can Do

We read in Isaiah 2:4 that the people are to not only give up weapons of war, but to turn war materials into life-sustaining essentials:

And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

This Biblical injunction of turning swords into plowshares is inscribed on the interior of the United Methodist Building in Washington, D.C. I read these words each morning as I come to the office, and this morning was no different.

Today is International Day of Peace, which was first celebrated in 1981 when it was unanimously supported by the United Nations. It is notable that many of the communities which have suffered most profoundly by acts of violence, conflict and war are often the same communities engaging in peaceful actions of bringing people together. This year, many communities will come together to live, learn and teach peace. The International Day of Peace is more than addressing conflict and war but rather teaching, living, singing, and praying peace.

The United Methodist Church and its predecessors have a long and strong history of advocating for peace across our world. In fact, the very first meeting of the United Nations was held at the conclusion of World War II at Methodist Central Hall in Westminster, London. Today, United Methodists are pursuing peace in a variety of ways:

• Holding forums on efforts to curb gun violence in the United States.
  
• Organizing prayer vigils and public witnesses to denounce extrajudicial killings in the Philippines.
  
• Facilitating interfaith dialogues between Christian and Muslim leaders in Nigeria.
  
• Advocating for a global nuclear weapons ban, supporting the Iran nuclear deal and the Sustainable Development Goals at the United Nations.

Taking inspiration from your United Methodist neighbors, what will you commit to doing to pursue peace? We have a few ideas for you:

• Read up on what The United Methodist Church says about peace in the Social Principles (¶165.C and in the Book of Resolutions (#6129).
  
• Advocate for national budgets that prioritize peace-building and not war-making. A budget that invests in programs that build people up and not tear communities down. If you are in the United States, you can contact your members of Congress here.
  
• Host a screening in your church of films created by the Interfaith Network on Drone Warfare.
• Attend our called seminar focusing on Peace on the Korean Peninsula, November 13-15 in Washington, D.C. We will explore the history of conflict on the Korean Peninsula, current realities, what The United Methodist Church says about the conflict, and what you can do as an individual to work for peace. Registration is open now until October 27th. Register soon! Spots are limited.
  

At times, working for peace might seem futile. But I look forward to seeing the ploughshares and pruning hooks we create together.