Our Commitment to Peace
endorsed by consensus on February 27, 2005

We believe that Jesus calls his followers to walk the path of peace. His statement that peacemakers will be called the children of God (Matthew 5:9), his teaching on resisting evil with nonviolence (Matthew 5:38), his instruction for us to love our enemies and treat them well (Matthew 5:43 and 44), and his rejection of the use of violence when he was taken captive, including his words, “Those who live by the sword will die by the sword,” (Matthew 26:50-53) all bear witness to the priority peacemaking should have among those who call themselves Christians.

 

Jesus stands in the line of prophets who themselves bore witness to peace, including Isaiah in his moving words: “God shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; 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” (Isaiah 2:4; cf. Micah 4:3-4).

 

The Apostle Paul echoes the words of Jesus from the Sermon on the Mount when he writes, “...Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all....If your enemy is hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:14-21).

 

Our congregation stands firmly in the Anabaptist tradition, which has looked to the example of Jesus and various scriptures such as those listed above and committed itself to a ministry and mission that promotes a lifestyle of nonviolence. Through our educational programs, through our witness to the gospel of peace, through our affiliation and cooperation with religious and secular groups that work for peace, we have and will continue to nurture one another, including our children, in the ways of peace and the rejection of war and other forms of violence.