United for Peace

Campaign Timeline: November 2007–December 2009

Deep concern for a just peace in Israel and Palestine led to creation of the United for Peace Campaign. Approved at the 39th General Council of The United Church of Canada in 2006, the focus for the campaign was later broadened to reflect the United Church's fundamental commitment to peace and support for all who work toward peace with justice in Canada and other parts of the world.

The call to work for a just peace has never been clearer. Global partners of the United Church regularly draw our attention to the almost 40 armed conflicts in 24 countries, child soldiers who are involved in at least 19 of these conflicts, annual military spending that exceeds $1.2 trillion, and the 600 million small arms that are in circulation around the world—one for every 10 people on the planet.

The United for Peace Campaign was an invitation for people of The United Church of Canada to spend time throughout 2008 and 2009 to

• learn about the root causes of violence and about the work partners in Canada and around the world are doing to prevent conflict and support reconciliation
• act by calling on the Canadian government to take action that promotes peace around the world
• give to support Canadian and global partners as they work for peace with justice for all people

LEARN

Worship and study resources that spoke to issues of peace and conflict were made available and widely used! Because peace issues continue to remain relevant, several resources are still available for study, reflection, and worship. The United for Peace video with study guide is available from UCRD, and the seven-session Committed to Justice, United for Peace [PDF: 47 pp/435 KB] can be downloaded.

ACT

Living out our faith includes speaking out in the public arena and making a difference for the common good. In order to make our voices heard more strongly for peace, the United Church led a petition process focusing on four critical peace and justice issues and urging our government to promote and practice peacemaking.

People across Canada participated in the study and petition process. Over 5,000 signatures reflected United Church commitment to study, reflect, and act on critical peace issues. The petition was presented to Parliament by members from the Conservative, Liberal, New Democratic, and Bloc Québecois parties.

A delegation of United Church leaders and global partners, including representatives from the Philippines, Colombia, Canada's Aboriginal peoples, and Israel/Palestine travelled to Ottawa to share insights and concerns with political leaders.

Two youth visits were also part of the campaign: one to Israel Palestine in 2009, and one to Colombia in 2010.

GIVE

Almost $340,000 was contributed by the people of the United Church for peace related projects. Congregations and communities across Canada raised these funds in diverse and creative ways that brought people together to think about peace and conflict. Funds have supported a wide variety of projects, including the following:

• The Council of Churches of Zambia implemented a program that looked at issues of gender-based violence and develop ways to promote peace between men and women and among people of different faiths.
• Jerusalem Link, a joint venture of Israeli and Palestinian women, tackled the most crucial issues of peace and conflict and grounded the process in the lived experience and perceptions of Israelis and Palestinians.
• The Methodist Church of Colombia supported processes of healing and reconciliation for communities brutalized during the occupation of paramilitary forces.
• The World Student Christian Federation (Asia Pacific) brought together youth and students to discuss peace issues and strategize on collective actions for peace.
• The Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea, in cooperation with Hanshin University, are beginning a joint research and advocacy project to develop strategies for dealing with the critical peace issues of the peninsula.
• The World Student Christian Federation (Middle East) sponsored a Regional Women's Conference focusing on women's rights in the Arab world and the role of the church.
• The Evangelical Congregational Church of Angola sponsored a nationwide youth camp to build a culture of peace among the youth whose life experience has been in the context of a civil war and build a youth agenda for healing and moving forward.

Gifts designated for the peace work of the United Church and its partners will continue to be accepted and distributed as designated.

The peacebuilding work of the United Church does not end with the United for Peace Campaign, but continues in ongoing work. A particular focus is the culminating event of the Decade to Overcome Violence. The World Council of Churches is hosting an International Ecumenical Peace Convocation in Kingston, Jamaica, where members from around the world will come together in an Ecumenical Declaration on Just Peace.

We believe that the work of peace isn't something that can be achieved in one effort, but a discipline we are called to practice throughout our lives. With our partners, the United Church continues to work for peace.