Detroit West District Peace Center

Barbara Talley, Executive Director
Louise Samuel, Chair

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God” Matthew 5:9 (KJ)

Minds of Wisdom – Teenage Peacemaking Program, Ages 13-18 | Meets every First and Third Saturday, 1:00 p.m.

To advocate for peace in all areas of individual, family, school, church and community life using the bible as a basis for study and action.

• Exchange ideas and work together to develop a global vision and blueprint for peace and social justice.

• Have dialogues on peacemaking responses and approaches to resolving conflict based on God’s word.

• Dialogues will include subjects such as Poverty, Drugs, Violence, Abstinence and HIV.

• Have websites and blogs set up for communication.

PEACE PLEDGE

I acknowledge that I exist as a living part of our cosmic world, and I believe I can make a difference in developing a global vision and blueprint for peace and non-violence that will bring about reconciliation and co-existence. Therefore, I commit and pledge to:

• Foster peace within myself through continued education and spiritual growth;

• Promote peaceful relationships with others regardless of religion, nationality, race, sex, or sex orientation;

• Work for peaceful solutions to social and political problems; and

• Spread the word and inspire others to advocate for peace and justice in all areas of individual, family, school, and community life.

Authored by Minds of Wisdom, 13-17 years
DWD Peace Center, Southfield, Michigan
December 2005

DETROIT WEST DISTRICT PEACE CENTER

MISSION STATEMENT

To provide leadership in Peace With Justice transformation to the Detroit West District church through the implementation of appropriate United Methodist Church Social Principles and Discipline, and appropriate Detroit and General Conference Resolutions. To have a positive impact on the promotion of peace, understanding, and justice in all areas and levels of the West District church and the larger community, fostered by tolerance, non-violence, and respect for and among diverse cultures and religions based upon God’s principles of love, reconciliation and forgiveness.

AREAS OF CONCENTRATION

1. EDUCATION

• Design and develop curricula that embrace the principles of Peace in all West District UMC teachings, programs and activities;

• Encourage and strengthen the church and community to engage in peace- making efforts through study and interaction with others;

• Provide resources (both physical and e-mail/web), sponsor workshop, lectures, training on the UMC social principles and other peace/justice issues; and

• Provide training and opportunities in advocacy and provide quarterly mailings to each church, and help to identify and prioritize Peace With Justice issues.

2. SOCIAL

• Provide leadership in the implementation of the United Methodist Social Principles;

• Design a reconciliation, mediator and non-violence program to equip church members and the community to deal and respond individually and collectively to conflict and disputes using biblical principles of love and peace;

• Encourage church members to analyze basic causes of injustice and study possible solutions and advocate corrective measures; and

• Act on social and political processes and policies that promote and/or impede peace in the world community including disarmament of destructive weapons.

3. OUTREACH

• Engage in outreach activities locally and abroad to foster respect, appreciation, communication and dialogue among various interfaith religious groups and other Christian church denominations;

• Evangelize and witness about the need for peace in the larger community using Jesus Christ as an example;

• Have every church and community a peace church/community.

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