Introducing the Just Peace Covenant
Sunday, September 19, 2021, was Global Just Peace Sunday, and your Friedens Just Peace Exploratory Team leader, Adam Hayden, presented the Friedens Just Peace Covenant to the congregation! Watch his presentation below, beginning at the 4:00 mark in the service. And read on to learn more about the Just Peace Exploratory Team and the Just Peace Covenant.
Adam discusses the history of the Just Peace proclamation, and he shares information about work he and other team members are doing with the Indiana Kentucky Conference. He then reads the Just Peace Covenant, inviting worship attendees to adopt a reflective pose and hear the call of the Spirit moving through you while you listen.
Continue down the page to view the service, identify the Just Peace Exploratory Team members, and read the Just Peace Covenant.
Just Peace Exploratory Team Members
Please meet the Just Peace Exploratory Team members. These faithful disciples answered the call in July 2020 to serve on the Just Peace Exploratory Team, and they are the organizers for several study opportunities that we’ve offered Friedens disciples over the past year. Together, this is the team who authored our Just Peace Covenant.
You may consider identifying one member of the team who you feel especially comfortable with, and invite that person to share with you their experience with Just Peace. These folks are pleased to answer questions and hear your feedback about our Covenant.
As the team lead, you can also direct any questions or feedback directly to Adam.
Adam Hayden (team lead)
Rev. Sarah Haas (clergy consultant)
Erica Bair (emeritus member)
Susan Blossom
Rev. Tom Blossom
John Charles
Lindsay Eichelman
Rev. John Gantt
Lisa Haver
Austin Hayden
Kalen Hernandez
Jim Jensen
Janet Raker
Mark Raker
Carrie Sorensen
Lindsey Spurgeon
Ellen Tuttle
Ellen Weimer
Adam presents the Just Peace Covenant at worship on Sunday, September 19, 2021
Just Peace Covenant
Reviewed and Supported by JPET. the Executive Committee of the Council, and the full Friedens UCC Council Body (COM)
We, the disciples in the community of Friedens United Church of Christ, commit to embody God’s love in all that we do and share with the world. We seek peace and equity for all people and promote care for all of creation.
We acknowledge that the work toward justice and peace is a continuing process, and we commit to ongoing education, public witness, and action.
We recognize accountability as a Just Peace congregation to actively dismantle systems that impede peace and justice and disrespect the dignity of others, such as racism, sexism, heterosexism, homophobia, ableism, and ideologies that separate us from the Creator and one another.
We seek shared economic prosperity where food, clothing, shelter, safe neighborhoods, medical care, education, and a fair living wage for work done are established as a basic human right.
For the sake of all humanity and each new generation, we advocate for the racial equity of all shades of people, and to be free from unfair systems that elevate one race over another. We seek to embrace and celebrate the rich diversity of the United States in all our ministries and witness.
We pray and advocate for peace and justice through nonviolent action. In the mirror of history, we see injustice, violence, and harm inflicted by one race or country over another; we will seek to repair damage done as we contribute to future peacemaking near and far.
As followers of Jesus, we seek to be fully present in the world to hear and respond to the cries for justice, peace, and equity.
We, disciples in the community of Friedens United Church of Christ, an Open and Affirming, and Just Peace Congregation, covenant to devote our time, talent, and resources to the loving, transformative ways of Jesus.
What Happens Next?
Disciples of Friedens UCC are invited to share any feedback directly with Adam, or contact any JPET members who you feel comfortable sharing feedback or asking questions. JPET is working collaboratively with the Council to move toward a congregational vote later this year to adopt the Just Peace Covenant and declare Friedens UCC and Just Peace church.
