peace

TIME TO BREAK THE SILENCE: SOUTHERN CHURCHES AND WAR
April 4-5, 2008
New Garden Friends Meeting
801 New Garden Road, Greensboro, NC

New Garden Friends Meeting, in cooperation with Quaker House in Fayetteville, NC, and other Friends Meetings, is hosting a Peace Conference April 4-5, 2008. This conference is being held on the 41^st anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King's powerful speech Beyond Vietnam- A Time to Break the Silence. Click on the following photo to hear a portion of his speech (it is a rather large audio file).

With workshops, panels, and a concluding concert by John McCutcheon, the conference will examine how the spirit of war has corrupted the gospel of Christ and will consider how the church can seek repentance and return to being true followers of the Prince of Peace.

On Friday evening Logie Meachum and the Gospel Choir of Persimmon Grove AME Church will present special Gospel music. Logie Meachum and Linda Whisnant will continue with dramatic readings from Martin Luther King Jr.'s, Beyond Vietnam- A Time to Break the Silence and Charles Marsh's new book, Wayward Christian Soldiers, which challenges the promotion of war and militarism by too many churches, especially in the south. A panel of ministers will respond, followed by open discussion.

On Saturday, workshops will be offered throughout the day based on the theme, Time to Break the Silence: Southern Churches and War. Morning coffee time and lunch will provide opportunities for conversations. Everyone is invited to unprogrammed worship prior to the workshops.

Schedule

7:00 PM

Logie Meachum and the Persimmon Grove AME Gospel Choir

7:30

Max Carter opens the conference

Logie Meachum and Linda Whisnant present dramatic readings

Panel of respondents

Anita Thompson, Pastor of Persimmon Grove AME Church

Charles Hawes, retired Chaplain of St. Mary's House

Deborah Suess, Pastor of First Friends Meeting

Open Discussion

Refreshments

9:00 AM

Unprogrammed Worship in meeting room

Coffee in Friendship Hall

9:45

Gather in worship room

10:00 - 11:00

1st Morning Workshop Session Choices

1. The Peace Testimony Through the Eyes of North Carolina Yearly Meeting: Hugh Spaulding,
Pastor of South Plainfield Friends Meeting

2. Truth in Recruitment: Pam Schwingl, Chapel Hill Friends Meeting

3. The Role of Torture in the War on Terrorism: Joan Walsh of North Carolina Stop Torture Now

4. Quaker House: Work in the Trenches: Chuck Fager, Director of Quaker House

11:15 - 12:15

2nd Morning Workshop Session Choices

5. Conscientious Objectors in 2008: Curt Torell, Chapel Hill Friends Meeting

6. Veterans for Peace Share Their Journeys: Ken Ashe and Tim Pluta
American Friends Service Committee's Orita Peace and Justice Program

7. The Economic Cost of War: Ann Lennon and Debra Dillard

8. Moving Beyond I'm Right You're Wrong - Communicating Effectively When In Conflict:
Barton Parks, Professor of Justice and Policy Studies at Guilford College

12: 30 PM

Lunch served by Eric and Sarah Baker. Donations for this simple meal will be welcomed.

1:30 - 2:30

Workshop led by John McCutcheon

The Arts and Social Change: Using Culture as an Organizing Tool: John McCutcheon

2:45 – 3:45

Afternoon Workshop Session Choices

All morning workshops (#1-8) will be repeated.

4:00 - 5:00

Peace Videos (available to those interested)

7:30

JOHN MCCUTCHEON CONCERT ($10 per person, $5 students)

Sponsors: New Garden Friends Meeting, First Friends Meeting, Deep River Friends Meeting, Spring Friends Meeting, Winston Salem Friends Meeting, Rockingham Preparative Friends Meeting, Charlotte Friends Meeting, and Friendship Friends Meeting.