Resolution in Context

by Janet Chisholm

Even before September 11, 2001, brought out the best and the worst in us, violence seemed to be on the tip of everyone’s tongue. Citizens in all classes and communities were concerned to acknowledge and act to change the pervasive violence of our US culture. Interpersonal violence had been highly publicized, and there was growing consciousness of systemic violence in the US. In that atmosphere, the Episcopal Church issued the following resolution.

Resolved, That the Episcopal Church promote a culture of non-violence which values love, compassion, and justice, and rejects violence as a means of solving problems and join with other faith communities in observing the United Nations' Decade for a Culture of Peace and Nonviolence for the World (2001-2010) by prayer, action, and study of "the things that make for peace" (Luke 19:42); and be it further

Resolved, That the Episcopal Church at national, provincial, diocesan, and congregational levels, with the assistance of Church staff and peace, justice and education networks, provide worship, study and action resources and opportunities throughout the Decade which promote the development of a culture of peace and non-violence at all levels of society, with special attention to the unique gifts for peace and justice of the faith community in its history, theology and practice; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of General Convention send this resolution with letters of encouragement in their work for peace and justice to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches, the President of the United States and Episcopal Members of Congress.

Where did this resolution come from? From the work of the small Episcopal Peace Fellowship, which has only one staff person in a tiny office and members scattered across the country. Yet it moved the US Episcopal Church to embrace the practice of active nonviolence. Here's how it happened–and what came later.

Summer-Fall, 1999. The Connecticut diocesan peace and justice committee met to draft resolutions in time for the vote at the Church's annual Connecticut convention. I offered a draft resolution, modeled after the Lutherans,’ endorsing the UN Decade for a Culture of Peace and Nonviolence, and committing the church to teaching nonviolence. We revised the text and consulted with the Bishop, assuring him that good nonviolence resources already existed but were not widely known or available. Then we enlisted convention delegates willing to speak in support of the resolution. It passed at the state level with overwhelming support. A similar resolution was successful in Vermont.

Summer 2000. EPF aimed at a Decade commitment from the national church. We had to seize the opportunity quickly: nationwide conventions occur only every three years. We wrote and filed the resolution, consulted with voting members who agreed to speak in favor, and worked the floor advocating our legislation. Again, the resolution passed. Afterwards, EPF staff and board members took steps to promote it among church officials and congregations. Other justice groups affirmed the importance of nonviolence training as basic to spiritual formation. EPF decided to move its Fall 2001 board meeting to Oakland and to dedicate most of its time to an orientation on Pace e Bene’s nonviolence training program "From Violence to Wholeness."

Fall 2001. After September 11^th, the sense of urgency increased. That the church must actively help build a culture of nonviolence was apparent. The bishops issued a pastoral letter that reads in part:

When the fall EPF board meeting arrived, members voted to undertake the development of a network of "From Violence to Wholeness" facilitators and trainers who could be available to Episcopal groups across the country.

Spring 2002. EPF held its first facilitator training in May. A diverse group of twenty people converged in Chicago. The EPF Executive Director had planned for months ahead, advertising the new program to attract individuals who would be the foundation of a facilitator network, and raising funds by writing for grants. Two Pace e Bene trainers and I had teamed up to design and lead the training. Many more people than we could accommodate applied. We are planning a second training, and will seek more funding.

We have much more to do to enculturate the From Violence to Wholeness core program into the Episcopal context. We need to unite the basic principles and stories of active nonviolence with Episcopal rituals, songs, prayers, resolutions, narrations, and statements. We have to describe the program in words the church understands, like the words of the baptismal covenant that we repeat throughout the year:

Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons,

loving your neighbor as yourself?

I will with God’s help.

Will you strive for justice and peace among all people,

and respect the dignity of every human being?

I will with God’s help.

If we are to expand the circle of those committed to justice through nonviolent social change, we must engage more mainstream folks. And, to do so, we will have to appeal to the highest values articulated in our cultures and communities and institutions. We cannot copy the exact patterns used by Gandhi, King or Day. We must study our own context and then resolve to enculturate the ways of nonviolent action in our here and now.

©2002 Fellowship of Reconciliation