Being a peacemaker is a growing commitment.  You don’t have to know for sure how you would react in all situations before deciding that you want to commit yourself to the way of peacemaking.  You can simply decide that you will try, with God’s help, to think, speak, and act in peaceful, Christ-like ways. Some people worry that they don’t know how they would react in a situation where their loved ones were being attacked.  No one knows for sure how they would react at any given time. But you can prepare to be a peacemaker, thinking through alternate self-defense […]

The Just War Theory developed as a way for Christians to justify or legitimize their participation in some wars. This theory sets forth conditions which, if they are met, make it proper for a Christian to fight, at least according to this theory. Mennonites do not think this theory goes far enough in upholding Jesus’ teaching. Beyond Pacifism and Just War describes the theory to a greater extent.

While thousands of raucous antiwar demonstrators marched through the streets of downtown Washington, a different kind of peace effort by a small group of Christians and Muslims was taking place in the parking lot of an aging brick church in Fairfax City. Instead of carrying placards and shouting slogans, the interfaith activists were loading 325 boxes of soap, shampoo, toothpaste, towels and other humanitarian aid into a 20-foot truck behind Northern Virginia Mennonite Church. The packages will be collected, along with others from across the country, by the Mennonite Central Committee in Akron, Pa., and then flown to Iraq to […]

What is a conscientious objector? A conscientious objector, or CO, is a person who refuses military service on the grounds that he or she cannot in good conscience participate in the machinery of war due to personal beliefs. Although recognition of CO status by national governments is a relatively recent development, individuals from many denominations and time periods have refused military service on the grounds that it violates their religious or moral principles.[1] Why choose conscientious objection? There are a variety of reasons why an individual may claim status as a conscientious objector, including a belief in pacifism not based […]

From the beginning God has desired to be in relationship with people. Unfortunately, people have often messed up or walked away from this relationship. To restore a relationship often involves pain before healing can take place. Jesus took the pain of broken relationships on himself, to remove the barrier between us and God. In the same way Jesus makes it possible for us to have restored relationships with each other. On these pages you’ll find stories and commentary on peace with ourselves and with others, close to home and internationally.  We’ll also explore what pacifism is and how we can […]

Mom pointed out to me that she had jotted her own inscription in the book “A gift for my 27th birthday from my husband.”

A strong Mennonite belief is nonviolence or pacifism. Mennonites believe that violence is never the best answer to problems or conflict, and that Jesus taught us a better way than the way of fighting and wars. They try to take seriously Jesus’ words to love your enemy. For that reason, most Mennonites do not take part in war. During World War II, many Mennonites in the United States served in Civilian Public Service rather than participate in fighting. In Canada they served in Alternative Service Work Camps. Some Mennonites chose to serve in non-combatant positions. And some chose to serve […]

Canada has been home to Mennonites since 1786. The first Canadian Mennonites came from Pennsylvania. They were drawn by the promises and economic opportunities of a new agricultural frontier. A few were pushed to Canada by hostility arising from their pacifism and neutrality during the American Revolution. Approximately 2,000 Mennonites went from Pennsylvania to Ontario between 1786 and 1825. A division in the 1870s saw the formation of the Mennonite Brethren in Christ (now Evangelical Missionary Church of Canada.) A division in the 1880s saw the formation of the Old Order Mennonites. A second major migration involved Amish coming from Europe in the […]