What peacemaking organizations involve Mennonites?

Christian Peacemaker Teams

Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) is an initiative among Mennonite and Church of the Brethren congregations and Friends Meetings. CPT has worked in Gaza, Haiti, Washington, DC, Hebron, Bosnia, Chechnya, Ontario and Richmond, Virginia. In all locations, CPT responds to invitations from grassroots movements seeking to reduce violence and rectify injustice in nonviolent ways.

The idea for this organization grew from a speech by Brethren theologian-activist Ron Sider at the 1984 Mennonite World Conference in Strasbourg, France. He called Christians who believe in nonviolence to, in essence, put their lives on the line in support of peace.

Violence-reduction teams give skilled, courageous support to peacemakers working locally in situations of violent conflict and areas of militarization. Peacemakers engage in public witness, nonviolent direct action, accompaniment, human rights reporting, negotiation and conflict transformation. Corps members are available to enter North American and international crisis situations on a full-time basis for three years or part-time as reservists for periods of 2-8 weeks a year.

For more information on the work of Christian Peacemaker Teams contact:

Christian Peacemaker Teams
P.O. Box 6508
Chicago, IL 60680
phone 312-455-1199
e-mail: cpt@ipc.org
Web site: http://www.cpt.org

Mennonite Conciliation Services

Mennonite Conciliation Services offers mediation services and training through a national network of regional contacts.

For more information on the work of Mennonite Conciliation Services contact:

Mennonite Conciliation Services
PO Box 500
Akron, PA 17501-0500
phone (717) 859-3889

Victim Offender Reconciliation Programs

Mennonite Central Committee helped pioneer the first Victim Offender Reconciliation Program (VORP) in Kitchener, Ontario in 1974. Now more than 70 such programs in the U.S. and Canada allow victims and offenders an opportunity to meet. Trained volunteers help victims and offenders listen to each other to find out what happened, express their feelings, and work out a restitution contract.

For more information on Victim Offender Reconciliation Programs contact:

Office on Crime and Justice
MCC U.S.
PO Box 500
Akron, PA 17501-0500
phone (717) 859-3889
website: http://vorp.org

Mennonite Disaster Service

Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) answers calls for disaster service in all emergencies such as floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes and fires. Founded 1950.

For more information on the work of Mennonite Disaster Services contact:

Mennonite Disaster Service
1018 Main Street
Akron, PA 17501-0500
phone (717) 859-2210
website: www.mds.mennonite.net