Program for Youth Explores Peace

How does a young adult face the difficult questions of war, peace, and conscience? The Columbus Mennonite Church and North Broadway United Methodist Church are joining hands to present an interactive program about these important questions for today's youth and young adults.

The program will be presented on Saturday, October 30, 2004, from 9:00-3:30. Attendees will gather at Columbus Mennonite Church, 35 Oakland Park Avenue. It will be held concurrently with the Saturday adult schedule for the peace gathering, "Choosing Peace: Practicing Faith in Public," October 28-30. Youth are welcome to register for these events whether or not their adults will be participating in the larger program.

For youth in grades 7 through high school, participants will attend one of three interactive morning workshops and the afternoon panel discussion "Speaking Peace to Power." Workshop choices are: 1) "What Do I Believe about Killing?" led by Titus Peachey, peace educator with the Mennonite Central Committee, who will ask such questions as: Is it okay to kill for your country? What does your conscience tell you? What kinds of questions should you ask a military recruiter? If there were a draft, how would you apply for conscientious objector status?; 2) "Peace Takes Guts," a panel discussion featuring young adults who have been active peacemakers in Colombia, the Middle East, and Iraq; and 3) "A Joyful Noise," led by Leo Hartshorn, co-director of Drumming for Peace, teaching principles of peace through drumming, rhythm, and story while learning about unity in diversity, cooperation, team building, stress reduction, and having fun.

Registration fee for the youth program is $15. Early registration is advised as space is limited. Please call the Columbus Mennonite Church at 784-9002 for further information or log on to peace.mennolink.org and click on the link Regional Peace Gathering, Columbus, OH.

Columbus Mennonite Church, Rev. Steve Goering and Rev. Susan Ortman-Goering, Co-Pastors, 35 Oakland Park Avenue, Columbus, OH 43214-1416, 614/784-9002, www.columbusmennonite.org. North Broadway United Methodist Church, Rev. Ed Lewis, Sr. Pastor; Rev. Patricia Wagner, Assoc. Pastor, 48 E. North Broadway, Columbus, OH 43214, 614/268-8626, www.north-broadway.org.

Media Contacts:
Leo Hartshorn, Mennonite Mission Network, 717/399-8353 or
Melonie Buller, Columbus Mennonite Church, 614/747-3662 or
Rev. Patricia Wagner, North Broadway United Methodist Church, 614/268-8625
or .