As a peace church, one of our core values is resistance to war, both in our neighborhoods and overseas. This Learn Pray Join focuses on the Cost of War, in collaboration with the Mennonites Against Militarism initiative, which seeks to reinvigorate the collective voice against the destructive powers of militarism.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27
Attend the upcoming “Cost of War” webinar
Panelists bring awareness to the economics of war and share the various ways they have resisted paying for war. Meet the panelists and watch the recording here.
Join the upcoming Dialogue on Creation Care and Militarism with Mennonite Creation Care network on February 18, 8:30 p.m. ET with Ethicist Luke Beck Kreider.
Read our latest stories and blogs on the Cost of War:
Read the MC USA resolution on Seeking Peace in Israel and Palestine.
As followers of Jesus and his gospel of reconciliation, we long for peace, security, and the well-being of all people living in Israel and Palestine.
Read the MC USA resolution on Faithful Witness Amid Endless War.
We need renewed understanding of how to live out the “new creation” that is in Christ Jesus (2 Cor. 5:17).
Read Donald D. Kaufman’s, The Tax Dilemma: Praying for Peace, Paying for War.
The author traces biblical and historical precedents and discusses a dozen viable options to the ethical dilemma today. The enhanced edition is strengthened by the addition of insights from 42 writers.
Read Donald D. Kaufman, What Belongs to Caesar.
Includes an examination of biblical passages often used to justify obedience to governmental demands, arguments against the payment of war taxes and a historical survey of nonpayment positions and practices.
Read We Won’t Pay! A Tax Resistance Reader, edited by David M. Gross, 2008.
Includes writings from over 2,000 years of tax resisters and tax resistance campaigns, covering both tax resistance as an act of individual conscience and as a technique of nonviolent resistance.
Read Silence and Courage: Income Taxes, War and Mennonites, 1940-1993, by Titus Peachey, MCC Occasional Paper # 18
Subscribe to PeaceMail, which will feature stories, blogs and news from people across MC USA about the Cost of War in Feb. and March 2021.
MC USA is encouraging congregations to pray this prayer, written by Amy Yoder McGloughlin, on Palm Sunday, March 28, 2021, as way to join with congregations across the broader church in highlighting Jesus’ peaceful resistance to empire/colonialism.
Holy God,
You created us to love and to be loved.
You created us in your image and likeness,
desiring humanity’s connection and relationship to one other and your creation.
And yet, since the beginning, we’ve struggled to be at peace with each other.
We have struggled to love ourselves
and to love each other in the way you have deeply desired for us.
Give us courage to love ourselves and our families
with difficult conversations,
with compassionate listening
and with healthy boundaries.
Jesus Christ,
you showed us the way of peace
in your words and teachings,
and in your life, death and resurrection.
And yet, like your disciples,
our vision for your shalom is too narrow.
We have, at times, limited your vision of peace
to that of our own inner peace and security.
We have forgotten that peace means wholeness
for all people and creation.
Give us courage to work in solidarity with the poor
for a world where all have access to what they need;
to create lasting shalom by loving and stewarding the earth you have created;
to aid those who are fleeing terrible circumstances of violence;
and to confront the powers that create
unjust policies in our churches,
in our community policing practices,
in our education systems,
and in our government structures.
Spirit of Life,
you inspire and compel us towards creative peacemaking.
Move us beyond our confessions, into creativity.
Move us beyond our guilt, into inspiration.
Move us beyond our shame into a fuller vision of shalom for your world.
Move us into being
creators of peace in our communities,
co-conspirators of wholeness in our churches,
accompaniers of peacemaking efforts on the borders,
and in places of international conflict.
AMEN.
Additional prayer resources:
Song: “If the War Goes On,” found in the Voices Together Hymnal #794
Prayers for peace in response to war from Together in Worship, an Anabaptist worship resource collection
“Peace, like war is waged,” a litany for worship by Walker Knight
A Veteran’s Day Confession for America. This prayer was delivered by Army Chaplain Chris Antal at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. Antal submitted his letter of resignation in June of 2016 and was discharged from the military.
Consider joining in conscientious objection to war taxes.
Share about the cost of war in conversation, church and on social media.
Advocate for just policies in response to the impact of war by contacting your local, state and national elected officials.
Get involved through organizations:
