“As disciples of Christ, we do not prepare for war, or participate in war or military service. The same Spirit that empowered Jesus also empowers us to love enemies, to forgive rather than to seek revenge, to practice right relationships, to rely on the community of faith to settle disputes, and to resist evil without violence.”
Article 22, A Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective
Mennonite Church USA seeks to live into our role as a historic peace church by reinvigorating the collective voice against the destructive powers of militarism in our congregations and communities.
We do this through a number of initiatives, funded in large part by the Church Peace Tax Fund. These include:
- Education: We support educational programs that address militarism and promote living out ways of peace. See Learn, Pray, Join: Cost of War.
- Bring the Peace recognition program: Bring the Peace is a call to action for individuals and congregations to extend peace in their communities. Through this initiative, MC USA allocates an annual grant to a Mennonite youth (16-25 years old) who is actively engaged in resisting war and promoting peace in their congregation and community. We also annually recognize a faith leader in MC USA who has committed to resisting war and promoting peace. Learn more about our Bring the Peace witnesses here.
- Grants for war tax resisters: We help to connect war tax resisters with grants from already established alternative funds.
- Peaceful Options for Training and Careers (POTC): POTC is an initiative to counter military recruitment of U.S. youth by connecting young people with volunteer advisors who can help them find non-military career, service and training opportunities. POTC is an independent initiative that grew out of a collaboration between Mennonite Central Committee and MC USA Executive Board. Learn more about the work of the steering committee here.
For more information on MC USA’s peacebuilding efforts, click here. To learn more about the history and purpose of the Church Peace Tax Fund, click here.
Support peace
Please join us in building peace by supporting MC USA’s Peace & Justice work. Feel free to designate your gifts specifically to the Church Peace Tax Fund or POTC, as you feel led.
Donations can also be mailed to Mennonite Church USA, 718 N. Main Street, Newton, KS 67114. Please note “Executive Board Peace & Justice” in the memo line of your check.