Peace and Justice Support Network
The Peace and Justice Support Network (PJSN) is a Mennonite Mission Network organization with a mandate to educate, resource and network on issues concerning peace and justice with congregations, committees, conferences and other Mennonite organizations. The primary mission of PJSN is to proclaim and promote God’s desire for justice (Micah 6:8), Christ’s call to peacemaking (Matthew 5:9) and the Spirit’s reconciling work (Ephesians 2:10-22).
The work of PJSN is guided by a Leadership Team composed of representatives from Mennonite Central Committee U.S., Christian Peacemaker Teams, regional conferences, Racial/Ethnic groups, and peace and justice committees.
The Peace and Justice Support Network began 2008 with the hiring of a new administrative assistant, Christi Hoover Seidel. She comes with MCC experience in Israel/Palestine and a passion for peace and justice. The first major event of the year was Friday, March 7 when PJSN held a gathering for Mennonites at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Washington, D.C., for the Christian Peace Witness for Iraq, featuring keynote speaker Dr. Lisa Schirch, professor of peacebuilding at Eastern Mennonite University. This was the second such event sponsored by PJSN.
The PJSN Leadership Team, which guides the work of the organization, meets face-to-face biannually in various regions of the United States to connect with area congregations and to learn about and support local work. The team met in April at Lee Heights Community Church in Cleveland, Ohio. Along with the ongoing planning of PJSN, the leadership team learned about the congregation’s local ministries, heard about the Peace and Justice Project from youth and adults from Zion Mennonite in Northwest Ohio and experienced a close encounter with a van crashing through the brick wall where they were meeting!
In October the PJSN Leadership Team met at the Get Way retreat center in Harrisonburg, Va. The group discussed the current economic crisis in the U.S., met with staff of the Center for Peace and Justice, met with Virginia Conference Congregational Life Committee and Peace Coordinator and reaffirmed our three primary goals through 2011: 1) to strengthen the work and interconnections between peace, justice, mission, evangelism and spirituality within Mennonite Church USA; 2) to provide education and resources to conferences, congregations and constituency on immigration and related issues; and 3) to provide education and resources to conferences, congregations and constituency on war and peacemaking.
PJSN, Urban Leaders Network, and Western District Conference formed a planning committee and met in Waxahachie, Texas, in November to begin planning for And You Welcomed Me: A Consultation on Immigration for God’s People to be held there at the Lakeview Retreat Center Sept. 17 to 20, 2009.
PJSN, through minister of Peace and Justice Leo Hartshorn, provided Drumming for Peace programs at seven congregations and three schools for a total of around 650 people and preaching on peace and justice in eight congregations.
Resources produced during the year included:
- three editions of the Dove Tales newsletter;
- two letters to Mennonite Church USA congregations;
- two financial appeal letters;
- a brochure on immigration co-sponsored with MCC U.S.;
- Peace Sunday worship resource on No Justice, No Peace;
- Readings for Radicals: a peace and justice lectionary.
PJSN would like to thank all those who support the peace and justice work of Mennonite Church USA with your contributions, volunteer work, encouragement and prayers.
Leo Hartshorn
Minister of Peace and Justice
Mennonite Mission Network