Join pastors, church leaders, young adults and peace-minded Christians for a two-day gathering exploring what faithful peacemaking looks like in an age of war, polarization, nationalism and violence.
Featuring speaker, activist and best-selling author Shane Claiborne.
🗓️November 6 – 7 ·📍Leola, Pennsylvania
- 🗓️ Friday November 6th – Saturday November 7th, 2026
- ⛪️ Forest Hills Mennonite Church
- 📍Leola, Pennsylvania
Rooted in the Anabaptist faith tradition and open to all who seek to follow Jesus’ call to peace, Waging Peace will offer opportunities to learn, reflect and engage in meaningful conversations about how Christians can embody God’s peace in today’s world.
What you’ll learn
Choose from seminars addressing topics such as:
- Conscientious objection
- Alternative service
- Nonviolent action and organizing
- Women and militarism
- Intersection of militarism and climate justice
- Christian responses to radicalization
- Peace tax advocacy
- Youth-focused peacebuilding
- Equipping congregations for peacebuilding
See full seminar descriptions here.
Summit Agenda
Click dates below to view the daily Summit agenda.
8:00 AM – Registration
8:30 AM – Introductions/Welcome
9:15 AM – Opening Keynote – Shane Claiborne
10:00 AM – Break
10:30 AM – Seminars
- The Jesus Way in the World Today – Shane Claiborne
- Empires Curriculum – Eric Frey Martin and Nathan Toews
- Conscientious Objection & LGBTQ+ Witness – Caleb Stoltzfus & Jim Amstutz
- Fight, Flight, Freeze, Fawn & “Forge?” – Hannah Martin
12:00 PM – Lunch
1:00 PM – Affinity Groups
2:00 PM – Seminars
- Exploring Radicalization in Our Communities Through Militarization – Glen Guyton
- U.S. Militarism & Climate Change – Kirstin De Mello
- Peaceful Options for Training & Careers – Abby Endashaw & Titus Peachey
- Federal Income Taxes: Should We Pay Them? – H.A. Penner
3:30 PM – Break
4:00 PM – Gathering Together
4:30 PM – Departure
8:00 AM – Registration
8:30 AM – Gathering Together
9:00 AM – Seminars
- Alternative Service, An Antidote to Militarism – Alex Mace, Eric Frey Martin
- Public Action & Militarism – Mennonite Action Lancaster Chapter
- Guns to Gardens – Mike Martin
- Conscientious Objection & Advocacy – Galen Fitzkee
10:30 AM – Break
11:00 AM – Panel Discussion
- Bearing the Cost, Building the Peace: Women & Militarism – Abby Endashaw, Joy Metzler, Linda Gehman Peachey
12:00 PM – Lunch
1:00 PM – Plenary Session
- Reimagining Our Talents – Hannah Martin
2:30 PM – Break
3:00 PM – Closing Keynote
- The Contradiction of Faith and Force – Joy Metzler
4:00 PM – Closing
4:30 PM – Departure
*Schedule subject to change
Summit Location
Forest Hills Mennonite Church
100 Quarry Road
Leola, PA 17540
Accessibility
There is ample parking at Forest Hills Mennonite and the building is wheelchair accessible (including bathrooms). There is space on the registration form to request specific accommodations.
Summit Lodging
Coming in from out of town? We have a few lodging recommendations. Book early to ensure your spot!
Keynote Speakers
Shane Claiborne
speaker, activist and best-selling author
“Every time our government chooses to use military force to bring about change in the world, it once again teaches our children the myth of redemptive violence, the myth that violence can be an instrument for good.” – Shane Claiborne
Shane Claiborne is the founder of The Simple Way in Philadelphia and a leader of Red Letter Christians, a movement committed to living as “as if Jesus meant the things he said.” A longtime advocate for peace, justice and nonviolence, Shane has worked alongside Mother Teresa in Calcutta, spoken out against war around the world and inspired countless Christians to put their faith into action. His work has been featured in Christianity Today, TIME, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, NPR and more. In 2023, Shane received the prestigious The King Center’s Beloved Community Award for Social Justice from Dr. Bernice King, daughter of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King.
Joy Metzler
conscientious objector, peace advocate
Joy Metzler separated from the Air Force in 2025 as a 2d Lt, citing US funding and partnership in the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza as her turning point. She started speaking out against these crimes while active duty, and her advocacy has continued with groups such as Veterans For Peace, About Face Veterans, and local groups she has partnered with or started.
The Contradiction of Faith and Force
Join us as Joy discusses the contradiction between military service and Christian faith and how it led to her filing for conscientious objection. Through her journey, her faith shaped the way she dismantled many of the lies told to us – particularly Christians – about who we are as Americans versus who we are as people of faith, whether Christian or otherwise. It is in this very faith that she has found the strength and resilience to work against a seemingly insurmountable foe – the destructive and dangerous US military machine.
Free Resource for Every Attendee!
Every registrant will receive a free copy of “The Peace Position: Stories and Witness for Today’s Peacemakers,” a newly developed resource from MennoMedia, in partnership with MC USA and Mennonite Mission Network. Through historical and contemporary stories, practical inquiry and meaningful reflection prompts, this resource equips Christians to faithfully live out a peace-centered witness in an increasingly militarized world.
Featured Panel
Bearing the Cost, Building the Peace: Women and Militarism
Abby Endashaw, Mennonite Central Committee’s Summer Service National Coordinator, Joy Metzler, a Conscientious Objector who separated from the Air Force and Linda Gehman Peachey, a freelance writer and formerly Women’s Advocacy Director at Mennonite Central Committee.
Join us for a candid conversation with women from diverse backgrounds as they share personal stories, insights and reflections on how militarism affects their lives and the lives of those who identify as women. We will explore the gendered consequences of militarism, explore connections between power and violence and consider the roles women play in resisting militarism and building peace.
Plenary Session
Reimagining Our Talents
Hannah Rose Martin, associate pastor at Beth-El Mennonite Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado, elementary educator and co-author of the children’s book, “Sparking Peace.”
This interactive seminar will examine our country’s annual budget and how we view others as friends or enemies. Through the imagery of the Parable of the Talents, we will explore how Jesus invites us to reimagine ways we can view the world, our community and our neighbors. Peace resources and tools will be provided as alternatives to various holidays that tend to center violence and glorify war.
Seminars
Your choice of one:
The Jesus Way in the World Today
Shane Claiborne, opening keynote speaker, activist and best-selling author.
Do we really believe that the cross is an alternative to the sword? Are we willing to risk our lives for love and nonviolence in a world addicted to violence and war? What would it look like to live as if Jesus meant the stuff he said?
New “Empires” Curriculum
Eric Frey Martin, director for Learning and Engagement with Mennonite Mission Network, and Nathan Toews, Peace Education coordinator, Mennonite Central Committee U.S.
“Empires” is an interactive and digital curriculum that explores how the powerful, violent systems of our world co-opt our ways of living and how following Jesus liberates us from cycles of violence and injustice. It invites participants to wrestle with their identities and experiences in relation to the powers and principalities that perpetuate these cycles. This seminar will look at our current-day context in relation to scripture, offering alternatives that reflect Christ’s witness of healing, justice and peace.
Conscientious Objection & LGBTQ+ Witness
Caleb Stoltzfus (he/they), 2025 graduate of Eastern Mennonite University and former intern with MCC-Washington Office, and Jim S. Amstutz (he/him), peacebuilder and retired MC USA pastor and educator.
This seminar explores the intersections of queer identity, faith, conscience and resistance to militarism. Participants will reflect on the role of conscience, community and courageous witness in building a more just and peaceful world.
Flight, Fight, Freeze, Fawn, ``Forge?``
Hannah Rose Martin, associate pastor at Beth-El Mennonite Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado, elementary educator and co-author of the children’s book, “Sparking Peace.”
When conflict or crises arise, we enter into a response that is wired in our brains. But what if there was a different way we could address these events that points to the Kingdom and not empire? This workshop will provide a glimpse into retraining our brains while also providing tools that we can take back to our various spaces to share.
Your choice of one:
Exploring Radicalization in our Communities through Militarization
Glen Guyton, executive director of Mennonite Church USA
Together, we will explore how militarization shapes our communities, politics, faith and daily lives — often in subtle ways that can be easy to overlook. We will also consider the cultural and spiritual effects of military influence and imagine pathways toward peace and justice.
U.S. Militarism and Climate Change
Kirstin De Mello, climate advocacy and education coordinator for National Peace & Justice Ministries, Mennonite Central Committee U.S.
With more than 750 bases in dozens of countries and an array of tanks, jets and seafaring vessels, the carbon dioxide emissions of the U.S. military are comparable to those of a mid-sized country. This session will examine the climate costs of U.S. military dominance through stories from Northeast Asia, where the U.S. military is engaged in one of the longest “forever” wars – the Korean War. We will explore the impacts of war and militarism on communities and ecosystems and discuss Anabaptist-rooted climate actions for peace.
Peaceful Options for Training and Careers (POTC)
Titus Peachey, retired Mennonite Central Committee educator, GI Rights Hotline counselor and chair of POTC, and Abby Endashaw, Mennonite Central Committee’s Summer Service national coordinator and POTC steering committee member.
Deeply rooted in nonviolent peacemaking, POTC is committed to helping young adults explore practical and meaningful alternatives to military enlistment. Come discover the resources that we offer and learn how you can participate in this innovative mission! High school students are welcome.
Federal Income Taxes: Should We Pay Them?
Harold A. (“H.A.”) Penner (moderator), conscientious objector, lifetime war tax resister/redirector and convener of the 1040 For Peace war tax resistance group that initiated the 2015 MC USA “Faithful Witness Amid Endless War” resolution.
Paying taxes that support war and militarism — often at a higher rate than we give to our church budgets — affects our faith. Why do we taxpayers continue to pay for something that violates our deepest beliefs? Are we being the faithful witnesses that Jesus calls us to be? That question, and others, will be explored during this seminar.
Your choice of one:
Alternative Service, An Antidote to Militarism
Alex Mace, program director for Mennonite Voluntary Service for Mennonite Mission Network, and Eric Frey-Martin, director for Learning and Engagement with Mennonite Mission Network.
This seminar will focus on how alternative service is important to the work of anti-militarism. Young people are often bombarded by the messages of empire, militarism and violence in their lives. Alternative service programs are essential for creating young adults committed to the work of opposing empire and its militaries. You’ll learn about what exists out there for young people and how Mennonite Mission Network is at work against the violence of our world.
Public Action and Militarism
Mennonite Action Lancaster is a grassroots organization of volunteers focused on mobilizing Mennonites and people of faith in Lancaster to take public action for peace and justice.
Opposing militarism calls Mennonites to engage publicly with powerful forces that perpetuate violence and oppression. How can we prepare ourselves for this work? Members of the Mennonite Action Lancaster chapter will lead a participatory de-escalation exercise used to prepare for public action and share reflections on organizing as Mennonites in their local community.
Guns to Gardens
Mike Martin, founder and executive director of RAWtools. A former youth and young adult pastor at Beth-El Mennonite Church, Martin is ordained for specialized ministry for the work of RAWtools by Mountain States Mennonite Conference of MC USA.
Explore the prophetic and public witness of turning guns into garden tools, art and other items and how it connects communities to nonviolent skills and healing practices that offer accessible paths forward that don’t include violence. We’ll explore 10+ years of RAWtools (RAW is WAR backward) work and its intersections with violence in the U.S. and abroad.
Conscientious Objection: Understanding the Legacy and What It Means Today
Galen Fitzkee, legislative associate for Mennonite Central Committee in Washington, D.C. and Nathan Toews, Peace Education coordinator, Mennonite Central Committee U.S.
Conscientious objection has been one of the most enduring expressions of Anabaptist nonresistance and peace witness. God’s righteousness can only come through our renunciation of violence as we seek to be part of Jesus’ movement. Join us to reflect on what it means to be a conscientious objector, remember its history, and learn how to declare CO status and to connect with your churches around the topic of conscientious objection.
Secure Your Spot
The forces of militarism shape our communities, politics, economics, media and even faith communities. As followers of Jesus, how are we called to respond?
At Waging Peace, you’ll have the opportunity to:
- Explore how militarism impacts our world and our churches.
- Learn practical tools for peacebuilding and nonviolent action.
- Engage with leaders and practitioners working for peace and justice.
- Connect with others who are committed to living out Christ’s call to peace.
- Discover resources you can bring back to your congregation and community.
Whether you are a pastor, church leader, young adult, educator, peace advocate or someone seeking to better understand today’s challenges through the lens of faith, this gathering is for you.
Scholarships are available for those who need financial assistance.
For additional questions or information on scholarships, please contact Lorraine Stutzman Amstutz, MC USA denominational minister for Peace & Justice.
Adults
$75
Young Adults
Ages 19-25
$50
Youth
Youth welcome! High school youth attend for free when accompanied by a youth sponsor or pastor.
Free
In Appreciation
We extend our deep appreciation to individuals and organizations that helped make this event possible.
Planning Committee: Lorraine Stutzman Amstutz and Iris de León-Hartshorn, MC USA; Eric Frey Martin, Mennonite Mission Network; Galen Fitzkee, Becky Teiwes, Nathan Toews, Mennonite Central Committee.
Partnering organizations: MennoMedia, Mennonite Central Committee and Mennonite Mission Network.
Special thanks to The Schowalter Foundation for its generous financial support.