A JUST PEACE CHURCH

The Just Peace Church vision is a hallmark of United Church of Christ theological identity. For 30 years, the Just Peace Church pronouncement has inspired a grassroots movement of UCC congregations committed to corporately naming and boldly proclaiming a public identity as a justice-doing, peace-seeking church. The Just Peace pronouncement articulated the UCC position on war and peace distinct from other approaches such as crusade, pacifism, or “just war.” Grounded in UCC polity and covenantal theology, the position focuses attention on alleviating systemic injustice of all types using non-violence and calls us to offer the message, grounded in the hope of reconciliation in Jesus, that “Peace is possible.

A Just Peace Pronouncement

First Congregational United Church of Christ of Colorado Springs

The following pronouncement was voted on and approved of at the Annual Meeting - January 29, 2017

 

We, members of First Congregational United Church of Christ of Colorado Springs, declare ourselves to be a Just Peace Church. We strive to be a community where respect and justice are foundational. We seek to share equal power, build nonviolent relationships, discover ways in which as a church and as individuals we can alleviate systemic injustice, confront violence, foster peaceful relationships, promote conflict resolution, and reconciliation in our homes, neighborhoods, communities, nation, and world. 

Therefore, we publicly and prayerfully commit ourselves to be a proactive witness to the possibility of a just world by proclaiming First Congregational Church a Just Peace Church. 

We believe peace-building and social justice are central to our identity as Christians and followers of Christ. We, as a community of faith, have identified Micah 6 as our theological touchstone:

“… and what does the Lord require of you but to… do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

We believe peace and peace-building starts personally with us, our relations to each other, our neighborhoods, our community, our nation, and world…

In Luke 4:16-21 Jesus calls for the renewal of just relationships:

‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’ (Luke 4:16-21, NRSV)

 

As a Just Peace Church, we commit ourselves to… (Click to continue reading)

 

If you are interested in being a part of an affinity group at First Congregational Church, please contact the office.