Peace & Social Justice

David Weaver-Zercher, a former associate pastor at Grantham Church and now a professor of American religious history at Messiah University, has researched and written about Brethren in Christ attitudes and actions regarding race during the Civil Rights Movement, from 1950-1975. The two-part series appeared in the December 2021 and April 2022 editions of Brethren in Christ History and Life, the journal of the Brethren in Christ Historical Society. Our denomination can be proud that we spoke out against racism during those years, while at the same time lament the fact that we did not do enough and made decisions that in retrospect were ill-advised and perpetuated racist attitudes and stereotypes. Knowing this part of our denominational history can help us in our current efforts to pursue racial justice.

Pursuing Peace in a World of Conflict

Earlier this year, we held our annual Peace Sunday on May 1, organized by Grantham’s Peace & Social Justice Commission. We had a combined learning community with a panel of speakers and a time for conversation. Our special guest speaker in our worship service was the new executive director of MCC East Coast, Hyacinth Stevens. Our ingathering offering went to Mennonite Central Committee’s peace and relief efforts with our ingathering offering goal of $5,000.

Because of your generosity and the gracious stewarding of your financial gifts, we received $9,854.78 that went to MCC’s peace and relief efforts around the world, including their relief work in Ukraine.