Are you confused about what's happening in Iraq? Are you tired of reading body counts? Do you really understand the difference between Sunni and Shia? Do you feel overwhelmed by the threat of war with Iran? Do you want to know how to respond to this incredible sorrow?

Cliff Kindy has spent much of the past five years in Iraq with Christian Peacemaker Teams and will share stories and respond to your questions on Thursday evening, May 22 at 7pm. Please join us in the Newlin Center/Virgina Cottage, next door to Bethany Seminary. Contact Anna Lisa Gross for more information: grossan@earlham.edu or 914.2973.

CHILDREN OF WAR Portrait Series by Lin Baum. APRIL 20-22, 2008

“War, for me, is the ultimate form of massive child abuse.” --Lin Baum

All events are free and open to the public:
Sunday, April 20
Central United Methodist Church, 1425 E. Main St., Richmond
During and between 8:30 and 10:50 a.m. worship services

Monday-Tuesday, April 21-22
Friends Fellowship Community, 2030 Chester Boulevard, Richmond
Exhibit from 2 to 8 p.m. both days; Monday: Duplicate lectures at 2:30 & 7 p.m.

Tuesday, April 22
Lecture on portraiture techniques at an open meeting of the Richmond Art Club, 7 p.m. at Friends Fellowship Community

Event sponsors: Richmond Art Museum, Friends Fellowship Community, Richmond Art Club and Central United Methodist Church.

On Fri. March 9, a candle display will be set up around The Heart on the Campus of Earlham College followed by a service/ worship in remembrance of Tom Fox, American CPT member who was killed one year ago in Iraq. Come help with candles, starting at 4 p.m. on the Heart, and join us for the service afterwards at 7 p.m. in Stout Meetinghouse.

Public rally : NO MORE WAR IN IRAQ! This is the local action in support of the march on Washington. Where : Parking lot of First Friends Meeting, 2010 Chester Blvd. One of the Hoosier buses will arrive during the rally to pick up the Richmond folks traveling to DC. Songs, prayers, cheers, words of wisdom, candles, and/or silent solidarity are welcome and encouraged to send off the Hoosier travelers. PLEASE BRING : Written messages to congress for Hoosiers to deliver in Washington, D.C. during Lobby Day on Monday. This event is being publicized to the Richmond news media.

A bus from Kansas & Missouri headed to the March on Washington on Saturday will stop in Richmond to change drivers. Richmondites are asked to provide breakfast and/or encouragement to the weary travelers.
Where : First Friends Meeting, 2010 Chester Boulevard
For more information contact : Anna Crumley-Effinger (crumlan@earlham.edu or 765-993-3513).

From the Richmond Peaceful Response group: Friday, 26 January, 8:30-9:00 p.m. : Media-publicized rally to send off the Hoosier bus to D.C. for the March on Washington on the 27th (calling for an end to the U.S.A. war in Iraq). Please come pray, sing, cheer, and wave us off. If you are not going to DC, here is your chance to participate locally! A busload of Hoosiers will pick up four people from Richmond in the First Friends Meeting parking lot, 2010 Chester Boulevard (also Route 27). We expect the bus to arrive some time between 8:30 and 9:00 p.m. IF YOU WOULD LIKE A LETTER DELIVERED TO ELECTED OFFICIALS FOR YOU, bring it with you to this rally.

In today's Palladium-Item, local resident Daniel Ulrich writes about the need for a change in the Bush administration's Iraq policies:

There's no safe way forward, but President Bush should heed the report of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group. After assessing the "grave" situation in Iraq, the report recommends the Iraqi government take full responsibility for security within a year, the primary mission of U.S. troops should be training Iraqi forces and the Bush administration should go on "a diplomatic offensive" to seek cooperation (or at least non-interference) from Iraq's neighbors. The recommendations give the Iraqi government time and incentive to find political solutions to the divisions in their country.

You can read the full letter to the editor.

Bethany Theological Seminary's Huston Peace Lecture Series will take place Oct. 19-20. Robert Johansen, senior fellow and professor of political science at the University of Notre Dame, will be the guest lecturer.

On Thursday at 7 p.m., Johansen will speak on "The Politics of Love, War, and Peace: Understanding Moral Responsibility." The title of the Friday lecture, at 11:20 a.m., is "The Promise of the Rule of Law in Global Society: Accepting International Moral Responsibility."  continue reading »