On Earth Peace forms Peace Retreat Leadership Team.

On Earth Peace has formed a volunteer Peace Retreat Leadership Team to help increase the number of retreats and workshops it is able to offer across the denomination, reported Kim Stuckey Hissong, On Earth Peace program coordinator of Peacemaker Formation. The new team will expand and energize the existing retreat program. Team members will be available to provide leadership for youth retreats, workshops, and worship experiences for congregations, districts, camps, denominational gatherings, and other groups.

Plans call for slowly expanding the number of team members, making sure that program staff can adequately support the network, according to Hissong. Retreats provided by the team will be based on an interactive, experiential model that challenges youth to consider Christian peacemaking in the context of faith and the world. Retreat sessions will draw on the Brethren heritage of peacemaking and bring scripture alive to examine how Christ calls believers to live in these times.

"If we are serious about being a resource to the entire denomination, we need to increase our identified leaders in the church," said Hissong. "There are so many great leaders in our denomination that are already doing peace education work. Formation of the Peace Retreat Leadership Team is an attempt to bring these folks together, recognize them for the work they are doing, and provide support and a place to develop and exchange ideas."

The team gathered for an initial planning meeting at the New Windsor (Md.) Conference Center in late February. Current team members are Carrie Eikler of Richmond, Ind.; Debbie Eisenbise of Kalamazoo, Mich.; Dena Lee of Kent, Ohio; and Rick Polhamus of Fletcher, Ohio. To schedule a retreat, or if you are interested in serving on the Peace Retreat Leadership Team, call Kim Stuckey Hissong at 410-635-8706 or e-mail kstuckey_oepa@brethren.org. See www.brethren.org/oepa/team.html for more information.

Source: 4/13/2005 Newsline