Peace Essay Contest

In recent years, many cultural critics have observed that progressives have lost the ability to tell a good story. It is suggested that the political right learned how to compose a convincing, coherent narrative as progressives debated important yet disconnected issues about health care, education, war and clean are. James Carville stated the problem pointedly on Meet the Press: "They produce narrative, we produce a litany."

This first decade of this new millennium has been declared by the World Council of Churches as "The Decade to Overcome Violence." The Historic Peace Churches - Brethren, Friends, and Mennonites - have been invited to think creatively and critically in communion with the international ecumenical community about seeking cultures of peace in a violent world. What story will a Peace Church tell the world?

The Peace Studies Program and Bethany Seminary Theological Seminary, in partners! hip with Messenger magazine, in pleased to announce the Jennie Calhoun Baker essay contest. Contestants will submit an essay or story-shaped manuscript address this question: "What story will a Peace Church tell the world?" First prize: $2500. Second prize: $1000. Winning essays will be published in Messenger magazine. The genre of the essay may be personal, philosophical, story-shaped, or it may be composed in a style similar to National Public Radio's "All Things Considered" radio series, This I Believe. Manuscripts should not exceed 2,000 words. The contest is open to students who are part of the Historic Peace Church tradition.

Manuscript submissions will be accepted from January 1 - June 1, 2007. Awards will be announced by September 1, 2007.

Send manuscripts to:
Sc! ott Holland
Associate Professor of Theology and Culture
Bethany Theological Seminary
615 National Road West
Richmond, Indiana 47374

Source: January 2007 District Newsletter