Members of the On Earth Peace board, staff, and community of supporters gathered in Cincinnati, Ohio last week to participate in the Annual Conference of the Church of the Brethren. For the first time in seven years, On Earth Peace was not on the conference business agenda. 

As we have in previous years, we used our time and presence to center our community around the work that connects us across our diverse congregations and communities. This year’s insight sessions were dedicated to exploring the origins and Biblical foundations of the justice and peace work that we do and to uplift the stories of our partners in the Church of the Brethren and beyond. 

The OEP live report was delivered to the delegate body by Board Chair Irv Heishman (West Charleston CoB) along with staff members Bill Scheurer, Marie Benner-Rhoades, Matt Guynn, and Lamar Gibson. The group shared the story of how the work of On Earth Peace is alive in the church and in communities around the world. The live report also announced to the denomination the beginning of the Congregational Peace Health Checkup which will be piloted in the coming months. The program, which is inspired by the medical system’s checkup model, will take congregations through an initial assessment, recommendations, and “treatment” all designed to support congregations in their work for justice and peace.