FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Young pastors call for a break in silence regarding war

Rev. Chad R. Abbott and Rev. Everett Mitchell (recent graduates of Princeton Theological Seminary) have compiled a timely collection of essays called Breaking Silence: Pastoral Approaches for Creating an Ethos of Peace. The need is urgent.

In the midst of the violence in Iraq, local religious congregations have remained virtually silent in their opposition to war. They have lacked resources and materials to guide them through the complex, interconnected realities of politics, faith, and war. In this vivid and engaging book, clergy, scholars, peace activists, and lay people provide much-needed resources and a study guide for pastors and local congregations. Topics include preaching and scripture, prayer, peace activism, refugees, the history of “just war,” and personal reflections.

Rev. Dr. Robert W. Edgar, General Secretary for the National Council of Churches USA, states, “How will Christians co-operate with God's will for peace if the subject of war is seldom raised in our congregations? This timely new book provides resources designed to embolden churches with a biblical view of wholeness in a time of war.”

According to co-editor and contributor Rev. Chad R. Abbott, “This is a book about politics and theology, war and peace, the church and the ethos in which it lives. Whether it is praying for troops, developing religious education, or preaching amid the flurry of images we see daily in the media, pastors are faced with an enormous challenge as leaders of congregations. This is why we began our project on creating an ethos of peace.” Arun Gandhi, founder and president of the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence, lauds Breaking Silence as “a moral eye-opener.”

To be released in August, Breaking Silence is sure to invoke a spirit of dialogue and activism within the local church. Come and experience the dance of faith and politics in a new way. Come create a new world, one that embraces an ethos of peace.

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