The Wisconsin Council of Churches and the United States Institute of Peace sponsored a forum called "Supporting Peacemaking in Particular Countries" on September 9th at the Marshall United Methodist Church, Marshall, WI.  Forty people gathered to hear the experiences of five Wisconsinites who have put their faith into action by supporting peacemaking in five war-torn countries, and to strategize ways Wisconsin people of faith may continue supporting peacemaking in these and other countries.  The presenters were Cecilia Zarate Laun (Colombia), Doug Madsen (Rwanda), Bruce Burnside (Israel/Palestine), Patrick Augustine (Sudan) and Michele Naar Obed (Iraq).

To view or download the notes taken at the Forum in MS Word format, click here.

Find out more about the United States Institute of Peace, the agency that has made possible one of WCC's 2006 peace projects, see their website at: www.usip.org.

To view or download additional resources for congregations seeking to support peacemaking in particular countries click here.

Included at this site are:

• "Living as Peacemakers in a Broken World," a two-session study resource to use with youth and adults.  This item is available at no cost (limit 150) from the address below.

• "Supporting Peacemaking: How US Local and Regional Religious Bodies Provide Support to Those Engaged in Peacemaking in Particular Countries,"  an 8 page "how to" guide for religious bodies interested in supporting peacemaking in particular countries.  This item is available at no cost (limit 150) from the address below.

• "The Role of US Regional and Local Religious Bodies in Supporting Peacemaking Efforts in Other Countries," an issue of the Shalom Papers, the journal of the Churches' Center for Theology and Public Policy.  It contains a comprehensive description of existing efforts by local and regional religious bodies that support peacemaking in particular countries.  This item is available at no cost (limit 20) from the address below.

The above items may be ordered from:

Churches' Center for Theology and Public Policy, 4500 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC  20016