Peace and Service Committee

The Peace and Service Committee builds a bridge between the individual concerns of those in the Meeting Community and the Meeting as a whole, and seeks ways for the Meeting to support the leadings and social concerns activities of individual members.

The committee:

1.       supports in any way appropriate those who are endeavoring to be faithful to the Friends’ Peace Testimony,

2.       presents opportunities for individuals to become involved in solutions to social problems on community, national and international levels, and

3.        keeps before Friends the need to develop international understanding and support for the institutions of peace and peace-making.


Meetings and Membership

The Peace and Service committee meets on the first Tuesday of the month at 7:30 pm at the Meeting house.  Interested Friends are encouraged to attend a meeting to explore the activities of the committee.  If interested, please contact one of the members for additional information.

Members and attenders of Newtown meeting may serve on the committee, which consists of eight members who serve two-year terms.

Current Committee Members

Kathy Harr (clerk)
Karin Hengst
Jenny Hollingshead
Joe Hulihan
Diane LeBas
Alisa Myles
Teri Van Solkema-Waitz
JoAnn Woodman

Committee Activities

Legislative action and letter-writing

The Peace and Service Committee provides opportunities to communicate with legislators about issues related to social justice and peace, based on priorities of the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL). FCNL is a non-partisan organization that connects Quaker testimonies on peace, equality, simplicity, and truth to legislative action at the federal level.

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Click above for a link to the FCNL website

 

The committee organizes letter-signing at Meeting based on legislative priorities communicated by FCNL.  Links to recent letters are provided below:   

May 2010 – Military spending

October 2010 – Military engagement in Afghanistan

November 2010 – Deficit reduction

January 2011 – The Tucson tragedy

February 2011 – New START treaty and nuclear disarmament (Senate);
 continuing resolution (House)

 

More information to be posted in the near future on other committee activities:

Hunger in our Community

Peace Fair

Mentor program

Organizations working for peace

Friends Committee on National Legislation Description: fcnl.bmp  
American Friends Service Committee Description: AFSC.JPG  
The Peace Center Description: Peace center.JPG  
Center for Peace Action Description: Peace action.JPG  
The Friends International Center in Ramallah Description: Friends Center Ramallah.JPG