Peaceful Ventures
A newsletter from Shalom House -- a community of proactive Christian peacemakers started by Circle of Hope
We’ve moved! This may feel like déjà vu for those of you
who haven’t heard from us in a while, because less than a year
after we set up shop in Germantown, we have resettled in West
Philadelphia. Along with providing a new home—offering much-
needed room for additional Shalom House members—this
transition offers us new opportunities for peacemaking and
community building.
There are plenty of things to be hopeful for. First, this abode
of ours, 401 S. 51st St., is a more permanent residence. Our
landlords, like us, want
us to go the distance
with the mission and
establish deep roots.
Such a venture is all
the easier with more
members, so we are
happy to announce
that we are welcoming
two more individuals,
Kristan Menzel and
Tandi Book, into
Shalom House in early July, as we mark the first anniversary of
providing community for proactive peacemaking. You can look
forward to proper introductions of Kristan and Tandi in the coming
months.
The other piece of good news is that West Philadelphia
seems to suit our vision nicely. It has a more central location
within the city, its civil life is thriving, and it presents us with
several examples of local grassroots efforts. In fact, we learned
just a week after we moved in that WPEB, a brand new
community-based radio station, was just hours away from
sending its first transmission. This media outlet, along with
playing great music, will feature forums for neighborhood and
other local organizations to get the word out about their programs
and events. That means one way for us to stay connected is, in
many senses, a matter of turning on the radio dial (or walking the
200 yards to the radio station).
It has also been reassuring learning that West Philly is no
stranger to peace activism. We’ve been reading more lately
about the Movement for a New Society (MNS), a community that
was established just blocks away on Baltimore Avenue and was
active in the 1970s and 1980s. Co-founded by George Lakey (a
Quaker and a veteran activist whom we recently heard give a
presentation on nonviolent strategy against terrorism), the MNS
lived communally and implemented plans for revolutionary
change through peaceful methods. We’ve good reason to believe
their story will offer plenty of wisdom and historical examples to
draw from.
Issue 2, Summer 2008
Energized by our new environs, we look forward to pursuing
our most recent endeavors: war-tax resistance and conscientious
objection to militarism. As we tackle these matters, which we
have taken to calling “small
marchacts
1, of resistance,”
2008 volume 1 a few things
issue 1
remain clear: one, there are plenty of experts eager to offer their
insights as well as plenty of people as eager to learn from them
as we are; and two, working against something in the context of
peacemaking means also standing for something else. We’ve
heard Jesus’ call to make peace and build peace, not just rail
against the war machine.
Our commitment to war-tax resistance picked up steam after
we coordinated a workshop with a group of local Quakers this
past February. Several people well-versed in this kind of protest
shared with us their personal experiences in withholding some or
all of their tax payments as a formal protest against the
overwhelmingly large military budget and war-making in general.
At the meeting, Shalom House was outnumbered by other
individuals from Circle of Hope who wanted to learn from others
on the panel. Responding to requests for another meeting, we
got together several weeks later, at which we discussed in detail
what we can do. A few of us have committed to withholding our
2007 income tax payments. We’ve good reason to believe that
during the next tax season more may take the plunge.
Tax resistance can stir up the ire of some individuals, for
sure. Serious challenges can be raised. If enough people didn’t
pay taxes, for instance, how would we support our service people
who largely depend on military funding? The validity of such a
question has led us to another like-minded group seeking an
alternative to business as usual. They are called Centurion’s
Purse, and their motto, “Scholarships First, Battleships Second,”
virtually says it all. They are seeking practical ways to offer
monetary assistance to those who joined the Armed Forces out of
financial distress, or who fear the financial and legal
consequences of leaving the military as objectors and need to
know they don’t have to wade through these treacherous waters
alone. We imagine being a part of Centurion’s Purse, and as the
group moves forward, we’ll discern what our proper role will be.
Over the past year, we’ve had some time to reflect on the
word shalom. While the idea is old—as old as God’s original plan
—it never feels old, certainly not with the transitions and new
opportunities always before us.
Peace be with you,
Brian B., Mimi, Adam, and Brian S.
The Iraqi Refugee Crisis: A story in numbers Refugees have been on our
4.7 million Iraqis have been uprooted by the U.S. war & occupation. That’s minds here at Shalom House.
Last fall, many of us read the book,
60,000 Iraqis forced to leave their homes each month. 2.7 million of them have left their What is the What by David Eggers. It's
homes for other places in Iraq. 2 million are refugees in other countries throughout the the story of Valentino Achak Deng, one
world. Meanwhile, $720 million a day has been spent by U.S. taxpayers on the war in of the many lost boys who escaped from
Iraq. That’s $400,000 a minute! violence in Sudan and became a
refugee because of it. We were affected
1.3 million Iraqi refugees have been welcomed by Syria. Iraqis now make up by his story. When we sat down at the
10% of the country’s population. Another 500,000 refugees have gone to Jordan. end of the year to vision the next few
1 in every 7 residents in Jordan are now from Iraq. Syria and Jordan’s open border policies years of Shalom House, we were drawn
have pushed their services & infrastructure to the breaking point. They can no longer take in to the idea of hosting refugees. Brian B.
as many refugees. also has been involved with the Iraqi
Beyond Iraq’s neighbors, 36,2000 refugees have been taken in by Germany, 22,000 in Refugee Advisory Committee here in
Philly and has shared what's been going
the U.K., 21,800 in the Netherlands, 23,600 in Sweden, 11,100 in Australia, 9,900 in on with the rest of the House.
Denmark, 2,000 in the U.S. The end of March we had a House
1 DAY’S worth of money for war & occupation could cover 1 YEAR of reaching out to retreat and the conversation found its
refugees through these different organizations. See how far $720 million could go in meeting way again to the idea of hosting
the needs of refugees: refugees. We decided that once we
$261 million towards UNHCR efforts at protection and immediate assistance, moved into our new house we'd get in
touch with a friend of ours who works for
$129 million towards UNICEF’s efforts to help fund education for refugee youth, the Nationalities Service Center, an
$85 million towards the World Health Organization to provide basic healthcare, organization that does refugee
$126 million towards the World Food Program to give food to 1,110,000 Iraqis, resettlement in Philadelphia. Four days
$119 million to Syria to help that country support the 1.5 million refugees there. later we got an email from this friend.
She needed to find temporary housing
Statistics from: American Friends Service Committee, “The Iraqi Refugee Crisis,” “Healing the Wounds of War,”
“Iraqi Refugee Resettlement,” www.afsc.org/iraq; International Committee of the Red Cross, “Iraq: No Let-Up in the for a man from Iraq arriving a couple
Humanitarian Crisis”, www.icrc.org; United Nations High Commission on Refugees “Statistics on Displaced Iraqi days later. Would Shalom House host
around the World,” www.unhcr.org/iraq him?
Yes, we would. Although, from one
perspective, the timing didn't seem right
5 Years of U.S. Occupation in Iraq with our impending move, from another
In March, 13 of us from Circle of Hope went to perspective, the timing did seem right.
Washington, D.C., to mark this moment with We were being led to this over the last
hundreds of other Christians as part of the Christian few months. In a very relational way, we
Peace Witness for Iraq. were being connected to the Iraqi
There comes those times, aside from our daily refugee crisis through a friend of ours.
actions, when we need to join in large numbers to We felt God moving and so, we moved.
publicly display our discontent and outrage over this The Nationalities Service Center is
invasion and occupation. However, these times of settling some of the 12,000 refugees the
With peace banners made by the kids of Circle of protest usually leave us with some feelings of futility. US pledged to welcome this year
Hope, we stood up to be counted in D.C. Counterbalancing these feelings is crucial though, (although we are grossly under this
and as our group reflected on that day we identified places where we want to “roll up our goal). Iraqis who worked as translators
sleeves” and do the work of peacebuilding. Here were some of our thoughts: for the U.S. military are one of the bigger
“We were reminded that war is not just a political debacle but has caused a devastating groups of people settling in Philadelphia.
humanitarian crisis. I’m interested in seeing how we could help meet refugee and war victim The young man who stayed with us for a
needs, and am eager to for us to share with Circle of Hope information and to figure out in few weeks was also a former translator
what ways we can reach out to those who have come or about to arrive to the U.S. Seems for the military. During the course of his
like the right thing to do, especially when the “Stop the War” call keeps falling flat.” time with us, we had a lot of
“I thought about the refugee parents who can’t do anything to help their children when they conversations about the use of violence
are wet and cold or hungry. And how that level of helplessness is just one small aspect of the and other alternative courses of action
suffering brought on by war. I don’t know what we can do yet, but I’ve also been thinking in that we can use to deal with human
particular about the thousands of disillusioned military personnel returning to the U.S. and the conflicts. It was a rare and valuable
increased rates of homicides, suicide, domestic violence, divorce, substance abuse and child opportunity for a community of
abuse that we are experiencing in and round these families as a result of war. I don’t know committed nonviolent peacemakers to
what the social impact of this looks like in Philadelphia but I’m gonna do a little research. It dialogue with someone who was in the
does seem like Jesus to think about how we can advocate for these war victims as well.” daily realities of a war zone and a
proponent of militaristic approaches to
dealing with conflict.
We are grateful for answered
prayers!
In July, two more people will join
Shalom House!! In our next newsletter
you’ll get a chance to meet them.
We have a new house that will hold
our growing numbers. It’s also a place
where Shalom House can put down
some long-lasting roots.
And we ask that you continue to
keep us in your prayers. Please
pray for:
New neighbors we want to meet.
Our new community members as they
prepare to join Shalom House.
Job opportunities directly related to
peacemaking.
How you can help
1. Be a prayer partner.
We are contributing to the
formation of God’s network of
peacemakers around the globe.
2. Be a local partner.
Sign up at our website --
www.shalomhouse.us --
to be on the Circle of
Peacemakers Listserve and
participate in our dialogue and
actions.
3. Find further partners.
We have a new cohort of house
members who join each year.
We are looking for those God
has prepared for our community.
4. Be a contributing partner. We
need to raise at least $30,000 a
year for expenses beyond our
mutual sharing.
If you would like to share with us in this
way, you can make the check out to Circle
Venture and in the memo line add Shalom
House. Please send to Shalom House, c/o
Circle of Hope, 1125 S. Broad St. 2nd Fl,
Philadelphia, PA 19147. Thank You!
Here are some peacemaking resources
that we really like...
Adam:
“I definitely recommend The Peaceable Kingdom
and What About Hitler by Stanley Hauerwas. They
are two pretty powerful books I have read in the
past couple of months.
Mimi: “I love this organization. Led by faith and
conscience, it connects the dots between harmful
U.S. economic policies in the Americas and their
role in perpetuating poverty, migration, armed
conflict, and violence of many sorts. And then, they fiercely advocate to change
these harmful policies. Check them out at www.witnessforpeace.org.”
Brian B:
War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning by Chris
Hedges. This book takes a comprehensive look at the
reasons people go to war
and the tolls it takes on
society. It offers insightful
analysis from a man who's
seen his share of armed
conflict.
Brian S:
“The documentary War
Dance is a story of hope & resilience from northern
Uganda.”
“Peace is Shalom -- well-being of mind, heart, and body,
individually and communally. It can exist in the midst of a war-
torn world, even in the midst of unresolved problems and
increasing human conflicts. Jesus made that peace by giving
his life for his brothers and sisters. This is no easy peace, but
it is everlasting and it comes from God. Are we willing to give
our lives in the service of peace?” -- Henri Nouwen
 If you would like to subscribe or unsubscribe to this newsletter, please email mimi.copp@shalomhouse.us or give us a call.
brian.shingledecker@shalomhouse.us www.shalomhouse.us
Brian Shingledecker Website:
adam.malliet@shalomhouse.us
Adam Malliet 215.474.1195
mimi.copp@shalomhouse.us Phone:
Mimi Copp
brian.baughan@shalomhouse.us Philadelphia, PA 19143
Brian Baughan 401 S. 51st Street
Email: Address:
We’d love for you to say hi!
Non-profit Org.
U.S. Postage PAID
Philadelphia, PA
Shalom House Permit No. 4477
c/o Circle of Hope
1125 S. Broad St. 2nd Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19147
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Shalom House is a tool for proactive peacemakers to use to grow in their faith, to express the gospel of peace, to provide the option of reconciliation for people in
Philadelphia, and to secure a place for Circle of Hope among God’s worldwide peace movement.