“Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace” (James 3:18).

In a world ravaged by violence, it is not easy to be a Peace Church – a church dedicated to the ways of Christ’s peace. These ways require much intentionality, persistence and even sacrifice. It is not always certain that Christ’s ways of peace will be effective. And yet the author of James reminds us that how we plant our seeds matters. If we indeed want the fruit of righteousness (which is closely related to the principle of justice), we must plant in peace. 

Along with the Society of Friends (Quakers) and the Church of the Brethren, Mennonites are one of three historic Peace Churches. These churches have, throughout their history, confessed peace and the ways of peace as central to participating in God’s kingdom.

How does your church form a faith identity rooted in the ways of peace?

As a worldwide communion of faith, we will be commemorating Peace Sunday on 18 September 2016. How does your church foster the peace that is so needed in our world?

—Andrew Suderman, Mennonite World Conference Peace Commission secretary

Click here to see the Peace Sunday 2016 Worship Resource.