The Mennonite, Inc., invites your original submissions for our June 2019 print magazine issue and corresponding online content focusing on Congregational peace witness.

Description of the theme:

Psalm 34:14 says, “Seek peace [shalom] and pursue it.” Jesus says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9). The Renewed Commitments for Mennonite Church USA say, “We are called to extend God’s holistic peace, proclaiming Christ’s redemption for the world with our lives.” We can follow these calls as individuals, and we can also practice shalom as congregations. Being examples of God’s peace through congregational ministry requires paying attention to the local context and speaking and acting in a way that is loving and nonjudgmental (Matthew 7:1). Peace is not simply the absence of war or conflict but a holistic, all-encompassing reality manifested as shalom.

Submissions may consider one of the following prompts/questions, among others:

• How is your congregation practicing its peace witness? Tell us your story and be sure to include the voices of all involved.
• What are challenges your congregation has faced in practicing its peace witness? What are ways you’ve experienced God’s grace in this practice?
• How has your congregation’s peace witness changed over the years? What influenced those changes?
• What has shaped your congregation’s peace witness: scriptures, tradition, Anabaptist values, current social and political contexts?

Submissions are due to Editor@TheMennonite.org no later than May 3.

We welcome articles—personal stories, biblical or theological reflections, stories about your congregation, and more (800-1,200 words)—as well as original photography, videos and artwork on the theme. Please note we are committed to anti-oppression reviews as part of our editorial process. When developing your submission, please review our updated anti-oppression guidelines as well as our editorial guidelines.