----- Original Message ----- 
Sent: Thursday, July 31, 2003 3:58 PM
Subject: SaveTheDate: Sep. 4th Morning - F.O.R.?


The Fellowship of Reconciliation seeks to replace violence, 
war, racism and economic injustice with nonviolence, peace 
and justice. It is an interfaith organization committed to 
active nonviolence as a transforming way of life and as a 
means of radical change. FOR educates, trains, builds 
coalitions and engages in nonviolent compassionate actions 
locally, nationally and globally.

You are invited to a meeting to discuss the possibility of 
forming a local group of the Fellowship of Reconciliation:

    Thursday, September 4, 2003, 8:00-9:30 am at the 
    Network of Religious Communities 
    1272 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo
    Parking available at the rear of the building
    Coffee, bagels and doughnuts will be served


We are a small group of local clergy and laity concerned 
about violence, actively seeking to study peacemaking; we 
began meeting before the U.S. war in Iraq. After most 
national and international religious leaders, including 
Pope John Paul II and the Archbishop of Canterbury, made 
statements opposing the war, we organized and published an 
antiwar ad in The Buffalo News. We have met a few times since 
the ad appeared and reflected that we are people of faith. 
To be true peacemakers, we need to go deeper into our 
religious traditions-traditions that teach us to envision 
a world of peace with justice. 

We reflected that war provides no lasting solution but 
leads to further violence. We reflected on the cost of war 
and militarism, the human toll of the war in Iraq, the 
erosion of civil liberties in the United States and the 
shift of resources away from human needs. We feel positive 
about being able to share our struggles about preaching, 
speaking and educating for peace and against war and 
believe others would like to be a part of this kind of 
group. This is the reason for calling a broader meeting. 

We feel that the Fellowship of Reconciliation or some 
similar group may be the way to receive support, inspiration 
and information to help us to live out our faith-calling 
to be peacemakers.

If you would like further information about this meeting 
or to let someone know you are interested but can't make 
the meeting, please contact one of the following:

Audrey/Jim Mang 832-0507 or peacemanga@aol.com

Rev. Stan Bratton 882-4793 or ecustan@earthlink.net

Rev. John Long 877-6896 or johnlong@digicon.net

If you would like further information about the Fellowship 
of Reconciliation before the meeting, you can check their 
web site at www.forusa.org.