Peace, Earthcare & Social Justice Committee
Mission:
The Peace and Social Justice committee of VBFM is devoted to service as well as the development of peace programs in the region and throughout the world. Our work is based on the belief in the worth of every person and in the faith of the power of love to overcome violence and oppression.
In elaboration and pursuit of this mission, our committee provides leadership for Virginia Beach Friends on the following activities:
- Members/attenders of the Peace and Social Justice committee of VBFM seek to be effective advocates for peace and public policy change in our world, nation, state, and local community. We seek a world free of war and the threat of war, a society with equity and justice for all. We seek a community where every person's potential may be fulfilled. We seek an earth restored.
- We aim to stay current with and engage national Peace & Social Justice initiatives of the Friends Committee on National Legislation and the American Friends Service Committee.
- We seek to nurture, and whenever possible provide leadership for, statewide and regional coalitions with similar progressive missions, such as the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy (VICPP), Empower Hampton Roads, and Virginia Organizing.
- We seek ways to facilitate constructive engagement between public officials and those in our community who feel least empowered and most victimized.
- We maintain supportive relationships with other organizations active in similar issues, such as the Judeo-Christian Outreach Center (JCOC, a local interfaith outreach to the homeless), the Norfolk Catholic Worker, and Steady Footsteps (an organization founded by a member of meeting working in Vietnam).
- We serve as a resource for peace and social justice initiatives of the faculty and students of Friends School.
- We encourage members/attenders of our Meeting to bear witness to their beliefs by writing of letters to newspapers and public officials, helping organize programs that bring these issues to public attention, such as the One Love Festival, and participating in peace vigils with others of like mind.
| Maintained By: | Peace And Social Justice Committee |
| Last Revision Date: | 12-2019 |