Introduction       Beginnings of CPT
CPT Programs       Featuring CPT's Project in Colombia       Personal Stories
Postscript

Introduction

Millions of people of every religion pray for "peace on earth." At the same time, there are unfathomable amounts of money spent on regional conflicts, a war on drugs, star wars, and a war on terrorism. There are endless cycles of violence, death, and destruction.

However, there are ways to connect faith with justice to build a just, peaceful world, nonviolently, as demonstrated by Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT).

(Notes: Most of the material for this story is from the CPT web site and from CPT members; this is gratefully acknowledged. While Christians are featured, there are also wonderful peacemaker groups in other faith traditions, with whom coalitions are formed to witness to nonviolent alternatives to peacemaking -- such as in Israel/Palestine: Rabbis for Human Rights and the Palestinian Land Defense Committee.)

Beginnings of CPT

In 1984, Ronald J. Sider challenged the Mennonite World Conference with these prophetic words: "We must be prepared to die by the thousands. Those who believed in peace through the sword have not hesitated to die. Proudly, courageously, they gave their lives. Again and again, they sacrificed bright futures to the tragic illusion that one more righteous crusade would bring peace in their time, and they laid down their lives by the millions....

Unless we are ready to die developing new, nonviolent attempts to reduce conflict, we should confess that we never really meant that the cross was an alternative to the sword...."

This call brought vigorous conversations in churches across North America that culminated during a 1986 gathering. Representatives of the traditional peace churches experienced a spirit of unity. A call went out to form Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT). A steering committee, representing the four supporting denominations -- Mennonite Church, Church of the Brethren, General Conference Mennonite, and Friends Unity Meeting -- set the basic direction (and continues to do so).

CPT Programs

A series of delegations clarified the need for a trained full-time corps of people to work towards violence reduction. CPT found that 4-6 people trained in documentation, observation, nonviolent intervention, and various ministries of presence (including prayer and patience) can be ways "to get in the way of violence" in explosive situations, as well as "to get in the way of discipleship, the path of Jesus."

Over time, word spread about CPT presence and projects, that are always adapted to local settings and traditions. The number of full-time corps members and reservists has increased and plans are in process for even further expansion. Careful considerations are made before entering crisis situations.

Peacemaker teams have worked in rural and urban settings, with native peoples, and in innumerable churches around the world, from Hebron to Haiti, Canada to Colombia, the Philippines to Puerto Rico. CPT has found that as "Christians lay aside the weapons of destruction, usually controlled by the culture of the mighty, the surprising power for transformation becomes a miracle available to redeem all of human kind and the earth itself."

CPT peacemaking across the globe is coordinated and energized by the work of CPT staff at two main offices in Toronto and Chicago. CPT publications include their quarterly newsletter, Signs of the Times, as well as their Annual Reports. In 2000, CPT initiated Violence is Not Child's Play: 500 Churches for Change, an educational campaign that complements their onsite violence reduction ministry. Their work is sustained by donations from individuals and congregations.

Featuring CPT's Colombian Project

While much of world news is focused on Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaeda network, Colombia is a principal epicenter of terrorism. According to the U.S. State Department, in the year 2000, Colombia suffered the most terrorist attacks in the world: 186.

Due to internal turmoil, as well as simultaneous U.S.-led wars on drugs and terrorism, Colombians on the "bottom of the rung" are caught in the middle, suffer the most, and are most often killed or disappeared. Thus, a CPT Colombian peacemaking presence is a major project. The main goal is to accompany the compesinos, the ones with the least economic and political clout, the ones in danger of being killed by the various armed groups, the ones whose deaths are hardly noticed by the international community.

Left-wing Colombian guerrilla groups are responsible for horrible acts of terrorism -- including car bombs, kidnappings, extortion, and massacres. These groups are known as FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) and the ELN (National Liberation Army).

The ones responsible for nearly 80 percent of all human right violations in Colombia are right-wing paramilitary groups. Often aided and abetted by the military, rich landlords, political figures, and the Mafia, these groups are organized as the United Self-Defense Forces (Autodefensa Unidas de Colombia -- AUC).

The CPT team is headquartered in Barrancabermeja, a city that the paramilitaries gained control of as part of their "cleaning" campaign. Standing "in the way of violence" takes CPTers to remote regions of northern Colombia, frequently by boat to patrol the rivers. It also means prayer vigils to denounce the all too-frequent killings in rural and urban areas.

Personal Stories

CPTers' personal stories speak volumes about who they are; about their visions of God, of the world, of sources of conflict; and about their courage and tenacity in stressful situations.

William Payne of Toronto, Ontario -- team member in Colombia (see Postscript below):
When asked why he does this work, William responded that his "faith is part of this. I have come to know a loving God who does not wish harm, ever. God, in my experience is pure Love. God has banished all fear.... I feel called to live the hope and the love that I know is so real, and the way that seems to draw me at this moment is the work of violence reduction here with CPT in Colombia."

William really enjoys "being with the people and learning from them and their experiences. At the same time it is good to know that my presence likely reduces the level of violence, that fewer people are likely being killed because of our presence. We are told this often, and I believe it." What is most difficult is to "get away from 'work,' to find ways to rejuvenate after such stressful work."

Scott Kerr of Downer's Grove, Illinois -- team member in Colombia (see Postscript below):
When asked why he is in Colombia, Scott reflected that, as a Christian American, he felt "culpable in many of the systems that are preventing others from living abundantly.... In our zone in particular, we [saw] that the Colombian government allows paramilitaries to control an area and intimidate farmers to eradicate the farmers, which then allows the multinationals to come in and begin drilling. I can not separate my buying decisions in the States and the consequences to the people here."

The most difficult thing for Scott is the "day in and day out violence. Daily there are reports of violence here; we have lost associates; and we have found body parts in the rivers we patrol. We talk a lot about 'processing' violence, but sometimes I don't think that that is possible." For him, "one of the most exciting things that I have been a part of is refugee returns. It is so great to see the kids play in their own yard again, to see men and women work in their own kitchen or corn field."

The original CPT vision called for 100,000 peacemakers. This seems possible, one step at a time with the witness and commitment of dedicated people like William, Scott, and hundreds of other inspirational CPTers who daily link their faith with action.

Gratitude to CPT for use of their logo, background information, and pictures.