Witness for Peace

Peace Sunday is a time to pray for peace and to remember people who have been harmed by violence, war and nuclear fallout.

This year Peace Sunday falls on Hiroshima Day, the 78th anniversary of the dropping of the first atomic bomb in Japan.

Witness for Peace includes stories of peace-making from its partners and the ecumenical family, focusing on the Pacific region.

The Pacific Conference of Churches and its member church, Ètārētia Porotetani Māòhi (Maohi Protestant Church), continue to campaign for compensation from the French government for all people adversely affected by 193 nuclear tests on Moruroa and Fangataufa. PCC is campaigning to stop the Japanese government from releasing water from the Fukushima nuclear power station, damaged by the 2011 tsunami.

The World Council of Churches and the National Council of Churches of Korea are asking for prayers for the peaceful reunification of the Korean Peninsula on 13 August. The 70th anniversary of the 1953 Armistice Agreement will take place two days later. The armistice signified a ceasefire but not an end to the war. Rev Joohong Kim and Rev Richard Lawrence have contributed to the Peace Sunday resources which will include information about global campaigns.

CWS is encouraging churches to accompany prayers with action. Churches might like to host a visiting speaker, organise a public meeting on a local concern like creating safer communities or fundraise to provide humanitarian support for refugees from conflict zones.

“There is so much talk about war. I believe as Christians we need to commit ourselves to being peacemakers,” says Murray Overton, National Director.