the global peace initiative of women
religious and spiritual leaders
February 27, 2003
Dear Friend,
On March 18th, religious leaders from all the major faith traditions will gather with government and business leaders at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles for a national Women’s Prayer Breakfast for Peace. We invite you to join this gathering. This event is being organized by the Global Peace Initiative of Women Religious and Spiritual Leaders and is a follow-up to the national Prayer Breakfast for Peace that we organized in Washington D.C. on January 29th.
We believe that women bear a special role and responsibility for the well being of the human family. We come together with a sense of urgency, knowing that women from the faith traditions can become more visibly a means for unifying, rather than dividing the human family. Our collective effort is a force for positive change, and these efforts must include all the spiritual tools we possess. The goal of these breakfasts is to bring together voices from all the religious traditions in prayer for the nonviolent resolution to the current global crisis, and to constellate peace in the midst of the forces of war. In the event of war, our prayers will be to alleviate the suffering that could be encountered by all sides, in the hope that such a war would not lead to more violence, terrorism, hatred and wider conflict.
Several hundred people joined us in Washington D.C., including members of Congress, calling for the nonviolent resolution of differences. Representatives from Congress and the Mayor will be joining us in Cleveland as religious leaders gather in early March to raise their voices for peace. We anticipate a large gathering in Los Angeles.
As Chair of the Global Peace Initiative of Women and former General Secretary of the National Council of Churches, I will preside over this Prayer Breakfast for Peace. As the possibility of war comes closer, the need for our voices to be heard becomes greater. Leaders from all the major faith traditions will offer prayers and key national leaders will speak during the Breakfast.
This prayer breakfast is a direct outcome of the Global Peace Initiative of Women, which brought more than 500 women spiritual leaders from over 60 countries to the General Assembly Hall of the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland on October 7th of last year. Business and government leaders were also present. The purpose of this Initiative is to form a global network of women working together to support the peaceful resolution of conflicts, and to aid in the economic and spiritual rebuilding of post-conflict nations, working in partnership with the United Nations Development Fund for Women, as well as other UN and government agencies.
Women’s Prayer Breakfast for Peace
Chaired by Reverend Joan Brown Campbell
8:00 am – 11:30 am
Millennium Biltmore Hotel
506 South Grand Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90071-2607
We very much hope you will be able to join us. Every voice makes a difference.
With warm regards,
Reverend Joan Brown Campbell Dena Merriam
Chair Convener