Peacemaking
 “We
believe that both solemn prayer and nonviolent action can bring
about change in the world, and that the presence of our congregation
of believers can make a difference in our community.”
– from Northside’s Statement of Belief and Purpose
Whether it be the extended and warm Passing of the Peace during
Sunday worship or our Session (governing board) supporting a
city council resolution to “keep Ann Arbor safe and free” from
the USA Patriot Act, our commitment to following the Prince of
Peace is made evident in both sanctuary and society.
Our pastor, the Rev. Charles Booker-Hirsch, recently experienced
the cost of the discipleship of peacemaking amidst a world whose
ethos is based on violence. In the Fall of 2002, Chuck spent
90 days in a minimum security federal penitentiary for participating
with 100 others in an annual
nonviolent civil resistance action to close
the U.S. Army School of the Americas (now Western Hemisphere
Institute for Security Cooperation) at Ft. Benning, GA. Northside
fully supported Chuck and his family during this time and the
action that he took, and continues to take action of its own
to close this “School of Terrorism” on our own soil.
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