Inteifaith Council For Peace & Justice

Interfaith Council for Peace & Justice

The mission of the Interfaith Council for Peace & Justice (ICPJ) is to bring together people who believe the world is one family. Through five volunteer task forces - Hunger, Disarmament, Latin America, Middle East and Racial & Economie Justice - ICPJ helps members of the local religious community put their faith into action on issues of justice and peace.

ICPJ was founded in 1965 by local religious leaders concemed about the war in Vietnam. As the war ended, the need for interfaith work on other issues of peace and justice led to ICPJ's multi-issue work. People of all faiths and other people of conscience are welcome.

ICPJ's annual events include the Washtenaw County CROP Hunger Walk, which raised over $50,000 last year for local and international hunger relief. This year's Walk is Sun. Oct. 5, with registration at 1:30 pm and the Walk at 2 pm, starting at First Methodist Church on State at Huron. Other annual events: the Alternative Holiday Fair on the first Sunday in December at First Baptist Church; the anniversary in Maren of Archbishop Romero of El Salvador's assassination for speaking out for the poor; and "Come Together for Peace Day" at Gallup Park in August on the annfversary of the first use of atomic weapons.

Volunteers are invited to join one of ICPJ's five task forces, or to help in the office. Current task force work ncludes: the campaign to close the "School of Assassins" at Fort Benning, GA; the International Campaign to Ban Land Mines (see 22 Oct); powerful videos on an inclusive, just vision for Jerusalem; and a much requested Welfare Simulation.

ICPJ's office is close to campus in Memorial Christian Church on Tappan at Hill (use the parking lot entrance). Office hours: Mon. 2-5 pm, Tue.-Fri. 10 am-5 pm. ICPJ's newsletter: bimonthly, no charge. Interfaith Council for Peace & Justice, 730 Tappan, Ann Arbor, Ml 48104. Phone: 663-1870, fax: 663-9458.