by Christine Elliot, reprinted from Contact Magazine, Dec-Jan 2008
The recent election highlighted many pressing problems our new president must tackle. Surprising was the absence of any discussion of violence as an urgent national issue. From war, to gangs, to spousal abuse, to child abuse, gunshot deaths, homicide, suicide, prison violence, terrorism, school bullying—surely we cannot solve the crucial problems we face until we learn to get along with one another.
As spiritual beings, we share the values of peace, compassion, and making our world a better place. In August 2004 my husband, John McNeil, and I decided to become involved in the grassroots movement to establish a cabinet-level Department of Peace and Nonviolence (DOPN) embodied in a bill currently in Congress (H.R. 808). Grassroots activities are geared toward building from the 69 members of the House who now support the bill, toward the majority of 218 needed to pass. Our initial action was to ask our minister, Wendy Craig Purcell, if she would be willing to have our meetings on church premises and support this work. Not a small request, considering the potential obstacles for a church community to consider. After deep inquiry and prayer, Wendy took the bold step of endorsing and sponsoring our DOPN work, for the following reasons:
- Legal: We acquired a legal opinion which satisfied 501(c)(3) nonprofit concerns.
- Inspirational: The DOPN represented a way to fulfi ll the second half of our church’s mission statement, “…transforming our world with love.”
- Practical: Says Wendy, “… the right people with the right consciousness, skill and commitment to take it on.”
- Philosophical: We recognized the important distinction between “separation of church and state” on the one hand, versus “spiritually-motivated participatory democracy” on the other.
- Spiritual: We observed that the guiding principles of the DOPN movement are spiritual principles in practice: nonjudgment, compassion, peace, and inclusivity.
From its inception in August 2004, the DOPN campaign in California has attracted supporters in 47 of the 53 congressional districts across the state. There are active groups in all 50 states. We love Margaret Mead’s quote: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
Christine Elliot is a member, facilitator, and class instructor at The Unity Center, San Diego, California. In 2006 Christine retired from her practice as a law firm business coach to become a full-time volunteer with the Department of Peace movement, in which she and her husband, John, are the Southern California State Coordinators. Christine also serves on the board of The Peace Alliance.
