Presbyterian Peace Fellowship
Encyclopedia
Presbyterian Church (USA)
The Presbyterian Church , or PC, is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination in the United States. Part of the Reformed tradition, it is the largest Presbyterian denomination in the U.S...
. Its offices are in Stony Point, NY.
Started in the early 1940s, PPF provided support for Presbyterians who were conscientious objectors during the Second World War. In the 1950s PPF worked to oppose the development of nuclear weapons. During the 1960s and the 1970s, members were doing draft resistance counseling and working to end the war in Vietnam. In the 1980s PPF was one of the founding organizations of the US-Soviet Bi-Lateral Nuclear Weapons Freeze Campaign, leading the PC(USA)
Presbyterian Church (USA)
The Presbyterian Church , or PC, is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination in the United States. Part of the Reformed tradition, it is the largest Presbyterian denomination in the U.S...
to become the first major church to endorse the proposal. In the 1990s PPF's work included the Jubilee 2000
Jubilee 2000
Jubilee 2000 was an international coalition movement in over 40 countries that called for cancellation of third world debt by the year 2000. This movement coincided with the Great Jubilee, the celebration of the year 2000 in the Catholic Church...
Third World Debt Relief. Throughout the last several decades, PPF members have worked toward dealing with gun violence and landmines.
In 1980, members of the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship were instrumental in encouraging the Presbyterian
Presbyterian Church (USA)
The Presbyterian Church , or PC, is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination in the United States. Part of the Reformed tradition, it is the largest Presbyterian denomination in the U.S...
General Assembly to pass the document called “Peacemaking: The Believers’ Calling", which initiated the annual Peacemaking Offering in many Presbyterian
Presbyterian Church (USA)
The Presbyterian Church , or PC, is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination in the United States. Part of the Reformed tradition, it is the largest Presbyterian denomination in the U.S...
churches, and established the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program of the denomination. More than twenty-five years later, PPF continues to work closely with the PPP. Often the role of the PPF is to push the denomination to new and bolder policies and actions on behalf of peace, while the PPP works within the policies of the denomination.
Since the late 1990s, the direction of the PPF has shifted to an emphasis on nonviolent direct action.
In 2006 the PPF appointed Rick Ufford-Chase
Rick Ufford-Chase
Rick Ufford-Chase, born in York, Pennsylvania, is a peace activist and long-time member of the Southside Presbyterian Church in Tucson, Arizona. He was elected Moderator of the General Assembly of the 216th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church on June 26, 2004. Ufford-Chase was 40 years...
, former Moderator
Moderator of the General Assembly
The Moderator of the General Assembly is the chairperson of a General Assembly, the highest court of a presbyterian or reformed church. Kirk Sessions and Presbyteries may also style the chairperson as moderator....
of the PC(USA)
Presbyterian Church (USA)
The Presbyterian Church , or PC, is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination in the United States. Part of the Reformed tradition, it is the largest Presbyterian denomination in the U.S...
, as its first full time Executive Director.