It is our honor and delight to celebrate The Crown of the Continent Choir as our 2023 Peacemakers of the year!
Past award recipients:
2014 - Abbie Shelter
2015 - Center for Restorative Youth Justice
2016 - B.J. and Milt Carlson
2017 -
2018 -
2019 - Sam and Ruth Neff
In a world filled with conflict, peace is hard to come by. But peacemakers, peace-builders, reconcilers, and healers are practicing the work of peace in the world and in this valley.
Because peacemaking efforts are so often led by the women of a community, and because Mennonite quilting is a tradition of beauty and love, we asked the ladies of our church to design and make our traveling peace award. This is the Peace Quilt they created. Building on the journey of peacemaking that is central to our faith tradition—and in view of our mission to continue that struggle-—Mountain View Mennonite Church has created the Peacemaker of the Year Award to encourage and nurture the efforts of those in our community who join our vision of peacemaking.
This traveling award will be given annually to an individual, or organization, who works non-violently for change, brings people together to resolve differences, promotes social justice and healing, or works toward the building of relationship and community in our valley.
In an age when religion is often viewed as judgmental and exclusive if not divisive, we seek to elevate the good news of peace and the incomparable power of love: healing the wounded, reconciliation, dedicated service to the hungry and poor, forgiveness, loving both our neighbors AND our enemies.
Each year, we will seek nominations from the community, then award and pass the Peace Quilt to a person or organization who exemplifies the practice of peacemaking in our valley.
What Does it Mean to Be a Peacemaker?
The concept of peace is rich with meaning. There is, of course, the concept of pacifism: the nonviolent resolution of conflict which is so needed in our world today. But we also recognize that peace is more than the absence of violence; it is inextricably intertwined with the conditions of social justice and human dignity.
Peacemakers are healers who address hurts and wounds.
Peacemakers understand love to be an action of service to those in need.
Peacemakers practice forgiveness and facilitate reconciliation.
Peacemakers restore and make whole. They serve to address, not just the immediate manifestation of discord, but the underlying causes.
Peacemakers validate each person's dignity; they give assurance and make a safe place for those of different color, beliefs and values.
Peacemakers recognize the different strengths of others. They listen, they collaborate, and they empower others on the many different paths of service.
Peacemakers build community; they unify people and communities. They purpose to overcome barriers to oneness.
. . . AND we believe that peacemaking encompasses so much more.
A Community Discussion about Peace
We also hope that this annual award and passing of the peace quilt will serve as a symbol of our public discourse about the value and methods of making peace.
The words "PEACE," "RESTORE," "FORGIVE" and "COMMUNITY" are cross-stitched on the four borders of the quilt, and the Mennonite symbol of peace appears at the center. To honor and memorialize each annual recipient, each of them will have the opportunity to contribute a word, a phrase, a symbol or an image to be stitched onto the Peace Quilt. With each added piece, the quilt's meaning will be enriched and our community conversation will be expanded.
We invite you to join us in this cause. By nominating a recipient for the Peacemaker Award, you can help raise awareness of the importance and relevance of peacemaking in our community today.
The Peace Quilt will be awarded in January each year at the annual Martin Luther King celebration sponsored by the local LOVE LIVES HERE affiliate of the Montana Human Rights Network. So please—put on your thinking caps and spread the word. We hope to receive many worthy nominations. Help us honor those among and around us who work so courageously toward a more civil, peaceful, healing and harmonious community.
To nominate an individual or organization for the Peacemake of the Year award and Peace Quilt, click here to download the attachment "Peacemaker of the Year Nomination Form," complete the form, then return it as noted at the bottom of the form. There is no limit to the number of nominations that you can make.