‘Ideas for Working for Peace & Justice’ to be discussed at Dec. 29 event

Online Staff Report

“Ideas for Working for Peace & Justice” will be discussed in a free afternoon peace program at 2 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 29, at Court Street United Methodist Church, 215 N. Court St., Rockford.

Featured speaker will be Jim Winkler, one of the most influential national religious leaders for peace, justice and the environment. He is the general secretary of the United Methodist’s Board of Church & Society (their peace and justice arm) with offices on Capitol Hill and in the United Nations.

Winkler has been general secretary for 12 years and has focused on helping United Methodists work on justice and mercy, and worked on the implementation of the United Methodist church’s social principles.

“We’ve asked Jim to review some of the hot topics in Congress, as well as at the United Nations, and to give us a little hope for a better New Year,” said Stanley Campbell, director of Rockford Urban Ministries, the sponsor of the program.

Winkler spoke out against the idea of going to war in Iraq in August 2002 and has been a steadfast opponent of the war ever since that time. Several years later, 109 Christian bishops repented for their failure to speak early and often against the war. In 2008, the General Conference of the church went on record calling for an immediate withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Iraq.

Winkler is the son and brother of United Methodist pastors in northern Illinois. He graduated with a degree in African history from the University of Illinois. His two children, Grace and Sam, now attend college in Virginia.

The program free and open to the public, and is sponsored by Rockford Urban Ministries as a holiday gift to the community. Call (815) 964-7111 for more information.

Posted Dec. 27, 2012