The "Center" for Active Nonviolence is offering the "FRANCISCAN PEACEMAKING" course nationwide. A three-session introduction to nonviolence and peacemaking in the Franciscan tradition with an emphasis on advocacy for peace and justice is being offered at three sites by the Clinton Franciscan "Center" for Active Nonviolence. The course was written by Jan Cebula OSF, President of the Clinton Franciscans and Coordinator of the "Center." It is currently being conducted by members of the "Center" committee in Lexington, Kentucky, Chicago, Illinois, and Clinton, Iowa.

The Clinton Franciscan “Center” for Active Nonviolence was summoned into being by Chapter 2000. It was the fruit of nearly 20 years of moving toward fully embracing a life of nonviolence.

Chapter 1992 wrote:  We choose to nurture Franciscan spirituality…by committing ourselves to a deeper understanding of active nonviolence.

Chapter 1996 said:  Having struggled to understand active nonviolence, we now commit ourselves to its practice as a way of life.

And Chapter 2000 affirmed:  We commit ourselves to active nonviolence as a way of life and to the promotion of nonviolence in society.

The “Center” was to be the embodiment of the Chapter call.  A start-up committee began researching designs for such a “Center,” which was not to be a place but a locus of activity.

In August 2001, the committee sponsored a workshop on the “Pledge of Nonviolence” with Jim and Kathy McGinnis of the St. Louis-based Institute for Justice and Peace.

In the spring of 2002, a coordinator was appointed to work primarily with sisters, associates and the people with whom they interact to assist them in their efforts to live nonviolently and to promote active nonviolence in society by:

  • identifying and providing resources;

  • channeling information and action alerts regarding legislative efforts;

  • establishing networks for study and action;

  • educating about active nonviolence;

  • expanding awareness of global relationships;

  • exploring collaboration with the Institute for Peace and Justice, Pace e Bene, and others

  

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Jan Cebula osf, "Center" coordinator, with Kathy and Jim McGinnis at the "Pledge of Nonviolence" workshop in Clinton that inaugurated the "Center" for Active Nonviolence.

 

 

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Kathy McGinnis

 

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Jim McGinnis

 

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The "Center" sponsors 15 - minute silent vigils for peace at 11:15  each Thursday morning in front of the Clinton County Courthouse

 

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Jan Cebula OSF, first Coordinator of the Clinton Franciscan “Center” for Active Nonviolence

At their 2002 Conference, the Franciscan Federation honored members nominated by their congregations for their efforts to bring about peace and justice. The Clinton Franciscans honored Jan Cebula.

 Jan's report on a Faith and Resistance retreat she attended in 1989 awakened in the congregation the call to active nonviolence. As vice president from 1992 to 2000, she led the congregation in establishing a policy on civil disobedience and taking corporate stands on justice issues. As convener and coordinator of the new "Center" for Active Nonviolence, she is pursuing certification in the Graduate Program in Conflict Transformation at Eastern Mennonite University. Jan was an attorney with Legal Aid of Western Missouri in Kansas City for over 20 years. At the Clinton Franciscan General Chapter of 2004. Jan was elected President of the congregation.

 

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