Other Volunteer Opportunities Descriptions
Communications
District Conference Assistant
There are 23 districts within the Church of the Brethren and every year each district holds a conference to gather members from their district for worship, business sessions, and fellowship. As a denominational agency, On Earth Peace is invited to submit a written report and printed resources for delegate packets, set up a display, present an oral report, and, on occasion, present workshops and provide worship leadership.
On Earth Peace seeks a volunteer to assist with the coordination of logistics and displays at district conferences.
Responsibilities would include:
- Mail and e-mail communication with district offices and moderators
- Sending in forms to reserve display space
- Creating a “map” to coordinate when and where to send displays
- Enlisting volunteers in each district to set up and take down the display
- Working together with Communications Coordinator and Office Manager to ensure delegate packet resources and displays are sent to arrive on time
Requires:
- Persistence
- E-mail access
- Some familiarity with district and denominational structures
For more information, contact Coordinator of Communications Barb Sayler (510-275-9960).
Peace Basket Coordinator
On Earth Peace seeks a volunteer to work with our Peace Basket Program. We are looking for someone who will be in charge of the peace baskets.
Specifically, we need someone to:
- check-in Peace Basket materials,
- prepare the baskets to be sent,
- ship the baskets—On Earth Peace will reimburse posting expenses,
- store baskets that are not in circulation.
What is a peace basket? Peace baskets are a ministry of On Earth Peace. Each basket is a circulating collection of resources for children, youth, or adults. The baskets contain stories, leadership materials, games, and music on the themes of peacemaking and conflict resolution for all age levels. Learn more about peace baskets.
For more information contact Marie Rhoades (
802-387-5079), the program coordinator for peace education.
Counter-recruitment Resource Volunteer
On Earth Peace’s Encountering Recruitment Network equips individuals and congregations to do effective and spiritually-rooted organizing in communities about military recruitment and related issues.
The focus of the counter-recruitment resource volunteer is to maintain and distribute copies of On Earth Peace’s Organizing and Outreach Packet and other print resources. See description of packet here:
Position description
- Maintain a stock of 20-30 resource packets ready to mail; prepare additional packets as needed for major conferences, etc.
- Assist with promotion of packets
- Review packet’s contents on a quarterly basis in light of new developments in the political moment and new resources available to the counter-recruitment movement; solicit sample copies of prospective literature and make suggestions for new additions or subtractions
Qualifications
- Ease with standard word processing and internet applications, including simple website management
- Commitment to impeccable editing and print resources
- Use of computer and good quality printer
Structure & expectations
- 2-3 hours per week. Some weeks may have little or not work; other weeks may require extensive copying and sorting of packets (once to twice annually).
- Regular supervision and support provided by On Earth Peace staff
- After a one-month discernment period, OEP staff and the volunteer will reflect on the position and decide whether to continue
Benefits
- Assist with the skill development and strategic perspective of packet recipients and the growth of an effective counter-recruitment and alternatives to militarism movement in the Church of the Brethren and beyond
- Provide leadership for the ministries of On Earth Peace, and grow your own leadership skills
- Opportunity to love and pray for network members and community organizers in a very tangible and physical way
For more information, contact Matt Guynn (503-775-1636).
Peace Witness Action List Editor(s)
The Peace Witness Action List (PWAL) is an e-mail listserv offering stories of creative and empowered nonviolent action in the United States and around the world.
Members receive receive 3-5 e-mails per week. There are currently more than 750 members. The list focuses on items that:
. . . are inspiring or compelling stories of nonviolence and empowered action. We lift up activities that move the heart or the spirit.
. . . are something that you might be able to do in your local community. (Many will be from a specific context and not exactly replicable, but they might inspire other visions or activities).
. . . are based in the Christian faith or spiritually rooted (though many may also be secular).
The list also occasionally offers reflections about spiritually-rooted peacemaking.
Position description
- Regularly review international news seeking stories about nonviolence
- Find, edit, format, and distribute 3-5 items weekly to listserv
- Maintain subscriber listserv and strategically expand number of subscriptions
- Write brief elicitive reflections on Christian peacemaking, nonviolence, and social change strategy, with the goal of empowering and challenging list members
- Post selected releases to blog, with photos
Qualifications
- Ability to reflect critically on current events and put them in context of a larger stream related to nonviolent social struggle and Christian theological reflection
- Ability to write clear, brief, encouraging, invitational messages to introduce news items
- Ease with standard word processing and online applications, including website interfaces. Position requires simple blog management and use of a web interface to manage the membership list.
Structure & expectations
- 2-3 hours per week
- Regular supervision and support provided by On Earth Peace staff
- After a one-month discernment period, OEP staff and the volunteer will reflect on the position and decide whether to continue
Benefits
- Assist with the spiritual formation of list participants and the growth of an active nonviolence movement in the Church of the Brethren and beyond
- Provide leadership for the ministries of On Earth Peace, and grow your own leadership skills
- Connection with and awareness of nonviolence movements around the world
- Opportunity to love and pray for list members and for global and domestic movements needing support
For more information, contact Matt Guynn (503-775-1636).
Counter-recruitment Call Mobilizer
On Earth Peace’s Encountering Recruitment Network equips individuals and congregations to do effective and spiritually-rooted organizing in communities about military recruitment and related issues.
The key work of the Call Mobilizer is promotion, recruitment/registration, and logistics for On Earth Peace’s regular counter-recruitment networking calls. On Earth Peace offers one or two national networking call(s) every six weeks, and is considering expanding that work to include more specifically themed calls on current issues in the counter-recruitment movement. The logistical infrastructure is indispensable in considerations of how to strengthen and expand the program.
Position description
- Use both established and new channels to promote upcoming conference calls, design and carry out promotion campaign for each call
- Maintain clear registration and participation records
- Distribute logistical information to call participants
- Listen in to calls, and occasionally assist with facilitation of specific segments of calls. (Possibility of growing position into more regular facilitation of calls.)
Qualifications
- Ability to write promotional text effectively and clearly
- Ability to keep neat, clear records in electronic format that are easily available to multiple people
- Ease with standard word processing and internet applications, including simple website management
- Interest in community renewal and abundant life for young people, specifically focused on concerns about military recruitment and positive alternatives for youth
- Desire to participate in carrying out a national and international ministry for Christian faith-based community organizers
Structure & expectations
- 2-3 hours per week, with some weeks more and some weeks less
- Regular supervision, encouragement and support provided by On Earth Peace staff
- After a one-month discernment period, OEP staff and the volunteer will reflect on the position and mutually decide whether to continue
Benefits
- Support the spiritual formation and strategy preparation of network participants, and the growth of the counter-recruitment movement in the Church of the Brethren and beyond
- Provide leadership for the ministries of On Earth Peace, and grow your own leadership skills
- Opportunity to love and pray for those struggling against militarism and for God’s abundant life in communities around the country and around the world.
For more information, contact Matt Guynn (503-775-1636).
Welcome Home Project Coordinator
Coordinate contacts with congregations interested in establishing ministries for returning veterans, set up speakers, and contribute to program development. See project webpage here.
For more information, contact Matt Guynn (503-775-1636).
