The First Oregon “Peace Pilgrimage”
Quakers, Mennonites, Brethren… all celebrating together for the 500th Anniversary of Anabaptism.
Saturday, July 19, 2025
Join us on a comfortable, air-conditioned touring bus for the day!
8:30 a.m. – Meet at Reedwood Friends: First Presentation: The Quaker Heritage
10:00-10:15 Depart for Amity, Oregon.
11:30 Arrive at: The Brigittine Monastery
11:30 – 1:00 Second Presentation: Quakers, Mennonites…and CHOCOLATE! (Sample and shop for fudge!)
1:15 – Depart for Aurora, Oregon.
2:00-2:15 Arrive at Old Colony Museum, (short tour, Light Lunch)
2:15-3:15 – Third Presentation (during lunch): “The Communitarian Heritage of Anabaptism and Quakerism”.
3:15-3:30 – Depart for the Pacific Northwest Mennonite Historical Center and Zion Mennonite Church.
Arrive: 4:00PM Zion Mennonite Church
4:00 – 6:00 – Fourth (Final) Presentation: The Mennonite Heritage. (Informal Chicken dinner served)
6:00 – 6:30 – Depart for Reedwood Friends, Portland.
Why this event now?
It is summer, 2025, and the times are difficult for many American Christians. The Historic Peace Churches – often defined by the three larger groups, the Mennonites, the Church of the Brethren, and the Society of Friends (Quakers) – [but there are more, of course, whom we welcome] – find themselves once again at an important crossroads. The Christian work of peacemaking, compassionate justice, and building communities of love and support, is running into strong headwinds as the USA turns toward authoritarianism. We have worked together in the past – it is time once again.
Is this is a good time for all of us in these communities to be together, get re-acquainted, and encourage one another? Is it a good time to plan for cooperative efforts for hope and Christian compassion?
The fact is, authoritarian tendencies, even tendencies that invoke Christian language, did not spring from nothing. There was planning, institution building, and networking. While it is important to respond quickly when we can – there is also profound importance to laying the foundations for longer-term cooperation and planning together.
This bus trip, which we are encouraging calling an “Oregon Peace Pilgrimage” – is designed to begin the process of cooperation and mutual support and long-term planning together between traditions. This is a good year – celebrating the 500th Anniversary of Anabaptism – but ALSO a year when many of us feel a sense of urgency for the times.
Through it all – we remain joyful followers of Jesus and so we lay the foundations of working together through joy and friendships. The inspiration behind this event is David Augsburger’s reminder (at least I heard it from him): “We must build the bridges of love, before we drive the trucks of truth over them”. So enjoy the day, friends, and talk, get acquainted…and let’s start planning for hope.
Daniel Smith-Christopher,
Professor of Theological Studies at Loyola Marymount University and
Director of the Center for Christian Studies at Reedwood Friends Meeting
This event is sponsored by “The Center for Christian Studies”, based at
Reedwood Friends Meeting, but emerging as a cooperative effort of:
Reedwood Friends Meeting
Portland Mennonite Church
Peace Church of the Brethren