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For Immediate Release
Contact: Kendra Friend, Media Relations
(816) 833-1000, ext. 3041
Koinonia Community to Receive
International Peace Award in Independence
Koinonia, the intentional Christian farm community in Americus, Georgia, is
the 2008 recipient of the Community of Christ International Peace Award. All are
invited to the ceremony at 7:30 p.m., October 3, at Community of Christ Temple,
201 S. River in Independence. Admission is free. The event will also be webcast
live in English, French, and Spanish at
www.CofChrist.org.
Koinonia’s director Bren Dubay and chaplain Norris Harris will accept the award
on behalf of Koinonia. Community of Christ President Steve Veazey will present
them with a sculpture and a $30,000 grant (sponsored by Bank of America). Dubay
and Harris will then share an address titled “The Story of Koinonia”.
Koinonia is ancient Greek for “loving fellowship/community.” In Georgia,
Koinonia was founded in 1942 by Clarence and Florence Jordan and Martin and
Mabel England as an experiment in Christian living with a mission to be good
neighbors with African-American sharecroppers and tenant farmers, and to
provide, in their shared life, an alternative to militarism, materialism, and
racism. In the racist, segregated South of the 1950s and 1960s, this practical
witness was unwelcome. Bombs, bullets, sabotage, and a boycott seriously
threatened the community. But they survived.
Koinonia has birthed additional ministries. From its house building ministry,
Habitat for Humanity was begun. Habitat is now a worldwide housing ministry with
affiliates in every state and more than 50 other countries. More ministries and
communities begun at Koinonia include Jubilee Partners, Prison Jail Project, and
the Fuller Center for Housing.
There are currently 26 adult community members and 9 children living at
Koinonia with others exploring the life as interns and apprentices. All
community members, along with visitors, share a life of prayer, work, study,
service and fellowship. Farming is still the basis of Koinonia’s economic life,
especially the selling of pecan nuts from their large pecan orchards through a
mail order business that includes several other products. Donations support
their many outreach, social, and peace and justice ministries.
The Community of Christ International Peace Award has been given annually
(except for 1996) since 1993 and ranks high in the lists of non-governmental
international and USA peace awards. The diverse honor roll of recipients
includes Dr. Jane Goodall, Rev. James Lawson, Ela Gandhi, and several more
internationally renowned peacemakers.
Presentation of the 2008 Community of Christ International Peace Award will
open the 15th annual Peace Colloquy, held October 3–5 at Community of Christ
Temple. The peace award ceremony is free, and all are invited to register for
the Colloquy at www.CofChrist.org/peacecolloquy/ for $80 (adults); $20 (students
and youth); add $10 after September 5.
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