Families Creating A Circle of Peace
A Social Issues Bulletin published by the WI Conference Board of Church and Society
Family Pledge of Nonviolence
Making peace must start with ourselves and our families. Each of us, members of the _____ family, commit ourselves as best we can to become nonviolent and peaceable people.
To respect self and others. To respect myself, to affirm others, and to avoid uncaring criticism, hateful words, physical attacks, and self destructive behavior
To communicate better. To share my feelings honestly, to look for safe ways to express my anger, and to work at solving problems peacefully.
To Listen. To listen carefully to others, especially those who disagree with me, and to consider others’ feeelings and needs rather then insist on having my own way.
To forgive. To apologize, and make amends when I have hurt another, to forgive others, and to keep from holding grudges,
To respect nature. To treat the environment and all living things, including our pets, with respect and care.
To Play Creatively.To select entertainment and toys that support our family’s values and to avoid entertainiment and makes violence look exciting, funny, or acceptable.
To be courageous. To challenge violence in all its forms whenever I encounter it, whether at school, at work, or in the community, and to stand with others who are treated unfairly.
"Eliminating violence, one family at a time, beginning with our own."
This Family Pledge is part of the Families against Violence program initiated by the Parenting for Peace and Justice Network (PPJN) of the Institute for Peace and Justice in St. Louis, Missouri. In March of 1996, PPJN hosted a gathering of representatives of many national and local groups working with children and families to offer alternatives to the violence invading our homes, neighborhoods, schools, and world. The group affirmed a manifesto for a Families Against Violence Advocacy Network (FAVAN), comissioned a Family Pledge of Nonviolence and a series of resources to help families implement that pledge, and set a goal of one million families signing and living the pledge by the year 2000. The pledge can be taken not only by nuclear families but also by extended families, co-workers, churches, Sunday School classes and other groups and individuals.
Resource materials, including books and school kits, detailing the Family Pledge of Non-Violence and how to implement it in your schools and churches are available from: