History
EPF began as The Epsicopal Pacifist Fellowship on November 11, 1939, Armastice Day. Founders among others were William Appleton Lawrence, Bishop of Western Massachusetts, Mrs. Henry Hill Pierce of New York, and John Nevin Sayre, also of New York. In the early days of World War II, EPF supported Conscientious Objectors, urging the whole church to do so. At that time members were required to sign a commitment: "In loyalty to the Person, Spirit and teachings of Jesus Christ, my conscience commits me to His way of redemptive love and compels me to refuse to participate in or give moral support to any war."
The early years were occupied by building the organization, relating to the interdenominational Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR), and developing an annual conference (first at Bucksteep in the Berkshires, and later at Seabury House, Greenwich, Connecticut). Efforts were begun to get resolutions passed by General Convention, the triennial legislative assembly of the Episcopal Church, and Lambeth Conference, the every-ten-years meeting of all Anglican Bishops from around the world. EPF had limited success in these efforts, but the Lambeth Conference had already passed in 1930 a rather famous statement which included the phrase: "War as a means of settling international disputes is incompatible with the teaching and principle of our Saviour Jesus Christ." This statement has been reiterated by Lambeth every ten years since l948. A Pilgrimage to Canterbury, England, at the time of the Lambeth Conference, in cooperation with the Anglican Pacifist Fellowship has taken place at the last three Lambeth Conferences.
In 1966 EPF established a full-time staff person as Executive Director, and in the same year, on the eve of the Vietnam War, changed its name to Episcopal Peace Fellowship and altered its commitment statement to accommodate peace-makers who were not necessarily pacifists. Under leadership of a National Executive Committee (NEC) and the Executive Director, EPF has continued with its program and activities to the present, working with the General Convention interim body named "Standing Commission on Peace and Justice", with the Anglican Network Peace and Justice, and with ecumenical and other peace efforts. In more recent times, efforts have been made to establish local Chapters of EPF throughout the Church and to have Action Groups on a national basis to learn and discuss such topics as Conscientious Objection, Death Penalty, Nuclear Abolition, Israel/Palestine, Peace Education and other similar topics.
The NEC is elected by the membership, meets twice annually, elects officers, and administers program and maintain contacts with the official Episcopal Church structure, the Anglican Church Networks, and ecumenical peace efforts. To celebrate its 60th Anniversary, EPF unveiled a statue, "The Angel of Peace", in the Plaza at St. James' Cathedral, Chicago, and more recently has moved its Executive Office from Washington, D.C. to Chicago. A more extensive history of EPF is to be found in "The Voice of Conscience: A Loud and Unusual Noise?" by Nathaniel W. Pierce and Paul L. Ward, published by Charles River Publishing, Charlestown, Massachusetts in 1989, which is listed on the EPF order form.
(Written by Rt Rev William Davidson, past chair of EPF)
