The Fellowship of Reconciliation has a long and public history working for peace, justice, and nonviolence, and through our campaigns and speaking tours, you’ve seen many of our program staff hard at work.

But peacebuilding takes work in the background, too — dedicated work like that of our Chief Operating Officer, Rev. Dr. Hillary Gaston, Sr. Dr. Gaston, who will be retiring from the Fellowship of Reconciliation later this year, has helped us ensure the stable, sustainable operations of FOR throughout the many levels of our organizational structure.

As a result of Dr. Gaston’s impending departure, FOR has a job opening for a Director of Operations, based at our headquarters in Nyack, Rockland County, New York.

Norouz is the Persian New Year and represents love, life, and freedom. Norouz is based in the renewal of the earth. But crippling sanctions and the threat of war have suppressed celebrations this season.

FOR is sending a civilian diplomacy delegation to Iran this May. We ask you to support our effort by contacting Congress with a Norouz appeal for respecting Mother Earth’s desire for peace. Support diplomacy with Iran rather than threats of war and increased sanctions.

And join more than 30 organizations and 3,000 individuals who have already signed the Pledge of Resistance campaign to commit to resisting military attack on Iran.

With the Occupy movement continuing to grow and transform in 2012, many local occupations have been shut down by police in confrontational situations that have sometimes turned violent. FOR has provided our Pact for Peaceful Witness to offer guidelines for nonviolent behavior and action during civi disobedience and protest situations.

Our national staff and local members have been involved in Occupy groups across the nation, and you will find regular commentaries and analysis on our blog about those experiences. We also reflect on the foundation of this growing movement and what’s ahead. And we invite you to please share your story!