100 years of conscience

Northumbria and Newcastle Universities Martin Luther King Peace Committee, hosted by Heaton Baptist Church, Sunday January 24th 2016, 7pm.

January 27 2016 marks the centenary of the passing of the Military Service Act, introducing conscription to Britain to make up for the falling number of men volunteering to fight in World War 1. Many people refused to be conscripted on grounds of religion and/or political conscience, and faced hostility, imprisonment, torture and even the threat of execution for their stand.

This service will honour the memory of these men, and the women who worked alongside them by playing leading roles in the search for a peaceful solution to the conflict.  Designed to be open and accessible to all, regardless of religious or political conviction, this informal and participatory service will tell their stories through historical sketches and personal narratives, music, and visual representations.  It will draw on research from the city’s two universities, plus the activities and projects of local community groups. The service will also showcase items from the recent ‘Voices and Choices’ exhibition, which marks the individual choices made during World War 1. Time will be set aside for quiet personal reflection, or group discussion over refreshments about the choices faced 100 years ago and today.

This event is organised by the Martin Luther King Peace Committee, which seeks to honour the legacy of Baptist Minister Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr’s visit to Newcastle in 1967. It is hosted by Heaton Baptist Church, which has a history of supporting Conscientious Objectors and of involvement in early nonviolent political action which inspired the later work of Gandhi and Martin Luther King.

All are warmly welcome, no need to book.