Peace & Social Justice

We believe that peace and justice are essential for a healthy and equitable world. Crossroads promotes radical compassion and strives to foster an environment of mutual respect and collaboration, while speaking out against injustice and oppression. We adopted a Just Peace Covenant in March of 1992, and believe that peace can be achieved in our local and global communities by addressing the root causes of conflict such as poverty, inequality, natural resources, and discrimination. We continue to work to build bridges of understanding between different religions and cultures, as our diverse founders intended when they formed the church in 1923.

Please notify the PJSC (Peace, Justice & Stewardship of Creation) Mission Team if you would like to be added to their email list, submit your own testimony in support of causes you feel strongly about, or learn about any of the other events and initiatives below.

ADVOCACY

Church of the Crossroads members have a long-standing tradition of drafting legislation, testifying in congress, and advocating for causes that support basic human and environmental rights, like our affordable housing, gun safety, and Red Hill fuel tank shutdown efforts.

GREENING CONGREGATION & ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

See Environmental Justice ministry.

PARTNERS IN PEACE & SOCIAL JUSTICE

• Anti-Gambling Consortium

• LGBTQIA+ Advocacy (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, Ally, etc.)

• Sabeel-Hawaii (supporting Palestinian/Israeli peace initiatives)

• and more! Visit Who We Help

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. PEACEMAKER AWARD

The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Peacemaker Award is presented annually by Church of the Crossroads in recognition of a Hawaiʻi resident whose life and work exemplifies a lifelong concern and commitment to the ideals of peace and social justice for all, ideals for which the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his life.

PAST RECIPIENTS OF THE PEACEMAKER AWARD

• 1986: Frank and Peg Eldridge (Crossroads’ Peace Festival)

• 1988: Valdo and Frances Viglielmo; and Jim Albertini (Lifetime Award)

• 1989: Sr. Anna McAnany

• 1990: Kenneth Miyoshi

• 1991: Na Loio No Na Kanaka

• 1992: Willis and Barbara Butler

• 1993: Kaleo Patterson

• 1994: Laura Crites

• 1995: Noa Emmett Aluli

• 1996: Luigi “Gigi” Cocquio and Judy Seladis

• 1997: Joshua Cooper

• 1998: LaFrance Kapaka-Arboleda

• 1999: Nanci Kreidman

• 2000: Ha‘aheo Guanson

• 2001: Peter Adler

• 2002: Robert “Bob” Dye

• 2003: Fred Dodge

• 2004: June T. Shimokawa

• 2005: Charles Pe‘a‘e‘a Makawalu Kekuewa Burrows; and Glenn Paige, Lifetime Peacemaker Award

• 2006: Judy Austin Rantala

• 2007: Elizabeth R. Kent

• 2008: Robert Nakata

• 2009: Neal MacPherson

• 2010: Amy Agbayani

• 2011: Margaret Brown; and Robert Baker Aitken (Lifetime Peacemaker Award)

• 2012: Nancy Aleck

• 2013: Kyle Kajihiro

• 2014: Rev. Samuel Cox

• 2015: Ellen Godbey Carson

• 2016: Henry Curtis and Kat Brady

• 2017: Patricia McManaman

• 2018: John Witeck

• 2019: Institute for Human Services (IHS)

• 2020: Wally and Kay Inglis

• 2021: Youth Recognition—

  • Tabatha Knudsen (Sunrise Movement, Honolulu Hub)

  • Dyson Chee (Hawaii Youth Climate Coalition)

  • Desiree Maleah (Hawaii for Black Lives)

• 2022: Jocelyn “Josie” Howard

• 2023: Dr. Adam M. Robinson, Jr.
  

PRIDE PARADE

This annual march through Waikiki supports the LGBTQIA+ community, advocates for equity and inclusion, and embraces diversity of all genders, identities, and bodies.

WATADA LECTURES

This lecture series on campus is a biennial event recognizing Umematsu Watada’s concerns for social justice and peace, and his love for introducing young people to the environment. Made possible through the generous support and encouragement of Kathy Watada Wurfel and her husband David Wurfel.

Please contact members of our Mission Teams if you would like to get involved in any of our ministries.