Frustration over world events was the impetus for the Flint Hills Peace Vigil event scheduled to begin next Monday at First Christian Church, 202 E. 12th Avenue.
Mike Dorcey, the event’s primary organizer, said a march will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the church. Participants will march to Commercial Street, then east to Mechanic. The march will end at White Auditorium, where the vigil will begin around 7:00.
Dorcey said the idea started as a potential demonstration against nonpeaceful conflicts worldwide.
“People in other parts of the country were doing demonstrations and things, and I just kind of got the ball rolling,” he said. “The more we started pulling together people who were interested, the more we got going from a demonstration idea to doing a peace vigil, something more holistic, and I just came up with a peace vigil concept.
“And that allows us to broaden the perspective, you might say. In other words, this isn’t about Iraq, necessarily. Of course it would be included, but it’s not just that.”
Once participants arrive at White Auditorium, the vigil will begin with singing songs common in the Christian tradition, Dorcey said. Retired Rev. Allen Epp, another event organizer, will then deliver a three- to five-minute reflection. Dorcey said a couple more songs might be sung before the vigil is concluded.
Epp said the vigil will be nondenominational, nonpartisan and nonsectarian. He said the aim of the event is not to change anyone’s mind about violent conflict.
“It just strengthens those who (already) feel this way, that there’s a better way to handle life than conflict,” Epp said. “We want to strengthen each other and encourage each other to work for peace. Working for peace is not passive; it is a very active thing that you have to do.”
Dorcey said other organizers of the vigil include the Rev. Kelly Lackey, of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Alan Rees, Debbie Christenson and Jerry Karr. Other supporters include the Rev. Darren Hensen and the Rev. Mic McGuire.
Thus far, Dorcey said, reaction to the vigil has been fairly positive, with no negative comments.
“If somebody wants to negatively react,” he said, “I think the obvious question would be, ‘What problem do you have with peace?’ And there really isn’t a very good answer to that.”
Dorsey said he has no clear idea how many people will show up to participate, but he and fellow organizers are shooting for between 150 and 200.