History

1948 – The initial Mennonite Inter-Collegiate Peace Conference was held in Chicago, Ill. in December.

The purpose of the initial meeting was to discuss how college peace organizations can more closely work together, to become acquainted with the MCC Peace Section, and to fellowship with peers. 

An initial speech was given by Harold Bender on the topic: “The Contribution Which American Mennonite Students May Make to Peace Work for European Mennonite Students.”

1950 – The third annual conference was held in Winona Lake during the MCC Peace Section Conference. 

Colleges present were Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Bethel College, Bluffton College, Goshen College, Messiah Bible College, Tabor College, Canadian Bible College, and Upland College.

The conference emphasized peace education, forming relationships, the biblical basis of peace convictions, and the establishment of an ICPF planning committee.

1953 – The Constitution of ICPF was adopted.

Name: Intercollegiate Peace Fellowship of Mennonite and Affiliated Colleges

Purpose: “To promote the cause of Biblical nonresistance and to study the implications of nonresistance in current social issues by providing channels for sharing ideas among the college peace groups.”

1956 – Goshen College hosted the 7th annual conference with the theme, “The Christian Pacifist in Society.”

Sessions topics included: “Social involvement of the Anabaptist — A Brief History,” “Nonresistance and Political Responsibility,” “World in Revolution — the Christian’s Part in it,” “Christianity and Communism.

1974 – ICPF conference was hosted by Conrad Grebel in Waterloo, Ontario with the theme “Nationalism.”

1992 – The ICPF Conference theme was “A Time To Listen, A Time To Act: Sharing our stories of peaceful living.” It was held at Goshen College, March 12-14.

Workshop topics included: “Finding the Connections: Racism and Social Injustice in our Society,” “Militarism to Pacifism,” “Options for War-Tax Resistance,” “Nonviolence Training: Women and Nonviolence.”