Historic Church Hosts 56th Annual Peace Service at Antietam

For 56 years, people have journeyed to a simple white church on one of America's bloodiest battlefields to celebrate something stronger than war: the possibility of peace.

The Dunker Church at Antietam National Battlefield will host its annual peace service on September 20 at 3 p.m. The historic meeting house stands in Sharpsburg, Maryland, where 23,000 soldiers were killed or wounded in a single day during the Civil War's Battle of Antietam.

The church itself tells a story of conviction. Built by German Baptist Brethren known as "Dunkers" for their practice of full-immersion baptism, the congregation believed deeply in nonviolence. They watched their peaceful sanctuary become surrounded by one of history's most devastating conflicts.

Today, that same building serves as a beacon for reconciliation. The annual gathering draws on the Dunker tradition, which traces back to 1708 in Germany and developed into peace-focused denominations including the Church of the Brethren, alongside Mennonite and Quaker communities.

This year's speaker, Denise Kettering-Lane, brings expertise in both history and hope. She serves as associate professor of Brethren studies at Bethany Theological Seminary and has spent years researching the movement's roots in German Pietism. She also edits "Brethren Life and Thought" and directs the seminary's Master of Arts program.

The service will include congregational singing, scripture readings, special music, and prayers. Seating inside the historic building is limited, so organizers encourage early arrival.

The Ripple Effect

Paul Mundey, chair of the planning committee, captures why this gathering matters beyond the moment. "In this sacred space, they encounter a compelling alternative to the violence that has so often shaped human history," he says. Attendees glimpse "a vision of reconciliation, healing and peace for all."

The service's location amplifies its message. Standing where brothers fought brothers, where thousands died in senseless violence, people choose to sing together instead of fight. They choose conversation over conflict, understanding over anger.

The Mid-Atlantic District of the Church of the Brethren sponsors the free event, which welcomes everyone regardless of background or belief. For those who cannot attend in person, a livestream will broadcast through the Annual Dunker Church Service Facebook page.

Half a century of pilgrims proves that peace isn't just an absence of war but an active choice that requires showing up, year after year, to a place where violence once ruled and declaring that a better way exists.