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Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
| Hoosier United Methodist News |
December 2002 |
Peace builders gather
Do people walk by your church and know that they might enter and be helped in restoring justice or transforming conflict? This was the initial question asked at the "Church as a Center for Peacebuilding" gathering in Washington, D.C., Oct. 15-17. The gathering was sponsored by the General Board of Church and Society and the JUSTpeace, Center for Mediation and Conflict Transformation, The United Methodist Church.
More than 100 participants shared stories of conflict and struggle. Issues were identified. Ron Claassen, co-director of the Center for Peacemaking and Conflict Studies, Fresno Pacific College, led discussions and presented the principles of Restorative Justice which address the need to recognize injustice and violation while seeking to restore relationships.
Alice and Bob Evans -- authors of Peace Skills: Manual for Community Mediators and who are internationally known for their expertise in conflict transformation and peacebuilding -- focused on the need for systemic change and attention to transforming conflicts into positive outcomes that benefit those involved in the conflict. The question was continually raised as to how a model for the church as a center for peacebuilding might be developed.
Mary Z. Longstreth and Jan Jett attended this gathering as representatives of the Board of Church and Society from South Indiana Conference. They return sharing the dream of Bishop Donald Ott for a church made up of peace makers. Jan Jett
Last updated on 01/14/2004