Peacemaking Workshop XXI
An ecumenical gathering - April 3 - 5, 2008
| Speaker
He is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A., serving on several of their committees and served for seven years as the pastor of the Allston Congregational Church (UCC). Prior work included teaching at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (Deerfield, IL), Webster University (Geneva, Switzerland), and with the Fédération des Institutions établies á Genève (FIIG). He also worked with churches in France and Eastern Europe, primarily Romania.
Schedule of Events Thursday, April 3 - 1:00 PM Friday, April 4 - 12:00 - 1:30 PM Friday, April 4 - 7:00 PM Saturday, April 5 - 8:30 - 11:00 AM Sunday, April 6 - 12:00 PM | | Topic Four Terms that Stand Together:
Building cultures of reconciliation implies a process. It begins with recognizing the origins of conflict. It often means learning to see the structural violence that lies just beyond the horizon of our own interests - and learning to deal with practices and attitudes that contribute to conflict rather than mutuality. Social conflict is inherent in human relations and is manifest and internal to the persons and parties involved. It is that which reveals difference. Conflict can escalate and translate into a variety of outcomes, some of which are destructive. Some can contribute to reconciliation and mutual well being. This does not imply agreement, although it may. Indeed, difference can enrich as well as enflame. Building cultures of reconciliation means developing proactive attitudes and practices that make community possible. Reconciliation happens as persons or groups begin to shape their lives in positive relation to one another. It happens as people learn to deal with what separates them and as they find a bridge to new attitudes and practices that enable people to live in relation to one another, not in isolation from each other. Forgiveness is the means toward breaking the cycles of hostility and violence that lock people into repetitive patterns of mutual destructiveness. A culture of reconciliation is established as persons seek reparative, transformative, or restorative justice. Deep
change draws upon our assumptions about life, or ontology. It implies a
way of understanding, or an epistemology. This must translate into
practice, or ethics. Building cultures of reconciliation is what churches are
all about, or should be. Such a culture happens within and among
churches as well as outside of faith-communities insofar as principles
of forgiveness, reconciliation, and restorative justice are
implemented. These values, and the patterns that work for justice and
that build peace, are the focus of this workshop. |
| Sponsors Bread for the World
| | Resources Peacemaking Workshop Flyer (PDF) Nebraskans for Peace |
Rodney Petersen has been Executive Director of the