An Invitation to Peace Discernment
Join the conversation
Right now, congregations and presbyteries are being asked to participate in a church-wide Peace Discernment conversation to “seek clarity as to God’s call to the church to embrace nonviolence as its fundamental response to the challenges of violence, terror, and war; and to identify, explore, and nurture new approaches to active peacemaking and nonviolence.” This Peace Discernment Process was initiated by the 219th General Assembly (2010) in response to overtures from several presbyteries, and it was reaffirmed by the 220th General Assembly (2012). To support Presbyterians who are engaging their presbyteries, congregations, and college campuses in this Peace Discernment conversation, we are offering the following:
Access the Facilitator Orientation Presentation
If you missed the 2 webinars that were offered to acquaint facilitator’s with the Peace Discernment Process and to walk them through the free downloaded Facilitator’s Guide, you can still access the PowerPoint presentation that was used in the webinar. If you have questions about the material, please contact the webinar leader Roger Scott Powers.
Montreat Consultation
THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO ATTENDED
The Consultation on “New Approaches to Peacemaking and Nonviolence for the 21st Century” was held January 18-20, 2013, in Montreat, North Carolina, and brought together college chaplains, faculty members, and students from 27 Presbyterian-related schools, as well as others engaged in action and reflection on peacemaking and justice seeking. Participants looked at:
- Jesus, the Early Church, and Nonviolence
- The Challenges of Terrorism and War
- The Challenges of Structural Violence and Oppression
- Nonviolent Approaches to Peacemaking
- Teaching Peace in the 21st Century
The keynote speaker was Andrea Bartoli, Director of the Institute for Conflict Analysis & Resolution, George Mason University. Other speakers included South African theologian/activist Allan Boesak, Pakistani Christian Charles Amjad-Ali, Cris Tofollo of the US Peace and Justice Studies Association, New Testament scholar Margaret Aymer Oget, Singer/Songwriter David LaMotte, West Point Graduate and Iraq War Veteran Paul K. Chappell, author Richard A. Horsley, and Tommy Ross, Senior Intelligence & Defense Advisor to Sen. Harry Reid. Watch for reports about the outcome of the consultation.
Additional resources
Flier – An Invitation to Peace Discernment- Peace Discernment Interim Report – "Encountering the Gospel of Peace Anew: An Invitation to Discernment and Witness"
- The Peace Discernment Process Facilitator's Guide
Downloads of the Peace Discernment Response Forms. Remember to SAVE the completed form.
SEND COMPLETED FACILITATOR'S RESPONSE FORMS HERE
Comments
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My church is interested in participating. How do we do this? How do we get the materials? Are they available by calling the GA office in Louisville? This is my second attempt to communicate via this Discussion forum, but I'm not getting any response. Can somebody please give me some advice. Thank you!
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My church, too, is interested in participating. How do we do this? I would like information to present to my church's peacemaking committee. (St. Philip Presbyterian Church, Houston, TX)
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Is there any DVD to go with this matertial that our Peacemaking Taskforce in Albany Presbytery can use for the presbytery or congregations?
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Very interesting and hopeful. I am a Veteran for Peace and have did peace activist work. I am a Commisioned Lay Pastor and pastor a small rural church in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. I want to get more involved.
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Eager to see and use discernment materials ... ASAP!