group photo of our Bible study group
The Ecumencial International Peace Convocatio challenged me personally and as a member of the Episcopal Church and Anglican Communion by the question; What are we willing to risk for Just Peace? What many of the addresses and workshops in Kingston pointed to is that, we must be willing to risk our own comfort and security by examining our economic and social systems that may contribute to oppressive systems. Our hands are not clean in the oppression and poverty that fuels violence around the world. Before we try to reach out and work for Just Peace through reconciliation and healing, we must stop our own violence towards each other within our communion and the larger Christian Church. We must honestly examine our church and name the systems of violence that we participate in; racism, sexism, ability discrimination, age-ism and systemic economic violence such as unjust wages, unethical investments.
The issue of human sexuality has consumed many in our communion’s time and attention, while our Christian brothers and sisters around the world have focused on investing in ecumenical relations to identify and work for the Just Peace in this world. The World Council of Churches’ Ecumenical Call For Just Peace is offering Anglicans the opportunity to expand our conversations and connect with the struggles of our Christian brothers and sisters around the globe. These years of dwelling on the issue of human sexuality have not been in vain, we now have a unique voice to offer the Churches, bringing the lessons we have learned through this difficult time of discernment around this issue of justice that continues to test our faith and communion. My participation in the International Peace Convocation in Jamaica has lead me to believe that the Anglican Communion can have a unique role in working for peace, by stepping out in faith, changing our own patterns of action to more clearly reflect the life and message of our Savior Jesus Christ. If we were to take this call to Just Peace as a prophetic word to us today, we may find our paradigms of security, economy and relationship to our environments drastically transformed into something as counter-cultural as Jesus’ own life and ministry.
Another question that kept coming up during the convocation was; What is hiding in the silence in our churches? Whose voice is not being heard that may be carrying the burden of violence and pain- burdens which we as the body of Christ are called to share. What are the corporate and individual stories of pain that we hide for the sake of false peace, political relationships and appearances? These are the stories that the Church is called to hear, respect, and respond to.
What I take away from this convocation is the importance of teaching peace. One way of teaching peace is to consider sending Anglican Youth Delegates to future WCC meetings and other organizations working in the ecumenical movement for Just Peace. Teaching Peace is important not just to our young people but to those who hold positions of power and operate out of paradigms of fear and violence. Peace education through solidarity work with Christians around the world, who are asking for Christian support forges peace and is one way of actively rejecting war and violence and teaching Peace. We as Anglicans need to ask ourselves if we are forming new generations of global peacemakers in the church and if we are, than how are we supporting and valuing their work in the global community.
The issue of human sexuality has consumed many in our communion’s time and attention, while our Christian brothers and sisters around the world have focused on investing in ecumenical relations to identify and work for the Just Peace in this world. The World Council of Churches’ Ecumenical Call For Just Peace is offering Anglicans the opportunity to expand our conversations and connect with the struggles of our Christian brothers and sisters around the globe. These years of dwelling on the issue of human sexuality have not been in vain, we now have a unique voice to offer the Churches, bringing the lessons we have learned through this difficult time of discernment around this issue of justice that continues to test our faith and communion. My participation in the International Peace Convocation in Jamaica has lead me to believe that the Anglican Communion can have a unique role in working for peace, by stepping out in faith, changing our own patterns of action to more clearly reflect the life and message of our Savior Jesus Christ. If we were to take this call to Just Peace as a prophetic word to us today, we may find our paradigms of security, economy and relationship to our environments drastically transformed into something as counter-cultural as Jesus’ own life and ministry.
Another question that kept coming up during the convocation was; What is hiding in the silence in our churches? Whose voice is not being heard that may be carrying the burden of violence and pain- burdens which we as the body of Christ are called to share. What are the corporate and individual stories of pain that we hide for the sake of false peace, political relationships and appearances? These are the stories that the Church is called to hear, respect, and respond to.
What I take away from this convocation is the importance of teaching peace. One way of teaching peace is to consider sending Anglican Youth Delegates to future WCC meetings and other organizations working in the ecumenical movement for Just Peace. Teaching Peace is important not just to our young people but to those who hold positions of power and operate out of paradigms of fear and violence. Peace education through solidarity work with Christians around the world, who are asking for Christian support forges peace and is one way of actively rejecting war and violence and teaching Peace. We as Anglicans need to ask ourselves if we are forming new generations of global peacemakers in the church and if we are, than how are we supporting and valuing their work in the global community.
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