DESCRIPTION:

The course has four objectives: (1) to develop practical ways for following Jesus' call to Christian peacemaking in our ministry and practice; (2) to compare a multilevel just peacemaking approach to winning the war against terrorism with the present official approach; (3) to compare different Christian ethical approaches to peace and war, including nonviolence, just war theory, and just peacemaking theory; (4) to consider theological rationales for Christian commitment to nonviolence and transforming initiatives of peacemaking.

Jesus' call to peacemaking echoes throughout the New Testament, and the prophets; church members need deep formation in that call or they lack the antibodies to resist political ideologies of prideful warmaking. The present struggle against terrorism needs deep Christian assessment and realistic alternatives. Peacemaking as mere ideals lacks the strength that we need in our time of polarization; we need realistic practices of peacemaking that have proven effective in real experience. Church leaders and ministers need skills in conflict transformation to cope with conflicts that occur within the church.

The class will meet weekly for three-and-a-half hour sessions. Class time will be divided between lecture and critical discussion of the readings. Part of the class will also involve role-playing of methods for conflict resolution. Students are urged but not required to become involved in some aspect of peacemaking ministry. Resources and referrals will be provided.

Herr, Judy Zimmerman and Robert Herr. Transforming Violence: Linking Local and Global Peacemaking. Herald Press, 1998.

Lederach, John Paul. The Little Book of Conflict Transformation. Good Books, 2003

National Conference of Catholic Bishops. The Challenge of Peace. U.S. Catholic Conference, 1983.

Stassen, Glen, ed. Just Peacemaking: Ten Practices for Abolishing War. Pilgrim, 1998 or 2004.

Tooley, M. Voices of the Voiceless: Women, Justice, & Human Rights in Guatemala. Herald, 1997.

Course reader (selected articles on a multilevel approach to combating terrorism and manuscript of forthcoming book: John Howard Yoder, The Lamb's War, ed. Glen Stassen).

Cahill, Lisa Sowle. Love Your Enemies: Discipleship, Pacifism, & Just War Theory. Fortress, 1994.

Murphy, Nancey and G. Ellis. On the Moral Nature of the Universe. Fortress, 1996.

Sharp, Gene. The Politics of Nonviolent Action. 3 vols. Porter Sargent, 1974.

Shriver, Donald. An Ethic for Enemies. Oxford University Press, 1995.

Wink, W. Engaging the Powers: Discernment & Resistance in a World of Domination. Fortress, 1992.

Yoder, John Howard. The Original Revolution. Herald Press, 2003.

__________. The Politics of Jesus. Eerdmans, 1994.

Zehr, Howard. The Little Book of Restorative Justice. Good Books, 2002.

One in-class essay exam and a final essay exam; a ten-page position paper describing your thought on a particular practice of Christian peacemaking and how it can be taught and modeled in a church. Students will be encouraged to find an opportunity for peacemaking ministry and write a brief report on their activities. Those for whom this is not feasible will devise a plan for incorporating peacemaking into future ministry.