DESCRIPTION: The way of Jesus in the New Testament centrally includes the way
of peacemaking. We will seek to deepen our understanding of that way and our
ability to teach it and model it. We will compare major present-day ethical
positions--nonviolence, just war, and just peacemaking--as they relate to
overcoming terrorism, preventing nuclear war, peace in the Middle East, and
practical peacemaking in churches. We will include role-playing conflict
resolution for conflicts within churches. And we will study how to begin
inward/outward journey small groups in churches with a mission of following
Jesus in peacemaking.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: 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.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: 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.
COURSE FORMAT: Class will meet twice weekly for two-hour sessions that will be
part lecture and part critical discussion of the readings. We will also
role-play methods for conflict resolution in churches. Students are urged but
not required to become involved in some aspect of peacemaking ministry.
Resources and referrals will be provided for this.
REQUIRED READING: