Posts in the ‘Articles’ Category

Harriet Jane Olson: What would it be like if our history were shaped by the times of peace, and the wars were viewed as the interruptions? What if we trained some of our best and brightest strategists to create the conditions for peace, for dispute resolution and for investment in all of the things that help humans thrive?

The June 2011 issue of Response Magazine has an article about JustPeace! Written by Mary Kate Sweeney, the article offers a detailed overview of our organization.

National Catholic Reporter: Bill Tammeus, Presbyterian elder and former award-winning Faith columnist for The Kansas City Star, offers a great reflection about the need for Christians to take mediation seriously as disciples of the Prince of Peace.

Huffington Post: We live in a universe marked by diversity as the law of its being and our being. We are made to exist in a life that should be marked by cooperation, interdependence, sharing, caring, compassion and complementarity.

The United Methodist Church, in particular, was instrumental in the reconciliation process and through its Child Rescue Center in Bo continues to lead a campaign to care for children left destitute after the war. United Methodist Bishop Joseph Humper, now retired, served as chair of the post-conflict Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

The agenda for the Florida Annual Conference at the Tampa Convention Center June 1-4 was designed to support Bishop Timothy Whitaker’s 2011 theme, “Transforming the World by Living as Peacemakers.”

By Tom Porter: “When Blood and Bones Cry Out” by John Paul Lederach and Angela Jill Lederach contains one of the best explanations of why the circle process has become so important in conflict transformation. The circle is a container for ritual, covenant and conversation.

Rather, the opposite seems to be true, as, throughout history the church has found itself pointing the sharper rather than the blunt edge of the sword, many times using violence in the name of God. Following closely behind has been mission and theology – either justifying it or keeping silent.

“I remember when the Sierra Leonean community in Kenya was threatened by division with squabbles here and there,” said Edgar Momoh, a Sierra Leonean United Methodist living in Kenya. “Because of his natural peacemaking prowess, the community held together until they relocated to Uganda.

The UMC announced a $50,000 donation to the National Park Service for developing a center at the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site, near Eads, Colorado. This article from The Denver Post highlights the Trinity UMC’s involvement in reconciliation dialogues between church members and American Indians each November.