RSS 1.0International Ecumenical Peace Convocation
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This collection contains the material developed at or related to the International Ecumenical Peace Convocation in Kingston, Jamaica, 17-25 May 2011. The World Council of Churches' 9th Assembly (Porto Alegre, Brazil, February 2006) decided that "the conclusion of the Decade to Overcome Violence (DOV) be marked by an International Ecumenical Peace Convocation (IEPC)". The Assembly also called for "a process of wide consultation to be undertaken toward developing an ecumenical declaration on "just peace". This consultative process leading up to the IEPC allowed for broad participation with many entry points, and covers a wide spectrum of thematic and methodological approaches. The IEPC brought together a wide spectrum of people witnessing to the peace of God as a gift and responsibility of the entire human family. It sought to strengthen the church's position on peace, provided opportunities for networking and deepening the churches common commitment to the processes of reconciliation and just peace.
Recent Submissions
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Telling the Truth about ourselves and our WorldA study guide to help individuals and churches continue to reflect and act together as the 2001-2010 Decade to Overcome Violence – Churches Seeking Reconciliation and Peace is celebrated at the International Ecumenical Peace Convocation (May 17-25, 2011, Kingston, Jamaica).
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Just Peace CompanionThe documentation presented here is meant to be used alongside the Ecumenical Call to Just Peace. This further documentation will aid individuals and groups in studying and reflecting on the Ecumenical Call itself. The documentation intends to provide necessary background information as well as basic biblical, theological and ethical considerations to support and unfold its basic message.
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Christian Discipleship in a broken world - A Statement on Peace BuildingThe Statement on Peace Building by the Participants of the Seminar“Religions: Instruments of Peace or Causes of Conflicts?” was an outcome of the Bossey International Seminar on “Religions: Instruments of Peace or Causes of Conflicts?” The seminar which was held from the 11-16 May, 2008 brought together participants from various countries and regions of the globe, representing contexts in which violence has sadly become a daily reality.
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Final Report of the Decade to Overcome Violence (DOV)This report of the Decade to Overcome Violence is a story of hope and of gratitude. It tells of the struggle for peace with justice of churches and communities across the wide fellowship that is the World Council of Churches.
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Ecumenical Call to Just PeaceThe Ecumenical Call to Just Peace (ECJP) was received, endorsed and commended for study, reflection, collaboration and common action during the Central Committee meetings in February 2011, Geneva, Switzerland.
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Déclaration initiale vers une Déclaration oecuménique sur la paix juste"A la fin de la Décennie “vaincre la violence”, nous nous trouvons à un moment particulier, un kairos de grâce. Nous voulons faire le point en ce moment, réfléchir au stade atteint par ces années de lutte pour vaincre la violence et pour permettre aux Eglises d’apporter une contribution à des cultures de paix authentiques; nous voulons distinguer comment les événements de l’histoire nous ont parlé, et comment nous avons agi, en tant qu’Eglises, pour réagir à ces événements." (p. 3)
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Erster Entwurf einer ökumenischen Erklärung zum gerechten Frieden"Das Ende der Dekade zur Überwindung von Gewalt enthält für uns einen besonderen Moment, einen kairos der Gnade. Wir nehmen diesen Zeitpunkt zum Anlass, um darüber nachzudenken, wohin uns diese Bemühungen um eine Überwindung von Gewalt geführt haben und wie die Kirchen befähigt wurden, zu eigenständigen Kulturen des Friedens beizutragen. Wie haben die Ereignisse der Geschichte zu uns gesprochen, wie haben wir als Kirchen auf sie reagiert?" (S. 4)
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Afirmaciones preliminares a una Declaración Ecuménica sobre la Paz Justa (Initial Statement Towards an Ecumenical Declaration on Just Peace)"Al terminar el Decenio para Superar la Violencia, nos encontramos en un momento especial, un kairos de gracia. Queremos hacer un repaso en este momento para reflexionar acerca de adónde ha llegado este período de lucha para superar la violencia y para permitir a las iglesias que contribuyan a cimentar genuinas culturas de paz: cómo nos han hablado los acontecimientos de la historia y cómo hemos trabajado como iglesias para dar una respuesta." (p. 3) "At the end of the Decade to Overcome Violence, we find ourselves at a special moment, a kairos of grace. We wish to take stock at this time to reflect upon where this journey of struggling to overcome violence and to enable the churches to contribute to genuine cultures of peace has come: how the events in history have spoken to us, and how we as churches have worked to respond to them." (p. 3)
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Response to the WCC Initial Statement towards an Ecumenical Declaration of Just Peace Netherlands Council of Churches"The Council of Churches in the Netherlands is composed of some nineteen different churches which are (associate) members. It includes the Roman Catholic Church , the major Protestant churches, the Anglicans, some Orthodox churches, some Free churches, the Salvation Army, the Mennonites, as well as the Quakers. In the past the ecumenical tradition has developed that when we were invited to respond to a document from the World Council of Churches, the Council of Churches in the Netherlands would consult its member churches and whenever possible give a joint response. Having received your initial statement it was therefore decided to institute a special Taskgroup Just Peace on which a member of the Dutch Interchurch Peace Council (IKV Pax Christi), the Dutch ecumenical peace organisation Kerk en Vrede (Church and Peace) and a member of the Board of our Council are serving. [...] This letter therefore restricts itself to the joint response of the Council of Churches in the Netherlands to your Initial Statement." (p. 1)
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Response from Netherlands Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) to the Initial Statement towards an Ecumenical Declaration of Just Peace of the World Council of Churches"As one of the representatives of the so-called historical peace churches believing that non-violence is an integral part of following Jesus we are grateful that the World Council of Churches has placed the issue of the use of deadly force in conflict situations high on the agenda by its endeavour to develop a ‘declaration of just peace’. In the draft document questions are raised we are requested to respond to from our living tradition. [...] As far as we are concerned the Initial Statement has been written whilst still accepting the age-old concept of the Corpus Christianum, in the context of which the church allies itself somehow with the worldly powers. The traditional peace churches however have always opted to form a countermovement, thus making it possible to render a prophetic witness over and against the worldly powers. In our Quaker tradition this is referred to as ‘speaking Truth to Power’. Because these are the most important issues at stake from our perspective we begin by responding to the questions raised in chapter 3." (p. 1)
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Ecumenical Declaration on Just Peace"The Background to This Paper: The Theological College of Lanka, in coordination with Reverend Johnston McMaster, who is a Methodist minister and now a lecturer at the Irish School of Ecumenics from the Belfast Campus of Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland, organised a 2-week seminar from June 18th to 29th 2007, at the Theological College under theme “Conflict Transformation and Peace Building”. It was within this context the initiative was taken to articulate this paper. Purpose: The purpose was not to just to create an Ecumenical Declaration on Just Peace, purely through an academic exercise but also arrive at the same through the experiences of the student community through a participatory approach." (p. 1)
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Position-Paper submitted by the National Committee for the Decade to Overcome Violence of the Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches (FSPC-DOV)"Following a brief description of five points of emphasis there is an appendix consisting of four more statements, which go into greater detail. The members of the SFPC-DOV-Committee regard these statements as an accurate summary of their concerns. The entire committee shares the responsiblity for the texts they submit to the WCC-working group, which will edit the Declaration for the Convocation for Peace." (p. 1)
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Stellungnahme der Dekadenverantwortlichen der Mitgliedkirchen des Schweizerischen Evangelischen Kirchenbundes zum ersten Entwurf einer ökumenischen Erklärung zum gerechten Frieden"Nach einer kurzen Darstellung von 5 Schwerpunkten sind vier Beiträge angehängt. Sie sind entstanden als Texte von einzelnen Personen und von Arbeitsgruppen im Rahmen der Dekade. In diesen vier Beiträgen sehen die Dekadenverantwortlichen ihre Anliegen gut zum Ausdruck gebracht. Sie leiten sie deshalb als gemeinsam verantwortete Eingaben an die Arbeitsgruppe weiter, welche die Erklärung bearbeitet." (S. 1)
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Call for draft declarations on just peace"Please find here a few words from our part." (p. 1)
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A Pentecostal-Charismatic response to the World Council of Churches’ Decade to Overcome Violence “Initial Statement Towards an Ecumenical Declaration on Just Peace”"The majority of Pentecostal denominations birthed in the early twentieth century were peace churches that advocated and practiced conscientious objection to war. This included denominations such as the Church of God in Christ and the Assemblies of God as well as denominations in many countries – including Germany, England, Russia, the Slavic Republics, and the United States. The contemporary discovery, exploration, dissemination, and development of these sometimes suppressed histories are awakening and inspiring Pentecostal and Charismatic Christians to become actively engaged peacemakers and justice seekers. We encourage every part of the Christian family to release the subaltern or silenced voices within their traditions that may have called for peacemaking and justice seeking and to employ and empower these “usable pasts,” this “great cloud of witnesses,” as trajectories for greater faithfulness to Jesus Christ." (p. 1)
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International Forum of the Evangelical Church in the Rhineland in preparation for the Ecumenical Peace Convocation in Jamaica in 2011"I am grateful for this opportunity to comment on the ‘Initial Statement towards a Declaration on Just Peace’ from the standpoint of the Ecumenical Development Cooperative Society. As the offspring of the ecumenical movement, Oikocredit has a long and varied experience which will certainly help to stimulate the discussion process." (p. 1)
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Some thoughts on the Initial Statement Towards an Ecumenical Declaration on Just Peace Entitled “Glory to God and Peace on Earth”"The Fellowship of Reconciliation at its inception shared the roots of ecumenism and entered into a consultative relationship with the World Council of Churches during those years. Our membership, and indeed our National Council are now interfaith; encompassing the full spectrum of religious tenets and beliefs. It is from that place that we offer the following reflection." (p. 1)
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Comments on the Initial Statement towards an Ecumenical Declaration on Just Peace, from the teaching staff of the Latin American Biblical University, San José, Costa Rica"In general, we are concerned at the way in which concepts such as image of God, images of humanity and the relationship between God and humankind are used. We believe that further reflection – both theological and ideological - is urgently needed with regard to their use in the declaration." (p. 1)
