… so that all may live free from fear.

“Love your neighbour as yourself.” “Pray for those who persecute you.”

(Luke 10:27; Matthew 5:44)

The discussion about Peace in the Community, during the International Ecumenical Peace Convocation in Jamaica, started with the challenge of How do we live out the hope of “Loving our neighbours as ourselves” in a world deeply marred by violence in a variety of ways?

During the day, the plenary was focused in the discussion of violence against women, violence of racism and other forms of discrimination and violence caused by the assertion of religious identities, with the aim of hold forth affirmation of the dignity and equality of all human beings, re-imagining churches as open, just and inclusive communities.

Among the panellists of the day, Dr Martin Luther King III, the son of the famous civil rights leader Dr Martin Luther King Jr, brought to the IEPC participants the reflection on the ways the world believe in peace and justice. He reaffirmed that we can’t continue to preach peace and to practice war.

Dr Martin Luther King III, who experienced the violence in his own family, still believes that there is no way of peace if we try to solve our problems in a way “eye-for-an-eye and a tooth-for-a-tooth”. He asked the communities of faith to not only talk about peace but to promote peace, being an example of peace in the world, starting in the individual homes.

As a young participant, listening to the son of one of the biggest leaders of civil rights, I felt really encouraged when he challenged the young people to talk about peace, using the media tools we have, like Twitter or Facebook. We, young women and men, can contribute a lot to the promotion of peace and make the world a better place. We need to make this topic our commitment and share how we are promoting peace in our community.

Every day, in our different realities we are facing discrimination of people and the struggle for justice. We have so many people without access to the basic needs and what are we doing to promote justice for those people? How are we helping them to achieve peace? In other regions, we have people suffering for religious conflicts. How we are facing it and how we are trying to help our communities in these questions? Some people are suffering the discrimination for being women or part of a minority. How do we accept that?

Yes, our communities are doing something. Still, it’s not enough. However, we need to share with others what we are doing and how is possible to turn the reality, creating a better world with inclusion of all. Maybe, the start can be participating and helping projects in our churches. Maybe, sharing with others our work. You can also do something avoiding discrimination of women and minorities. You just need to participate and be part of this call. The challenge is to love your neighbour as yourself, like Christ said.

I’ll finalize with the words of Marthin Luther King III: “We have to make this world a better place. Tweet what people are doing. It’s young people who are going to lead this struggle. It’s your calling. Every generation has a calling. Maybe this generation’s calling is a peaceful world.”

Daniele Schmidt Peter from the Evangelical Church of Lutheran Confession in Brazil – serving as steward at the IEPC

… is a short word, one that we wish each other in almost every service. It goes fast to say it but what does it mean? Is peace something that I can wish for another person and then do nothing more? After the International Ecumenical Peace Convocation (IEPC) I feel that it is not so. To wish someone peace is also a commitment that I make. I commit to work always for the possibility of peace for my fellow human being.

The IEPC was a meeting of the World Council of Churches to end the Decade to Overcome Violence (DOV). One objective of the DOV was to move the concern for peace from the outskirts to the center of the churches. Examples of different actions during the decade was presented but the greatest emphasize was put on the work that lies ahead. In the message of the IEPC the churches name the urgent importance of a new international agenda for the work towards Just Peace.

For me personally the most memorable moments from the IEPC were especially two things:

1. Stories and Meetings. Throughout the week I was moved by the different stories people shared. Asha Kowtal, a Dalit activist, talked about the situation of the Dalits and the triple discrimination Dalit women face on account of caste, class and patriarchy. The movie “Pray the Devil Back to Hell” told of women as peace makers during the civil war of Liberia. Georgia Corowa from Australia shared the “Living Letters” visit to the indigenous communities in Australia and the discrimination many indigenous groups suffer from. During the week also many small meetings took place; in the food line, in the bus, in work-shops etc. Everyone was eager to share and learn from each other. To hear another person share about his or her hard work for peace is often hard and painful. At the same time, it also challenges me to work for a culture of peace.
2. Bible studies. To share moments of Bible reading and reflection together was great. While reading some passages for the first time and rediscovering others it is interesting to hear what interpretations others make, where we agree and where we think differently. As we sit there together I also become even more convinced that the Bible can never leave us without encouragement to act for a community in peace.

If you want to receive more information about the IEPC please contact me on: sannaeriksson87@hotmail.com. I am happy to share.

God of Life, lead us to Justice and Peace!

Sanna Eriksson

Representative from the Church of Sweden at the IEPC.

During the day that had the theme “Peace in the Marketplace” the Bible study focused on the text of the Gospel of Matthew 20:1-16 which talks about the landowner who throughout the day hired people to work in his vineyard and when night came paid everyone the same regardless of how many hours they had worked.

In my Bible study group we played a game where everyone received different amount of money and then had to try and buy necessary things from the very unjust banker. Later we discussed how the kingdom of God means inclusion of everyone.

Question for reflection: Who are the persons standing in the Marketplace doing nothing?

The “Ecumenical Call to Just Peace” states that: Peace in the Marketplace is nurtured by creating “economies of life”. Their essential foundations are equitable socio-economic relationships, respect for workers rights, the just sharing and sustainable use of resources, healthy and affordable food for all, and broad participation in economic decision-making.

In the afternoon I attended a work-shop about the Gothenburg Process, an ecumenical initiative where churches and church related organisations work together to raise the understanding and the knowledge of the ethical challenges posed by the arms trade.

In the market of arms trade I am ashamed of my country,Sweden, that measured by amount of population is among the biggest weapon exporters in the world.

After the day of “Peace in the Marketplace” I have become even more aware of how my patterns of consumption contribute to, or the contrary, not just peace in the marketplace but also in all aspects of society. It challenges me to make better choices regarding for example Fair Trade and ecological products.

One of the songs in the closing prayer describes what could perhaps be an “economy of life” that the “Ecumenical Call to Just Peace” talks of. It goes:

“On the green, green grass

They gathered long ago

To hear what the Master said.

What they had they shared

Some fish and some loaves

They served until all were fed.”

“To share is to create a miracle”, as bishop Kameeta said last year in the LWF Youth Pre-Assembly in Dresden.

Sanna Eriksson

Representative from the Church of Sweden at the IEPC.