WCC NEWS: Peacemaking can be rooted in theology and mission

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World Council of Churches - News

PEACEMAKING CAN BE ROOTED IN THEOLOGY AND MISSION

For immediate release: 24 May 2011

Making peace, as an integral part of the life of church mission and
witness, has not been as common as one might think.

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.

Is it possible there is a non-coercive expression of mission and theology
that can move the church toward being a peacemaker?

For Rev. Dr Thomas Finger, who is a member the Mennonite church, this was
the point of discussion in a workshop at the International Ecumenical
Peace Convocation (IEPC), held in Kingston, Jamaica, on Monday, 23 May.

The Mennonites are one of the three historic peace churches which include
the Quakers and Church of the Brethren.

Finger’s workshop, titled “Peace: the Lens for Re-visioning Christian
Theology and Mission,” explored his views about peace, justice,
salvation, sin and Jesus’ mission.

In a section titled “Not Only,” he explored classic theological
assumptions. In another part called “But Also” he said, “Sin is not
only the personal breaking of divine laws, but also the corporate turning
away from and losing sight of God, peace and justice.”


Theological concept of sin

One of the strongest assumptions raised during the workshop discussions
was that violence is central to the theological concept of sin. “If the
way that led to death is violent, the way that leads to life cannot be
violent,” concluded Finger.

By proposing complementary approaches to Christian theology, this would
help churches and individuals focus the experience of their faith on the
core of Jesus’ message, which is peace. Finger, who joined the Mennonite
Church at the age of 38, contributed to the wide spectrum of approaches to
peace that have been marking the IEPC so far.

The consensus that Finger helped the workshop participants reach was that
through the lens of peace, theology could be more than “the
clarification of the articulation and the testing of our basic
conditions,” he said.

One of these basic conditions is that people think life is a struggle. But
life can be something different.

There are possibilities of relationships and peace. We can also reverse the
current logics of violence through the strength of our faith and
commitment. “The resurrection itself reversed the logic of violence and
condemns those who killed Jesus,” he concluded.

Finger, who is a professor of church history and world religions, maintains
dialogues with elements of both Orthodox Christian theology and liberation
theologies as part of his academic approach.

The primary role of the Holy Trinity is seen as essential for any
theological reflection and a perfect model of peace where human beings are
invited to live in communion through the event of the resurrection.

Finger also echoes some elements of liberation and contextual theologies,
especially when analyzing structural sins and defending liberation for
renewal and the establishment of peace and justice.

The IEPC ends Tuesday with a message to be shared with the member churches
of the World Council of Churches and its associated members and partners
worldwide.

IEPC website (Link: 
http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=743e578b142055c50b40 )

IEPC photo galleries (Link:
http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=7c73f644e330a510067b )

IEPC videos (Link: http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=c30db3cbe387160fe30e
)

High resolution photos of the event may be requested free of charge via
photos.oikoumene.org (Link:
http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=342afb7bfe6ef9b31a0f )


The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness 
and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of 
churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 349 Protestant, 
Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 560 million 
Christians in over 110 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman 
Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, 
from the [Lutheran] Church of Norway. Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.



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