Newsline: MoR works on new network of conflict transformation practitioners

[CoBNews <CoBNews@brethren.org>]

Newsline: Church of the Brethren News Service, News Director Cheryl 
Brumbaugh-Cayford, 800-323-8039 ext. 260, cobnews@brethren.org

MoR works on new network of conflict transformation practitioners

(May 7, 2012) Elgin, IL --Anabaptists have written the book on conflict 
transformation and yet living into the full richness of the implications of 
that work has been elusive at every level--from interpersonal to congregation 
to district to Annual Conference, from local communities to the global 
community.
For over 20 years, On Earth Peace through its Ministry of Reconciliation (MoR), 
has worked to gather and network conflict transformation practitioners in ways 
that fuel collaboration and support as they serve Christ's church and the world 
together. How can we encourage new generations to carry forward the vision of 
faithful, conflict-healthy communities? How do we engage grassroots and 
congregational level leadership and conflict?
MoR program coordinator Leslie Frye recently invited representatives from 
Mennonite Central Committee's Office of Criminal Justice, the Kansas Institute 
of Peace and Conflict Resolution (KIPCOR), and Anabaptist conflict 
transformation practitioners with a range of ages, colors, and affiliations to 
join MoR practitioners in conversation regarding the potential of forming a 
sustainable network for the continuing work of reconciliation.

Hosted at the KIPCOR offices on the campus of Bethel College in North Newton, 
Kan., participants took advantage of the rare opportunity to engage with a 
group of people doing similar work from a common faith perspective.
Over the day and a half together, they worked at articulating the values they 
share and the way those values inform the work they do as a springboard toward 
exploring ways they might work together most effectively. They also discussed 
various potential strategies for connecting, equipping, and utilizing 
practitioners to best resource faith communities who are facing conflict or 
change. Before departing, participants assigned working groups to further 
explore the potential for forming a network.
In the coming months, On Earth Peace will be reporting the ways these working 
groups will seek to expand the conversation in order to explore interest in 
defining a vision, mission, and strategic plan that will foster 
conflict-healthy faith communities by widening the circle of peace-with-justice 
practitioners (new and seasoned) working from an Anabaptist tradition.

The current thought is that the network could be a place for building 
relationships and mentoring; enhancing collaboration and support; encouraging 
reflective practice and skill development; educating and resourcing the wider 
church. To become involved or for more information, contact Leslie Frye at 
620-755-3940.

The Church of the Brethren is a Christian denomination committed to continuing 
the work of Jesus peacefully and simply, and to living out its faith in 
community. The denomination is based in the Anabaptist and Pietist faith 
traditions and is one of the three Historic Peace Churches. It celebrated its 
300th anniversary in 2008. It counts some 123,000 members across the United 
States and Puerto Rico, and has missions and sister churches in Nigeria, 
Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and India.

># # #

>For more information contact:

>Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford
>Director of News Services
>Church of the Brethren
>1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120
>800-323-8039 ext. 260
>cobnews@brethren.org