International Institute of Peace Education

First Day at the International Institute on Peace Education

After a very long series of flights, and two days after I left, I arrived in Kathmandu, Nepal, on July 19th to attend the International Institute on Peace Education, or IIPE. The experience of traveling to another country and culture is always enriching, and this trip was particularly enhanced by the community that was formed at this institute. Often I was aware that I was involved in deep, meaningful conversation circles in which I was the only American and/or native English speaker. What a humbling realization! Everyone who attended was involved in peace education in some way in their own context, whether it was in a school setting or a religious institution or a non-profit or NGO or a government-sponsored program. All brought powerful insights relating to the various ways in which we can generate attitudes and actions that move towards peace in and with students, colleagues, neighborhoods, communities, and nations.

World Cafe Table

In my co-led workshop, we looked at the role of the sacred and ritual in peacebuilding, utilizing the work and writings of scholar Lisa Schirch, who describes the power of ritual to “use symbolic actions to communicate a forming or transforming message in a unique social space” (Lisa Schirch, Ritual and Symbol in Peacebuilding, Bloomfield, CT: Kumarian Press, 2005). My co-presenter shared her experience developing a ritual that heightens awareness of and establishes kinship with the non-human species that are part of our environments. I led the group in a ritual of lament and mourning for the realities of climate change and environmental damage that plague our world, as well as other losses and challenges in our lives. We connected deeply together and were informed by one another’s thoughts and work.

Pastor Naomi at Boudhanath

The institute was in Nagarkot, perched up in the mountains surrounding the busy city and valley of Kathmandu. It was a beautiful location. Because this time of year is the rainy season, we had many hours of sunshine and gentle breeze, punctuated by clouds and frequent downpours. But our energy and spirits were not dampened, and I left with a valuable and exciting network of peacebuilders around the world, eager to continue this work here in this place, and looking forward to the next time our paths cross.

Pastor Naomi

International Institute on Peace Education Group

Kingian Nonviolence: What is It?

The following information was pulled from the On Earth Peace website: https://www.onearthpeace.org/knv

A Philosophy and Methodology

Kingian Nonviolence is a philosophy and methodology–with knowledge, skills, and motivation people can use to apply peaceful strategies for solving personal and community problems.

The “Six Principles” of Kingian Nonviolence–the “will” of the discipline–provide the philosophy.

The “Six Steps” of Kingian Nonviolence–the “skill” of the practice–provide the method.

The Six Principles of Kingian Nonviolence

Principle One: Nonviolence is a way of life for courageous people.

It is a positive force confronting the forces of injustice, and utilizes the righteous indignation and the spiritual, emotional and intellectual capabilities of people as the vital force for change and reconciliation.

Principle Two: The Beloved Community is the framework of the future.

The nonviolent concept is an overall effort to achieve a reconciled world by raising the level of relationships among people to a height where justice prevails and persons attain their full human potential.

Principle Three: Attack forces of evil, not persons doing evil.

The nonviolent approach helps one analyze the fundamental conditions, policies and practices of the conflict rather than reacting to one’s opponents or their personalities.

Principle Four: Accept suffering without retaliation for the sake of the cause to achieve the goal.

Self-chosen suffering is redemptive and helps the movement grow in a spiritual as well as a humanitarian dimension. The moral authority of voluntary suffering for a goal communicates the concern to one’s own friends and community as well as to the opponent.

Principle Five: Avoid internal violence of the spirit as well as external physical violence.

The nonviolent attitude permeates all aspects of the campaign. It provides mirror type reflection of the reality of the condition to one’s opponent and the community at large. Specific activities must be designed to help maintain a high level of spirit and morale during a nonviolent campaign.

Principle Six: The universe is on the side of justice.

Truth is universal and human society and each human being is oriented to the just sense of order of the universe. The fundamental values in all the world’s great religions include the concept that the moral arc of the universe bends towards justice. For the nonviolent practitioner, nonviolence introduces a new moral context in which nonviolence is both the means and the end.

The Six Steps of Kingian Nonviolence

Do not view these like steps on a ladder. During an initiative, actions and events do not always go in a linear order. These are more like phases or cycles of a campaign rather than steps–each of them involves groups of activities that are interrelated with each of the other five.

Step One: Information Gathering

The way you determine the facts, the options for change, and the timing of pressure for raising the issue is a collective process.

Step Two: Education

Is the process of developing articulate leaders who are knowledgable about the issues. It is directed towards the community through all forms of media about the real issues and human consequences of an unjust situation.

Step Three: Personal Commitment

Means looking at your internal and external involvement in the nonviolent campaign and preparing yourself for long-term as well as short-term action.

Step Four: Negotiation

Is the art of bringing together your views and those of your opponent to arrive at a just conclusion or clarify the unresolved issues, at which point the conflict is formalized.

Step Five: Direct Action

Occurs when negotiations have broken down or failed to produce a just response to the contested issues and conditions.

Step Six: Reconciliation

Is the mandatory closing step of a campaign, when the opponents and proponents celebrate the victory and provide joint leadership to implement change.

https://www.etowncob.org/event-details/kingian-nonviolence-training-weekend?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0bVmhe4ZwPKH05zhwKiepwi9_yMjeOYaHTZigLony2bC3ShMhiQbfNuso_aem_1AuKTKTyjkKotPmK_FW0wA%C2%A0

Pathways to Learning: Our Social Justice Library

In the March 23 entry of her 2024 Lenten devotional, Through Thick and Thin, published by Brethren Press, Beth Sollenberger writes about two black families who were members of her church and community. They were active, cherished members, sharing everyday life with their church family.

Beth explains that this, “lulled me into thinking I was not a part of any racism problem. I’ve been blind to the big picture of black parents needing to have ‘the talk’ with their children, of housing limitations, banking discrepancies, police brutality, and the general unfairness our society offers people of color. All of these are ways that I have benefited as a white woman. It will take a system change, a cultural shift, and a ton of adjusting to make progress. There is hard work ahead.”

If you perhaps see yourself in Beth’s words, if you perhaps see some diversity in our own congregation and are lulled into thinking that everything is okay, and then realize that you perhaps have been blind to the bigger picture of systemic racism in our society and want to begin to understand, then we recommend the books in our social justice library as a good place to start.

In it are books for adults, youth, and children. There are biographies of people of color who were and are leaders in the movement for justice for all, stories about activism for all ages, books of nonfiction that explain what life is like for those who are minorities.

One book in the library is by Dr. Drew Hart, a member of the First Church of the Brethren in Harrisburg, professor at Messiah University, and leader of the Thriving Together project of which our church is a part. The title asks Who Will Be a Witness? At a time when many feel disillusioned and distressed, Dr. Hart calls the church to action, offering a way forward that is deeply rooted in the life and witness of Jesus. This is just one example of what you will find in our library which is located in the Memorial Lobby in the middle alcove. Take a minute to check it out and start, or continue, your journey toward understanding.

“When Jesus called to the blind man from Jericho, the man wanted to be healed of blindness: to see all the colors and fine lines and maybe new paths instead of old ruts. His faith made it possible. I wonder what possibilities await.”

https://etowncob.my.canva.site/racialjusticelibrary

https://etowncob.my.canva.site/etown-cob-racial-justice-adult-library-holdings

Submitted by Gina Strouse