The Decade to Overcome Violence (2001 -2011) will culminate in an International Ecumenical Peace Convocation in Kingston, Jamaica from 17-25 May. The meeting will draw hundreds of people from all over the world and is organized by the World Council of Churches.

Sister Bernadette Hughes C.P., a member of Passionists International, is attending the meeting.

Violence, with its many faces, continues to destroy innocent lives and to deface the earth. National budgets devote obscene amounts of resources to weapons and preparing for war; the lives of families, communities and economies are devastated by wars and a military mindset; we see wholesale violation of women through rape used as a weapon of war; we see our governments fail to meet the basic needs of their citizens because of ever-increasing military expenditure.

So it is timely that Christians and the Christian churches gather to challenge the arguments that prop up and strengthen the use of military power as a solution to world problems, whether these are theological, economic, security or any other sort of arguments.

We who follow Jesus Christ as Prince of Peace, rejoice in peace as the gift of both Christmas and Easter. The way forward for our world, as it experiences major political shifts, can no longer be by violence.

Pope Paul VI said many years ago “Development is the new name for peace”. But peace is not just about ending conflicts. It must be founded on justice.

The theme of the Jamaica meeting is, “Glory to God and Peace on Earth.” It will search for ways to build peace in four areas – peace in our primary communities, peace in the marketplace, peace with the earth and peace among the peoples.

Central to the nine-day gathering in Jamaica is the idea of ‘just peace’. This is inspired by the biblical idea of “shalom” (Hebrew for peace) according to which there is an inseparable link between justice and peace.

Former WCC General Secretary, the Rev Dr Konrad Raiser has led a group drawing up a document: “Ecumenical Call to Just Peace” to be presented to delegates at the Jamaica gathering.

It challenges an understanding of peace merely as the absence of conflict that does not, at the same time, address the root causes of social and political conflicts. The way to a new shared future must be by way of non-violent conflict transformation. This is a primary challenge to the churches and to all who work for peace.

The document highlights the central role of “non-violent resistance” in promoting just peace, and in confronting government oppression and abuse, as well as business practices that exploit vulnerable communities and the environment.

* An Ecumenical Call to Just Peace:

www.overcomingviolence.org/en/resources-dov/wcc-resources/documents/decl…