Summer 2017 church and Newsletter

Finding alternatives – “No” to nationalism, consumerism and militarisation

Profile– Meet the new General Secretary

Empty graves (of encouragement) – AGM sermon, abridged Photo: Ruben Sečen Ruben Photo: Freed from fear, empowered to 500 years (R)

Church and Peace came together this year noted that fear has been a reality for which used it as a means to political around the theme, “Do not be afraid!” A every generation. Indeed, the words, ends. In contrast, chance to deepen relationships, reflect, “Do not be afraid!” appear frequently in Anabaptists and later peace church worship and encourage one another. the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. reformers have chosen to practise nonviolence and non-hierarchical ways eformation today means being Yet people have also known God as the to organise society. Rfreed from fear and empowered One who helps to face and overcome to nonviolence in a world marked by fears. Only by experiencing God’s love The words of ecumenist Dietrich Werner personal and societal violence. and mercy was freed from remind us that reformation is not limited his self-destructive fears. to a particular period in history, rather The Annual General Meeting on 9-11 that the Body of Christ is called to June in Strasbourg dared to take a Heider-Rottwilm noted that though ongoing “re-formation”. closer look at fear through the lens of an Luther in 1522 first warned against ongoing call to (R)reformation, 500 years imposing reform with violence, the It is now time for the churches to take after Martin Luther proposed his theses next year he would praise the “temporal the reforming step of faith towards in Wittenberg. sword” as the work of love. In this fearlessness grounded in God’s love and way, through his authority, violence therefore also towards nonviolence in all In her introduction, Church and Peace would become a shadow side of areas of life, she concluded. Chairperson Antje Heider-Rottwilm the Reformation and of the powers church and peace

Church and Peace The European ecumenical network of peace churches, and peace-church oriented congregations, communities and service agencies.

Editorial team: Lydia Funck, General Secretary, and Terri Miller, Administrative Committee member

Church and Peace International Office From 1 September 2017: Mittelstraße 4, D-34474 Diemelstadt-Wethen Tel: +49 5694 9905506, Fax: +49 5694 1532 [email protected] “I am about to www.church-and-peace.org

Translation and proofreading: do a new thing” Barbara Forbes, Lydia Funck, Elaine Griffiths, (Isaiah 43:19) Gordon Matthews, Terri Miller Dear Church and Peace friends,

Layout: Benji Wiebe, mennox.de Can our alternatives to the increasingly militarised security Production: Marion Wiebe, mennox.de/it prevalent economic, societal and alliance. Church and Peace as a security policy paradigms truly European peace church network Support Church and Peace lead to a more peaceful and just has taken a firm stand numerous times against this development, Account in the UK: world? most recently in a press release in Send Sterling cheques to the order of 'Church and Peace' to Gerald Drewett, 39, Postwood Church and Peace members are June, and continues to call for a Green, Hertford SG13 7QJ or alternatively make engaging with this question in coherent, and accordingly funded, a transfer by BACS to sort code 08-90-78 and their respective contexts and politics of peace. account 50342831 and send email notification advocating for feasible alternatives. to [email protected] Our common reflection about God’s Word is a source of economics challenges us as encouragement in our striving for Account in the USA: disciples of to think about nonviolent and just alternatives Send US Dollar checks to the order of 'Ivester sustainable and just consumption to the prevailing paradigms of (designation: Church in our daily lives and to open up our world. In Isaiah 43:19 - “I am and Peace fund)', to: Ivester Church of the Brethren, 25056 'E' Avenue, alternative spaces for economic about to do a new thing; now it Grundy Center, Iowa 50638-8761, USA activity. springs forth, do you not perceive (tax deductible) it?” – God reminds us that he is While the justification of the doer, the agent, and through Account in Germany: nationalism and xenophobia this we are empowered to act. As Church and Peace e.V. with religious arguments seems Chairperson Antje Heider-Rottwilm Bank für Kirche und Diakonie KD-Bank, to have become acceptable in said in her opening address to the IBAN: DE33 3506 0190 1014 3800 15, our societies, participants of the conference in Strasbourg 2017: “It is BIC: GENODED1DKD regional meeting of Believers for now time for the churches to take Peace in South East Europe have the reforming step of faith towards Account in Switzerland: taken a clear stance against this fearlessness grounded in God’s CEC, 2608 Courtelary, Account: 30-38150-4, IBAN: CH44 0624 0016 1072 4100 9, trend, labelling it as “profoundly love and therefore also towards BIC: RBAB CH 22240 wrong and unacceptable”. Their nonviolence in all areas of life.” declaration is an example of the Account in France: form alternatives can take when I hope you will enjoy reading this Send cheques made out to 'Church and Peace' people of different religious issue of the newsletter! May you to the International Office or make a transfer to: traditions come together and be encouraged and challenged by CCP Nancy, 046651X036 find a common basis for peace the Church and Peace network’s RIB: 20041 01015 0466451X036 41, building. journeying together on the way IBAN: FR93 2004 1010 1504 6645 1X03 641, of justice and peace to follow the BIC: PSSTFRPPSTR The European Union, founded example of Jesus. Opinions expressed by authors do not necessarily as a project of understanding reflect the views of Church and Peace. Church and between peoples and of peaceful Best wishes, Peace reserves the right to edit material received cooperation, is developing into an for publication. See http://bit.ly/CPpress for press releases.

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AGM 2017 Different faces of fear AGM participants had the chance to engage various facets of fear through eight workshops

ndividual member Isabelle Eliat- churches are – or are not – resisting ISerck invited participants to enter nationalism. The line between into relationship with their fear, populism and fascism is crossed dialoguing with it as they would when “the party” sets one group a person with whom they were in to hate and attack the other. As conflict. This act of welcoming and citizens of the “republic” of God, we engaging the fear opens a door are charged to bring its values into enabling us to stop the cycle of our everyday world. reactionary violence. Participants had a chance to With Andrew Lane, Quaker Council explore biblical texts guided by of European Affairs, participants Kjeld Renato Lings, author of Love named steps churches can take Lost in Translation and, after a to address fears of migration, period of silence, listened to three terrorism and militarised security moving personal testimonies in the in Europe. workshop on the Bible and sexual

identities moderated by Quaker Vaupotić Elvis Photos: Karen Hinrichs, Evangelical Church and Administrative Committee in Baden, explored differences member Kees Nieuwerth. Meeting This way of encountering one AGM participants between a logic of security and others as vulnerable persons who another helps to leave behind fear find out more one of peace through the example need peace, love and a church and live together in diversity. about workshop of just policing. Resolving conflict community is important to focuses. is difficult and high-risk, and a deconstruct fear and build trust. Participants talked about past recent study shows the need to We are challenged not to be afraid and present fears with a woman move away from intervention, to create safe spaces for difficult, of the Reformation, Katharina whether military or police, towards open conversations, rooted in Zell, portrayed by Gudrun Tappe- community-rooted prevention in God’s loving presence. Freitag, gewaltfrei handeln. To order to stop genocide. remember the contributions of A workshop by Michel Monod, those history excludes is an act Quaker and Administrative International Fellowship of of nonviolent action, as is the Committee member Barbara Reconciliation, role played the use readiness to struggle for those Forbes and her husband David of nonviolent communication in on the margins to be part of the reflected with participants on how post-war situations such as Kosovo. conversation.

James Jakob Fehr, German Mennonite Peace Committee, looked at the power of the W/word through Martin Luther’s “sola” pillars of Scripture, faith, Christ and grace. Is Jesus’ command not to be afraid already fulfilled in its utterance? We create paths of transformation into the “upside-down Kingdom” of God when we actually walk them.

Discussion during the exhibition of workshop results Newsletter - Summer 2017 - - 3 church and peace

AGM 2017 EU funds for civilian, not military instruments AGM opposes European shift from reconciliation and peace to militarisation

hurch and Peace is urging current – civilian – EU budget. More Cthe churches in Europe to than EUR 600 million budgeted More from the AGM advocate for EU funds to be used for civilian purposes through 2020 to strengthen civilian, not military would be diverted for military Can empty graves bring instruments. instruments. Two of the three future encouragement? See “The scenarios build the case for moving Last Word” (page 12) for an At this year’s AGM in Strasbourg, towards a European Security and abridged version of Ana network members voiced clear Defence Union. Raffai’s AGM sermon about opposition to recent security and the hope that comes from defence recommendations that The AGM noted with alarm that engaging in the resurrection would move Europe further along this would not only be a major struggle against injustice, the path of militarisation, away shift in the EU budget but would violence and cynicism. from its origins as a project of also change the fundamental peace and reconciliation. character of the European Union How do Church and Peace itself, reinforcing the trend towards members across Europe On 7 June the European militarisation set out last autumn experience the call "Do Commission announced the with the proposed expansion not be afraid"? Contact launch of a European Defence of the Instrument contributing the International Office Fund, proposed establishing to Stability and Peace (IcSP), a (address page 2) to learn a programme to support the decision still pending. about ways that the Gospel European arms industry and is bringing freedom from fear outlined possible future scenarios Members are calling churches to in members’ diverse contexts, for European defence. advocate instead for a coherent as well as about different and adequately funded politics of network engagement around The proposals would mean that peace based on the UN Sustainable Reformation remembrance, instead of coordinating member Development Goals. and the relationship with state armament plans, Commission Europe and the EU. funds would be taken from the Church and Peace chairperson Antje Heider-Rottwilm spoke for AGM Highlights the AGM: “We are taking a stand • Church and Peace members urge governments’ as Church and Peace that Europe participation in the 15 June-7 July UN does not enter down this path.” "Do not be afraid": Participants from South East Europe note that negotiations on a nuclear weapons ban treaty See the Church and Peace website for related the Gospel message has to be a • New corporate member - Youth for Christ press releases: http://bit.ly/CPpress. Croatia, Čavle call for us to initiate change. • New individual member - Isabelle Eliat-Serck and Bruno Eliat from Walhain, Belgium • New individual member - Neda (Nedeljka) Popović from Krk, Croatia • New individual member - Julianne Funk from Horgen, Switzerland • New staff - Lydia Funck as General Secretary, from 1 April 2017 (Interview page 8) • New staff - Ramona Thuneke as Administrative Assistant, from 1 September 2017 • New International Office location - Wethen, Germany, from 1 September 2017 (More on page 9) Photo: Ruben Sečen Ruben Photo:

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Which game shall we play? Some thoughts about economics and justice

80 people were both encouraged and challenged by the German-speaking regional conference, “There was no needy person among them”, in November 2016. Three inputs – along with many personal encounters – made a strong impression on Bruno and Heidi Sägesser, who are individual members of Church and Peace.

delheid Biesecker, former Aprofessor of economics at the University of Bremen, combined enthusiasm and expertise as she outlined some ideas about just economics. There are a lot of losers in our society, because the Revelation Then and Now and a we make profitable use of our (re)distribution of wealth isn't member of the Basisgemeinde talents, but tells us off and punishes working. These losers feel Wulfshagenerhütten. He helped us when we don't put them to good marginalised. They are more and us to become more familiar with use. This caused us to ask ourselves more likely to vote in elections and one of the more difficult books of a long time ago: “Is God really as to elect populists. the Bible, the Book of Revelation, brutal as this?” and showed us some of the ideas If our economic activity were to about alternative economics which Zorzin's exegesis enabled us to see become truly sustainable, we it promotes. that the text, when understood would leave a productive natural in context, takes a very different environment to future generations, The Book of Revelation was written approach. Money is used to make ensure that the basic needs of the during the Roman Empire and money; the rich get richer; and the world's poor are met, stop causing describes the empire in graphic poor get poorer. This is the “usual more pollution than the Earth can terms. Since we too live in an game”, which Biesecker described. handle, and ensure that wealth is empire, in which the capitalist But Jesus plays no part in this justly distributed to everyone. economic system flourishes, we system! He refuses to play the “usual should read Revelation from game” and invites us to refuse to Biesecker encouraged us to start this standpoint. When the book take part as well. here and now in our own society. is reduced to a schedule for the Everyone can start a “second apocalypse, the Church misses out The conference stirred up quite a game”, so to speak, and refuse to on a text which offers not only a few thoughts and feelings inside us play the “usual game”. Many of critique of the current economic both. Which game are we playing? the conference participants have system but also an alternative. already started doing this. And Bruno und Heidi Sägesser the network was encouraged to Towards the end of the conference go on together, raising our voices we heard a sermon by Alejandro The conference was organised whenever circumstances arise in Zorzin, a Mennonite theologian and jointly by Church and Peace, the our lives which make it necessary to church historian, on the parable of Fellowship of Reconciliation in speak out. the talents in Luke 19:11-27. In our Germany, the German Mennonite religious socialisation we've learned Peace Committee, the Mennonite Anthony Gwyther is co-author to see the king in this story as God, Peace Centre Berlin, and the Religious of Unveiling Empire: Reading who praises and rewards us when Society of Friends (). Newsletter - Summer 2017 - - 5 church and peace

Sowing the seeds of peace Declaration from Believers for calls for nonviolent responses to nationalism and xenophobia in South East Europe

The conference “Re:Action - believers for peace in time of nationalism and xenophobia” was held in Lužnica, a centre for spiritual renewal, near Zagreb, from 30 March to 2 April 2017. There were more than 70 participants from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia, Macedonia; Muslims and Christians of various denominations took part, as well as agnostic humanists.

e, believers for peace, We, participants of the conference Wnotice that in our faith “Re:Action - believers for peace communities and societies in time of nationalism and there is a growing tendency of xenophobia” firstly want to declare intolerance, exclusion and hatred to each other and to the public towards each other, other ethnic that we are convinced that any and religious groups, and also justification of xenophobia and foreigners - refugees. Nationalism nationalism by faith arguments or and xenophobia are two forms religious traditions is profoundly of violence that are often wrong and unacceptable. justified by one’s affiliation to a faith community and religious Peace building, on the basis of tradition: then it becomes the equal rights and the worth of each Azra Ibrahimović, conference keynote speaker business of all believers to individual, requires a constant and member of the organisation team respond to them. search for freedom and justice, which are the main messages of the Holy Scriptures in all our Who are Believers for Peace? religions. Our faith communities Herzegovina in 2008, and Andrevlje, and churches deny the validity of The Re:Action conference was Serbia in 2010, this fourth Believers any national supremacy and hatred organised by “Believers for Peace”, for Peace gathering again aimed to towards people of other identity which comprises various peace empower people from the Abrahamitic groups, and repudiate provoking organisations in South East Europe, traditions in the region to build a more fear of other and different people. including Church and Peace members just and peaceful society through and friends. nonviolence. The basic message of our faiths is These Christians and Muslims from Since 2013 more than 200 people expressed in God’s exhortation: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and have signed the Believers for Peace “Do not be afraid”. Staying true Serbia have been working tirelessly for declaration which aims to strengthen to that calling we appeal to the more than a decade to reduce religious, the bonds between people's personal hierarchies and the faith leaders ethnic, and political tensions in keeping faith life, active involvement in the of religious communities and with the motto: "By building peace we praxis of nonviolence, and methods of churches to stay away from any glorify God". social action - thereby strengthening attempt to connect faith and Following conferences in Krk, the peacemaking potential of the religion to nationalist intolerance, Croatia in 2006, Blagaj, Bosnia and various faith traditions. hatred or fear of others. At the same time we emphasise our 6 - - Summer 2017 - Newsletter church and peace

individual personal responsibility “Any justification of xenophobia and to build a culture of positive nationalism by faith arguments or religious peace, in our more local and wider communities, which is much more traditions is profoundly wrong and than a mere absence of war. unacceptable”

We share our faith in God and our belief in the importance and the necessity of the personal contribution of every person to achieve peace in society versus the prevalent practices of direct, institutional and cultural violence. This path is not easy. Moreover, in the version of history that is presented to us as a continuum of violence, for instance violence and aggression dominate our daily news, so the effort of peace building may seem futile and utopian. Hence we want to encourage one another and everyone not to cease from a constant advocacy for peace and to violence, nationalism and xenophobia.

In democracy every citizen is responsible for the state and events of his or her society and country. Instead of having only

our faith leaders articulating the Peace for Believers Photos: messages and actions of their own faith community and church, we invite each individual to recognize Did you know? their own power and to take on their own responsibility for peace Church and Peace relationships members of the network. building. with peace builders in South The wish for closer regional, East Europe have existed interreligious cooperation for Our motto is: “By building peace since the 1990s. Friends and peace developed further after we glorify God!” organisations from the region the international conference in have participated in international 2005 through Believers for Peace, Agreed by the participants of the conferences and regionally- leading to the first-ever interfaith conference: “Re:Action - believers for focused seminars since 1995, regional conference in South peace in time of nationalism and with several becoming formal East Europe in 2006. xenophobia” on 2 April 2017. Newsletter - Summer 2017 - - 7 church and peace

Profile Meet Lydia Funck, Church and Peace’s new General Secretary

What brought you to this new role? What excites you most about it?

Growing up in a small Mennonite church, connected to ecumenical friends, the Christian faith and its relation to social topics as well as other believers have shaped my path during travels and education.

I attended a Christian discipleship training in the UK, volunteered in Israel and Palestine, completed degree programmes in Middle

Eastern Studies and Political Sečen Ruben Photo: Sciences, and Peace and Conflict Lydia Funck at the AGM 2017 Studies. I was a German Mennonite delegate to the World Council of Churches Assembly in 2013 Church and Peace is the only am bringing you good news” European ecumenical peace guiding the network? "I am about to do a new thing; church network. What is our calling today? The good news that God is with now it springs forth, do you not us in all our fears and failures is an perceive it?” The ecumenical movement is rich encouragement for the network. Isaiah 43:19 in experience in struggling for Every context and individual is peace and justice. Vigils, protests, facing different kind of fears. The accompanying the vulnerable, words “Do not be afraid” are not and during the preparation time changing the world by small steps. to belittle fears but to encourage joined the ecumenical young adult The younger generation profits us not to be paralyzed by them. network MEET (More Ecumenical from these past struggles but hardly With the knowledge of God’s and Empowerment Together). knows about them. each other’s accompaniment we can continue our journey towards All these steps brought me to The Church is called to show how just peace, always in expectation apply for this position as General life in peace with God and each of the good and new things God is Secretary. other can look. So, let us focus on preparing to do. this task. We need to highlight I am excited about being able to where this is already happening, Since my first days in the office join a network of people engaged where every individual, community a phrase from Isaiah 43:19 has in peace work rooted in a faith or church can contribute to a more become an inspiration for me and conviction, bringing together peace peaceful world. maybe can become one for the theology and practice, living out network: “I am about to do a new Jesus’ invitation to nonviolence and How do you see the 2017 AGM thing; now it springs forth, do you love of one’s enemy. theme “Do not be afraid, I not perceive it?” Interview by Terri Miller

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Diary 1 September 2017 New office location – Church and Peace International Office Move Welcome to Wethen! New address on page 2. On 1 September 2017 the beneficial and are looking forward 28 October 2017 International Office moves from to new people, and new and Britain and Ireland Laufdorf – a place linked like no stimulating ideas. Regional Day other with Church and Peace’s “Peace church in a world origins and history – to Wethen/ When, in addition to the two of conflict? Answering the Diemelstadt, where a new chapter existing associations, a third, Biblical call to nonviolence” awaits in the form of an office share European network is based Bull Street Quaker Meeting with two associations. gewaltfrei here, this will enrich our House, Birmingham, UK handeln (acting nonviolently) is , training, and one of them and welcomes the new campaigning work. We hope that 1-3 November 2017 logistical, thematic and collegial your coming here will strengthen Church and Peace collaboration with Church and Peace our profile as an organisation Administrative Committee staff. which offers training in Meeting constructive conflict management Wethen, Germany s staff in the office of gewaltfrei and nonviolence. We're especially Ahandeln, we are looking excited about the international 21–24 June 2018 forward to Church and Peace dimension which you bring. Church and Peace Annual enriching our office community. gewaltfrei handeln is a member General Meeting and of Church and Peace and some of International Conference We have been working here for a our “graduates” play an active part High Leigh Conference Centre, long time in an office partnership in your network. Might the new Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, UK with the Ecumenical One World office share now give rise to joint Initiative, the German coordination projects? 23-25 November 2018 office for the international Earth German-language Charter Initiative. We wish you a good new Regional Conference beginning and a warm welcome to Thomashof, Germany We are small associations with “big Wethen! issues”. We experience again and again that sharing experiences and ideas strengthens, enriches, and challenges us. “How can we successfully make our vision of a just and peaceful world more appealing?” “How do you reach young people?” “Do you have any experience with these particular Web Resources funding agencies?” “How do you Recent conference keynote successfully involve volunteers?” speeches and sermons – these are some of the questions Including contributions in which arise in our conversations. English by Simon Barrow, Antje And it is often good just to hear Heider-Rottwilm and Ana Raffai. during a shared tea break what the others are planning, or which Church and Peace press releases conference has been successful, and to share in the joy and Download and share in your

excitement. handeln gewalt frei photo: networks! gewaltfrei handeln staff www.church-and-peace.org We believe that such sharing with Church and Peace will be equally Newsletter - Summer 2017 - - 9 church and peace

The Netherlands News from the Network Call to ban arms fairs in Rotterdam

Church and Peace member Kerk en Vrede participated in a protest against ITEC 2017, the international forum for defence training, education and simulation, in May in Rotterdam. Organised by the Franciscaanse Vredeswacht (Franciscan Peace Group), the inspiring vigil called for a ban on arms fairs in Rotterdam and stressed that arms trade is fuelling conflict around the globe.

United Kingdom NCPO urges UK participation in nuclear weapons ban

The Network of Christian Peace Organisations has renewed its call for the UK to participate in UN nuclear weapon ban negotiations. The network’s 19 June press release highlighted the British government’s “gross failure of duty” in refusing to join the meetings. Church and Peace and several of its members in the region belong to NCPO. Download the related NCPO briefing paper: http://bit.ly/2tI8Mdp.

France Stop Fuelling War plans witness at Eurosatory 2018 Stop Fuelling War, a European Quaker-led initiative, has set up its base at the Centre Quaker International in Paris to organise a witness around the 2018 Eurosatory weapons fair on 11-15 June near the city. In 2016, Church and Peace joined the group’s efforts to present nonviolent alternatives to Eurosatory visitors and de-legitimise the biannual industry trade show. To get involved, contact [email protected].

CEC calls for European policy based on SDGs The EU should remain committed to peace and reconciliation, and build a more just, forward- looking Europe by shaping the economy around the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This was the message of the Conference of European Churches at a recent “Reformation Summer” event in Wittenberg, Germany. Church and Peace Administrative Committee member Kees Nieuwerth represented CEC on a panel on the future of Europe, also a current focus of CEC reflection.

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News from the Network

Germany Magdeburg Peace Manifesto makes radical call to nonviolence Church and Peace members the Evangelical Church in Baden and the Fellowship of Reconciliation in Germany have joined a radical call to active nonviolence. The Magdeburg Peace Manifesto 2017, published in May at the German Protestant Church Congress, urges churches to follow Jesus’ path of nonviolence in all aspects of life and to work for lasting peace. Read the manifesto online (in German): http://bit.ly/2vo8qFB.

Switzerland New director at Bienenberg

The Study and Conference Centre Bienenberg, a Church and Peace member, has a new director. Swiss Mennonite Conference co- president Lukas Amtstutz was installed as successor to Frieder Boller at a festive worship service on 12 May. Amstutz has led Bienenberg’s German-language theological seminary since summer 2016. Boller, a Church and Peace individual member, is retiring after eight years as

Photo: Bienenberg director.

Ukraine Living peace in a conflict zone Mennonite Central Committee is bringing together partner organisations for peace training and dialogue in response to the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Participants from “Light of the Gospel” churches have been serving people in need and working for peace. Half of these churches are in territory under government control and half are under a self-proclaimed independent republic. In living out their faith, they demonstrate nonviolence and peace building

as the path to reconciliation and unity. MCC-Photo by Colin Vandenberg Colin by MCC-Photo

Germany & Switzerland A childhood “away from arms” Two Church and Peace members are supporting efforts by former child soldier Junior Nzita, Democratic Republic of Congo, to end underage military service. With backing by the Fellowship of Reconciliation in Switzerland, Nzita has spoken in churches and schools, and featured in the documentary film “Loin des armes” (Away from arms – http://bit.ly/2u3Kjej ). The schwelle Foundation has named Nzita one of the 2017 winners of its International Bremen Peace Award, to be conferred in November.

Photo: Sschwelle

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The Last Word Empty tombs (of encouragement) About the hope which arises out of confrontation

n the last chapter of Matthew’s are full of violence, or a graveyard- to grasp that hope arises out of IGospel (28:1-10) two women, like atmosphere at church. The confrontation, not from looking Mary Magdalene and the other encouragement is found in the away. The resurrection as truth Mary, who were visiting Jesus’ message that these empty tombs is discovered during the time tomb, are encouraged: “Do not do not have the last word. between day and night. This means be afraid.” These words of the that the truth is not black and The message comes to us through white, but takes shape through a “Mary Magdalene and the other the communication between process of seeking which leaves the angel/the Risen One and the room for doubt. Mary are confronted by this two women. The women are key place of death (tomb). This helps figures in the mediation of the The tomb is empty; but when message. The trustful relationship understood in the context of us to grasp that hope arises the Risen One has with the women resurrection, suffering, emptiness, out of confrontation, not from is part of the good news. Gender and death appear in a different looking away.” equality and trust in the women perspective. The resurrection as messengers should set the means that there is an “afterwards”. standard for the quality of life and This we hope for in faith, in the angel and of the risen Christ for trust in the competence of hour of suffering and death. Our were addressed to them when women today – a correcting factor hope rests in the promise of the they found the empty tomb. in the face of misogynist attitudes Risen One. There is an afterwards; The words are also addressed in society and also in the Church. this is part and parcel of our faith to us, because we repeatedly and confidence in Jesus’ promise. find ourselves in “empty tomb” Mary Magdalene and the other This perspective allows us to situations: relationships which Mary are confronted by this place perceive and interpret suffering have died, social conditions which of death (tomb). This helps us and the empty tomb as stages on the way through to the Light.

Seen in this light, work for peace and for a nonviolent future in the face of continued structural violence is good and right, meaningful and full of promise for the future.

Ana Raffai

Ana Raffai is a nonviolence trainer and an individual member of Church and Peace.

Abridged version of a sermon given during the AGM in Strasbourg. The complete sermon is available on the Church and Peace website: www.church-and-peace.org Photo: Ruben Sečen Ruben Photo:

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