How we frame the call for peace and justice matters. Behind words like "terrorism," "globalization." and even "development" lay different visions of community and social order. Many Christians share some distinctive visions of human purpose and, within the PC(USA), tested policies for advancing social witness concerns. We will look at strategies such as a new "social creed" for achieving gains for justice and peace in church and society.

What if we did our theology as if creation mattered? What if creation care determined our daily habits and practices? What if all issues (water, wealth and poverty, peace, e.g.) were all informed by Earth-honoring worship? What can we learn from faith communities of eco-justice ministry? This triad—theology, issues, worship, all in community—will create the week together.

Leaders: Larry Rasmussen, Reinhold Niebuhr Professor Emeritus, Union Theological Seminary and author of Earth Community, Earth Ethics, and PRC member John Preston, author of Wrestling Until the Dawn: The Fight for Biblical Justice in a Postmodern World.

This unresolved tragedy is not only globally divisive but also denominationally as faith communities debate divestment, Christian Zionism, anti-Semitism, settlements, occupation and terrorism. Participants will be helped to sort out the issues that dominate headlines and explore avenues of faithful action.

This workshop offers an opportunity to learn how to talk about tough and controversial issues with neighbors, family, in our churches and to halls of power. The new and growing faith-based movement against torture has developed skills, both practical and spiritual, for building solidarity across theological and political fault lines. Insights will be drawn from history, law and social movement theory, scripture, prayer, theology and ethics for the skills, insight and strategies necessary for work on issues of torture and violence.

Presbyterian Peace Fellowship has for more than 60 years supported the promotion of nonviolent alternatives to war. This experience will facilitate an active search for genuine security in an age of violence. The week will help participants discern their own calling to risk-taking through peace vigils, direct actions, faith-based civil disobedience, and non-violent intervention such as accompaniment in defense of human and ecological rights.

Leaders: Rick Ufford-Chase, Executive Director of the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship, Moderator of the 216^th General Assembly, and PPF members

Peacemaking, building community, animating interfaith and ecumenical relationships are among the various paths of discipleship we can follow to respond to our call to be reconciling agents in our world. In this workshop we will explore how these paths are interrelated, and ways to help people become involved in them. Along with Bible study and discussion of the theological grounding for this work, we will look at specific techniques and approaches, such as conflict transformation, analysis of power dynamics, constructive mapping of one's situation to address a problem, and how to help ourselves and others discern our calling in relation to the gospel's call.

Did you know the Presbyterian Church has an office at the United Nations? Do you know what that office does? In this workshop, we will explore the basic history of the UN and the Presbyterian Church’s part in this history. We will look at the work of the UN and how the Presbyterian United Nations Office bears witness to Jesus Christ by equipping Presbyterians for discipleship in the global arena and advocating the concerns of Presbyterian General Assemblies to the UN.

Do you want to reenergize your peacemaking ministry? Do you want to build the peacemaking ministry of your congregation? For individuals and congregations, the work of peacemaking is more than just a one-time activity; it is a life long journey following the nonviolent Jesus. Through Bible study, personal reflection and group interaction, participants on all stages of the peacemaking journey will explore ways to sustain our personal commitments to peacemaking and to nurture peacemaking ministries in our congregations.

A Witherspoon conference
on global mission and justice