12.01.2017

Pastor for Peace

UEM MEDAN office, Indonesia: Recent developments around the world and within the country obviously sparked varied reactions from different groups and sectors as incidents of killings and other news of violence are taking place everywhere.  We can go on and on with the litanies which describe the people’s seeming penchant for conflict and aggressive behavior, creating an environment of unpeace. In the midst of all these, we hear Jesus' words: "Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid." (John 14:27) Jesus makes the pronouncement of peace at a time when he is most troubled brought on by his impending death. But a man who has lived peace is able to give it in season or out of season. In this passage, Jesus used the word SHALOM which meant, people's health and safety... safe travel....to dwell securely without threat from beasts or bad neighbors....to yield the land's increase because of rain at the proper season... harmony and wholeness. Shalom is a condition or state. But it is also a concept of relations between individuals and communities. Therefore, we cannot speak of being at peace with God when other people - all God's children, therefore, our brothers and sisters - continue to live in a state of unpeace. UEM Asia Department organized the program on Pastors for Peace. It intends to assist and raise awareness of pastors and engage them in building peace in their communities. In order to achieve this objective, the following are specific goals:

1. To train pastors in building and sustaining positive relationships to enhance their personal integrity, reduce violence and foster mutual respect in a context of diversity and pluralistic community.
2. To equip them with vital information on topics related to religious radicalism and new trends on radicalism in three regions; and, skills in conflict management, fact-finding and documentation.
3. To deepen their commitment/call in doing peacemaking as a ministry.

After the program, the participants are expected to facilitate trainings and make plans of action on peacemaking in their own congregations and/or communities; and, actively participate in peace advocacy and conflict transformation in their own churches and communities. There were 11 pastors who actively participated in the said training. They came from UEM member churches, namely GBKP, GKJW, GKJTU, GKPA, GKPI, GKPPD, GKPS, GPKB, HKBP, HKI and UCCP. The 10- day seminar workshop was held at GKJTU-LPPL on 14-23 November 2016. The participants were trained by experts on conflict management, social investigation and learned more about religious radicalism from the Islam and Christian perspective. According to the open forum that was facilatated, most of the participants experienced conflict in their church or in their community. And three of them were involved as community organizers in their congregation and pro-active in building awareness to their congregation on inter-faith activities (GKJW, HKBP and UCCP). The inputs shared during the sessions raised the awareness of the participants on conflict management. Moreover, they were able to gain wisdom about the root cause of radicalism and to do some efforts to overcome it from an Islam and Christian perspective. Furthermore, the community immersion at Samin Community in Blora, provided a better understanding about the wisdom of the Samin community in peacemaking and conflict management. At the end of the training, each participant made a one-year plan of action about their peacemaking ministry. In fact, one of the participant from GKPPD, who is directly affected by religious radicals in Aceh Singkil, gave a good action plan. To sum it, she plans to raise the awareness of her congregation to be pro-active in inter-faith dialogue and peacemaking. Obviously the idea of peace that Jesus advocates is one that is not similar to the patterns of this world.  It is a kind of peace that gives us constant opportunities to overcome arrogance and offers favourable prospects for mutual understanding and reconciliation.  Jesus promotes a kind of peace that encourages humility and consideration even amidst an atmosphere of anxiety and discord.  To those who labor and work towards the same purpose, Jesus promises a rewarding prospect.  They will be in the company of God’s own household.  Within the family of God the essential of peacemaking is demonstrated.  To engage in peacemaking is, therefore, to exemplify the true value that depicts the family of God.  Every act that promotes war and leads to aggression is an undertaking that threatens, damages and injures the very family of God. It is in the face of uncertainties like this that the words of the psalmist resoundingly reverberate: “Come, O sons, listen to me, I will teach you the fear of the LORD.  What man is there who desires life, and covets many days, that he may enjoy good?  Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit.  Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” (Psalms 34:11-14) Seeking peace and pursuing it is exceptionally in conflict with the advocacy for war.  Seeking and pursuing peace requires peaceful and humble disposition.  It demands understanding and utmost regard for the worth and sacredness of life.  It calls for a culture that outstandingly values truth and righteousness. As a faith community that claims intimate relationship with the Prince of Peace, we cannot divorce ourselves from the realities of the world.  On the contrary, God calls us and sends us to this world that His message of truth, love and justice maybe announced.  If we are to be true to our calling, we have no other choice but to heed God’s command.  To those who walk and stride in the path of war, the psalmist has this reminder: “Fear the Lord…Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.” Rev. Homar Distajo