2005 Meeting Theme

Religious Education for Peace and Justice
November 4-6, 2005
Delta Chelsea Hotel
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

We live in a world of violence and war. The vast majority of the current wars around our world have, at their hearts, an undeniable religious dimension in which the focus has been differences among faith fellowships. (Arguably, this has been true for most of the last two millennia and not just in recent history.) Further, the violence in our world reaches not only to the global arena, but even to local communities – to the streets and, unfortunately, even many homes. Baptist ethicist T.B. Maston (whose first two graduate degrees -- including his doctorate -- were in religious education) wrote that violence can never be overcome nor war decrease until matters and issues of justice are addressed. Any objective assessment of the historical and current contexts will agree.

The theme, “Religious Education for Peace and Justice,” is timely. It also has immediate practical dimensions that can enrich the faith communities we serve, the world(s) and communities in which we live, and the classrooms (of both academia and our congregations) in which we teach. It will also draw on the very character of REA: one that is both ecumenical and international. All major faith traditions call their respective adherents to seek peace and justice. And each major religious perspective has its factions, teachings, and history of varied approaches to justice, war and peace. Among the fellowship of REA are those whose respective faith communities have in their doctrinal system the belief in "Just War." Others are better known as pacifists. There are also varying views, traditions, and practices among our diverse faith communities regarding myriad issues pertaining to and rising from the matters of justice (i.e. socio-economics, racism, etc.). All struggle with these and other attending issues. This invites us to re-examine our commonalities and our particularities not only of theology and ethics, but also of our pedagogical theories and practices at these many points. That is, the theme calls us to examine how our respective faith communities can and should teach with peace and justice as among our primary goals. Not that we, as religious educators, are the last and best hope (and certainly not the only hope), but if not we then who? Who will teach our faith communities and our world not only the meanings of peace and justice, but also how peace and justice can be lived and achieved?

“Religious Education for Peace and Justice,” provides much grist for the mills of plenary sessions, forums, research groups, colloquia, task forces, faith community caucuses, and papers. It will require the consideration of the substance, components, and ethical dimensions of peace and justice. It is also vital that we examine how violence on the global and local scenes are connected and how pedagogies of peace and justice can address those connections. Further, we must examine how our common/particular curricula and pedagogies can address the content and methodologies that can be a part of the peacemaking and justice process beyond what some may call "political correctness." Finally, the title “Religious Education for and of Peace and Justice” will require consideration and exploration of religious education practices that are themselves inherently just and peaceful.

Questions and comments about the theme and offers to assist in the design of the meeting may be directed to President-Elect, Ronnie Prevost. Email: rprevost@hsutx.edu.

Suggested Reading

Cram, Ron. Bullying: A Spiritual Crisis.

Conde-Frazier, Elizabeth, coauthor. A Many Colored Kingdom: Multiculturalism Dynamics for Spiritual Formation.

Welch, Sharon. After Empire: The Art and Ethos of Enduring Peace.