Education

Nov. 22, 2024 Peace and Justice Series: Swords into Plowshares

“Swords into Plowshares” is the first installment in our Peace and Justice Issues Series from Pacific Southwest International Mission Center. The resource is designed to be used by congregations to shape discussion around important issues of peace and justice. Each issue in the series will explore a different peace and justice topic.  

Peace and Justice Minister Glenn Johnson, who is working towards a Master of Arts degree in Peace and Social Transformation from Community of Christ Seminary / Graceland University, is available to meet with congregations online or in person to lead discussions based on the resources. As additional resources are released, we will feature them here in the update. Feel free to contact Glenn at gjohnson@cofchrist-psi.org if you have any questions or would like to get Glenn on your schedule.

En Español

A medida que formulamos un programa de ministerios de paz y justicia para el centro de misiones, una serie de estrategias y enfoques están entrando en foco para nuestros esfuerzos de paz y justicia en el Centro Internacional de Misiones del Suroeste del Pacífico. Todos estos se basan en la vida y las enseñanzas de Jesucristo. La semana pasada, en la actualización, incluimos un enlace a un nuevo enfoque que llamamos la "Serie de Problemas de Paz y Justicia". Estos están diseñados como recursos congregacionales.

Los recursos incorporarán el Modelo de Concienciación, Defensa y Acción, que es un modelo común para las actividades de paz y justicia. Los pacificadores participan en la creación de conciencia, abogan por el cambio y toman medidas que conducen a un futuro más pacífico.

La serie se basa en una Fundación de Principios Duraderos. Los nueve principios duraderos de la Comunidad de Cristo guiarán nuestra exploración de cuestiones y decisiones para la programación de paz y justicia. Como recordatorio, los nueve principios duraderos son:

Gracia y generosidad.

Sacridad de la Creación.

Revelación continua.

Valor de todas las personas.

Todos están llamados.

Elecciones responsables.

Búsqueda de la paz (Shalom).

Unidad en Diversidad.

Y bendiciones de la comunidad.

También estamos prestando atención a las Seis Lentes para Entender la Voluntad de Dios introducidas por el Presidente Veazey hace varios años. Elegir las mejores vías y enfoques para el ministerio de paz y justicia implica discernir la voluntad de Dios para nuestro ministerio congregacional y las prioridades del centro de misión. Como recordatorio, las Seis Lentes para Descubrir la Voluntad de Dios son:

Razón y conocimiento.

Tradición.

Experiencia personal y comunitaria.

Revelación continua.

Escritura.

Y consentimiento común.

Debajo de este vídeo, proporcionamos un enlace. Recientemente lanzamos Swords into Plowshares como la primera entrega de nuestra serie Peace and Justice Issues. La serie está diseñada para proporcionar un breve documento de estudio que se puede utilizar para explorar e introducir cuestiones de paz y justicia en un entorno congregacional. A medida que construimos este recurso, también esperamos proporcionar una presentación de PowerPoint para acompañar el resumen del tema, así como una guía de estudio para adultos para el libro The Nonviolent God de J. Denny Weaver, así que mira la actualización para obtener recursos adicionales en el tema Swords Into Plowshares, así como nuevos temas que seguirán en la serie.

Invito al liderazgo congregacional a que se ponga en contacto conmigo para que pueda visitar su congregación en persona o a través de Zoom para ayudar a presentar estos recursos. Que seas continuamente bendecido en el nombre de Jesús, el pacífico. ¡Paz!


English Transcript

As we formulate a peace and justice ministries program for the mission center, a number of strategies and approaches are coming into focus for our peace and justice efforts in Pacific Southwest International Mission Center. All of these are founded in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Last week in the update, we included a link to a new approach we’re calling the “Peace and Justice Issues Series.” These are designed as congregational resources.

The resources will incorporate the Awareness, Advocacy, and Action Model, which is a common model for peace and justice activities. Peacemakers engage in awareness building, advocate for change, and take actions that lead to a more peaceful future.

The series is based on an Enduring Principles Foundation. The nine enduring principles of Community of Christ will guide our exploration of issues and decisions for peace and justice programming. As a reminder, the nine enduring principles are:

Grace and Generosity.

Sacredness of Creation.

Continuing Revelation.

Worth of All Persons.

All Are Called.

Responsible Choices.

Pursuit of Peace (Shalom).

Unity in Diversity.

and Blessings of Community.

We are also paying attention to the Six Lenses for Understanding God’s Will introduced by President Veazey several years ago. Choosing the best avenues and approaches for peace and justice ministry involves discernment of God’s will for our congregational ministry and mission center priorities. As a reminder, the Six Lenses for Discovering God’s Will are:

Reason and Knowledge.

Tradition.

Personal and Community Experience.

Continuing Revelation.

Scripture.

and Common Consent.

Below this video, we are providing a link. We recently released Swords into Plowshares as the first installment in our Peace and Justice Issues Series. The series is designed to provide a brief study document that can be used to explore and introduce peace and justice issues in a congregational setting. As we build out this resource, we also expect to provide a PowerPoint presentation to accompany the issue brief as well as an adult study guide for the book The Nonviolent God by J. Denny Weaver, so watch the update for additional resources in the Swords Into Plowshares topic as well as new topics that will follow in the series.

I invite congregational leadership to contact me so that I may visit your congregation in person or via Zoom to help introduce these resources. May you continually be blessed in the name of Jesus, the peaceful One. Peace!

Peace and Justice Series: Swords into Plowshares

“Swords into Plowshares” is the first installment in our Peace and Justice Issues Series from Pacific Southwest International Mission Center. The resource is designed to be used by congregations to shape discussion around important issues of peace and justice. Each issue in the series will explore a different peace and justice topic.  

Peace and Justice Minister Glenn Johnson, who is working towards a Master of Arts degree in Peace and Social Transformation from Community of Christ Seminary / Graceland University, is available to meet with congregations online or in person to lead discussions based on the resources. As additional resources are released, we will feature them here in the update. Feel free to contact Glenn at gjohnson@cofchrist-psi.org if you have any questions or would like to get Glenn on your schedule.

Register for Fall B CIMM Sessions

Upcoming Online Classes through CIMM:

The Center for Innovation in Ministry and Mission (CIMM) through the Graceland University/Community of Christ Seminary has opened the following classes for enrollment:

Fall B (October 21 - December 15):

  • Introduction to Scripture: $25

  • Ministry of the Deacon: $25

  • Children and Youth Worker Core Training: $25 (no CEU credit)

  • Chirstian Ministry Certificate Course: Community of Christ Theology (with Adam Bouverette): $100

Most classes include non-degreed continuing credits. To enroll or for more information on these classes and the certificate programs, please visit our website at: www.graceland.edu/CIMM