PC(USA) - Presbyterian Peacemaking Program - 2004 Peace and Justice Conference


Presbyterian Peace and Justice Conference August 3-7, 2004

With the sun filling the sky and Mount Rainier watching over us in the distance, the participants in the conference gathered at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington. The picturesque location and wondrous weather provided classic examples of God's divine intervention blessing us with the majestic beauty abounding this earth. Another divine intervention happened when 600 participants (adults, youth and children), conference leaders, national staff, planning team members and volunteers gathered to reflect on the impact of globalization on the modern world. The stories, experiences, and knowledge shared surpassed any forethought in planning. This was a chance for individuals around the world to be in one place to worship, pray, play, learn and act together. Among those present were approximately sixty young adults — a larger group than attended the 2003 Peacemaking Conference in Montreat, N.C.		Rhonda Amer speaks about life as a Palestinian Christian in Jerusalem. Photo by David Young.

Githinji (G.G.) Gichuhi leads the children in song. Photo by David Young.	Those individuals came from very different backgrounds, communities and countries. Some were planning team members and volunteers working diligently to make this conference a certain success. Some were national staff working closely with the issues addressed. Some were pastors, chaplains, youth group leaders, and campus ministers. Some had traveled from beyond the U.S. borders to share their experience and learn from others. Some helped with the children's and youth programs. Others were mission personnel attending the conference with delegates from where they serve. Others were concerned faithful participants who understood the need to be present, to learn and to share. All were examples of how as disciples of Christ we must engage in challenging and changing the systems of this world that create suffering for others.

As a group unified by age but not necessarily experience, we learned that we are a vital group in the church. We also learned that we are direct recipients and active agents of unequal consumption and distribution of the world's resources. We enable the staggering inequality and suffering of the majority of the world's people and God's creation to continue. As concerned and engaged individuals we know that we must change ourselves and persist with the struggle to challenge systems. We are called by God to do so. Read more about the conference



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