Church of the Brethren takes lead in planning Africa conference for peace churches.

The Historic Peace Churches are planning a conference in Nairobi, Kenya, Aug. 8-14 at the invitation of the World Council of Churches' Decade to Overcome Violence. The conference, called "Watu Kwa Amani" or "people of peace" in Swahili, will focus on the question, "What does it mean to be a peace church in Africa?" through the telling of stories of experiences of violence and the response of the church.

The Church of the Brethren has been asked to take leadership for the conference and Bethany Theological Seminary is hosting the planning process. Don Miller, Bethany's emeritus professor of Christian Education and Ethics, convenes the planning committee and Scott Holland, associate professor of Peace Studies and Cross-Cultural Studies, also is in the group along with representatives of the Mennonites, the Friends, the National Council of Churches, and the World Council of Churches.

Participation will be by invitation only and will include primarily African members of the Historic Peace Churches. Miller said the committee anticipates attendance by men and women representing Ekklesiyar Yanuwa a Nigeria (EYN—the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria); Friends from Rwanda, Kenya, and possibly South Africa; and Mennonites from Ethiopia and the Congo. "It's really a remarkable event," Miller said. The first Historic Peace Churches conference was held in Bienenberg, Switzerland, in 2001 at the initiative of the Mennonites. For more information visit www.peacetheology.org.

Source: Newsline 4/02/2004 top