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2008-11-04 issue:

Expand Christian Peacemaker Teams?

by Joe Liechty, Goshen, Ind.

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Regarding “Expand CPT” in the Oct. 7 issue: I have a number of concerns about Ron Sider’s proposal to invest massive resources in “expand[ing] CPT a hundredfold, then a thousandfold.”

First, Sider advances as a rationale and precedent for expanding CPT the nonviolent successes of Gandhi in India, Martin Luther King and African-Americans in the United States and Solidarity in Poland. These are truly inspiring stories. They are also examples of indigenous movements arising from decades or centuries of oppression under indigenous leaders who were among the peace geniuses of the 20th century. As such, these examples have little or no connection with Sider’s idea of jetting large numbers of people around the world to make short-term interventions. CPT work requires a different rationale.

Second, Sider concludes that unless we invest “tens of millions of dollars” in his proposed expansion, “Christian rhetoric about war—both pacifist and just war—will be both hypocritical and dishonest. It’s time to live what we preach.” This is not true, and I hate to see CPT saddled with such grandiose claims.

There are many ways to live what we preach in terms of peace. Like many other approaches to peace work, CPT is valuable but limited, and it makes no sense to privilege CPT over the others. Just this single issue of The Mennonite mentions or alludes to other peace work worthy of support. Michael J. Sharp writes a challenging article about the Military Counseling Network that works with soldiers who are becoming conscientious objectors.

Visitors to the Philippines offer a glimpse of the highly creative, front-line Mindanao Peacebuilding Institute. In reporting the false and possibly life-threatening accusation of collusion with guerrillas against Colombian Mennonites, Hector Mondragon, a Mennonite, reminds us of the brave and persistent peace witness of Colombian Mennonites generally and their peace organization, Justapaz, in particular.

I’m all for expanding our peace witness dramatically. If that conviction is shared, let’s do it thoughtfully, taking into consideration all the wonderful work being done in the United States and by our brothers and sisters around the world.

Associated Issue: Expand CPT - Oct. 7, 2008

Associated Article: Expand CPT

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