Hooley calls on Mennonites to be peacemakers, even in Mennonite congregations
Phil Richard - 05/07/08Hesston College
A sophomore graduate of Hesston (Kan.) College says that conflict is everywhere in today’s world and that we as Christians should be peacemakers, even in our churches. Sarah Hooley, Filer, Idaho, used this focus in her first-place speech titled "Peacemakers?" in the annual C. Henry Smith Peace Oratorical Contest that involved three contestants at Hesston College April 23.
Hooley first sought to define a peacemaker mentioned by Jesus in Matthew 5:9—“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.” She said the Word Bible Commentary (Word Books, 1993) indicates that Jesus was directing this sentence at the zealots of the time, who were trying to show that they were the true “children of God” through militarism. Jesus suggested the opposite, that peacemakers are the children of God.
According to Hooley, “the Broadman Bible Commentary (Broadman Press, 1969) has a slightly more active definition…that since Jesus is the ‘Prince of Peace,’ we, as his followers must work with him in peacemaking. Though this includes ending violence, it also includes working at healthy relationships with people and with God.”
Hooley says today’s world has many different definitions of peacemaker, but they all actively deal with conflict. But what is the role of a peacemaker, she wondered.
“Your view of a peacemaker’s role is determined by how you define conflict and what you call peace,” she said. “If conflict only refers to violence, it makes conflict less prevalent. But if you broaden your idea of conflict to include disagreements and misunderstandings which happen as the result of poor communication and being fallen humans, you find an inevitable problem. This definition of conflict happens everywhere…even in our Mennonite churches.”
Similarly, Hooley pointed out, a narrow definition of peace suggests the absence of violence.
However, she pointed out that John Paul Lederach’s definition, in his book Conflict Transformation (Good Books, 2003) is quite different. Lederach writes that peace is “a phenomenon that is simultaneously dynamic, adaptive, and changing and yet has a form, purpose, and direction.... rather than seeing peace as a static ‘end-state’... a continuously evolving and developing quality of relationships.”
Hooley said Lederach’s definition of peace “involves a process through which you go through a crisis which serves to build relationship. If you use this definition of peace, anyone who is involved with any relationship between people is needed as a peacemaker. Especially those of us in the church, followers of the ‘Prince of Peace.’”
Hooley didn’t present specific statistics of how many churches in Mennonite Church USA have been, or are going through, a time of major conflict or pain. However, she indicated, “I have my own story of my home church going through a difficult time.
And while she was writing her speech, she said, “I have heard stories of church decay instead of growth, church splits, anger, and pain.”
Then she said, “Many, myself included, look on and do not become an active member in working through the issue. How can the Mennonite Church expect the world to listen to us on the issue of peace if we are not actively working for peace in our churches? I am not saying this to condemn the church or people. Rather, I’m saying it to inspire us to learn to be peacemakers.”
Hooley admits her view of peacemakers has been narrow, one that includes Christian Peacemaker Teams, “people who travel around the globe working for peace. The term ‘peacemaker’ is not limited to these people. Just as there is pain in the Middle East, there is pain in the United States, there is pain in the Mennonite Church.” She said sometime an opportunity to bring healing in one’s home church will present itself.
Then Hooley presented some ideas on how to practice peacemaking. “It’s helpful in conflict to put aside differences for a moment and find what you have in common,” she said. “That way, you have something that you can work together on.”
Secondly, she suggested active listening, “a core part of being a peacemaker. This doesn’t mean trying to prove your point,” she said. “This includes learning as much as you can about how the other person feels and why they feel as they do.”
Hooley told her audience to use her ideas about practicing peacemaking as a springboard. “We have established that peace comes from God, and that conflict is inevitable as humans,” she said. She encouraged listeners to build on her two ideas, think about them, and learn more about them.
Then she challenged her listeners to act. “While you’re learning about these things, practice them,” she said. “I challenge you to go out and work for this broader understanding of peace. Work in a place that needs it, as much as we don’t want to admit it. Work for peace in the church.”
Hooley will receive $200 for her first-place speech, which now will be entered in the bi-national 2008 C. Henry Smith Peace Oratorical Contest. The bi-national contest, administered by Peace and Justice Ministries of Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) U.S., is open to students in every Mennonite and Brethren in Christ college in North America. The top three speakers receive cash prizes as well as scholarships to attend a peace-related conference or seminar. Winners of the bi-national contest will be announced later this year.
In the Hesston College contest, second place and $150 went to sophomore Caleb Detweiler, Washington, Iowa, for his speech titled “Steadfast for Peace.” Receiving third place and $50 was freshman Luis Martinez, Asuncion, Paraguay.