The Anatomy of Reconciliation - from violence to healing

We’ve seen many social conflicts reach a violent pitch in recent years – churches divided on issues of sexuality; a nation split on matters of personal and cultural values; a growing chasm between the wealthy and the dispossessed; and internationally, the forces that impel Western cultures and economies clashing with Islamic tradition. All of these polarities breed violence – whether in the form of bullets or of severed relationships.

In this conference we will explore freshly the meaning of reconciliation under these pressing circumstances. We will look with new eyes on the source of our theology of reconciliation in order that we may live it out with new energy and focus. We wish realistically to examine the costliness of reconciliation, the perseverance and patience demanded by the process. Finally, our goal is to offer our own spiritual change as the base for compelling, integrated communication as preachers and teachers in the Church.

Our keynote speakers are outstanding scholars whose insights have been refined in the crucible of first-hand experience. They will challenge us to revise, even transform, our understanding of the theological springs of reconciliation. Author-theologian James Alison advocates a vision of non-violence based on an understanding of a theology of resurrection and the transformation of human desire. Yale Divinity School’s Miroslav Volf, a native of Croatia, works in a theological context shaped largely from his experience of Serbian-Croatian violence and the struggle toward peace. Sister Helen Prejean, CSJ, the author of Dead Man Walking, is a passionate advocate for restorative, rather than retributive, justice. After working in the thick of the struggle for civil rights, Gwendolyn Zoharah Simmons is now an american Muslim and a professor of religion who specializes in gender issues. Bishop Michael B. Curry, a powerful preacher whose leadership on a number of important fronts has combined the best of the prophetic and the pastoral will set the tone at the opening liturgy of reconciliation.

Their presentations will draw upon biblical and personal narratives to encourage participants to reflect and act on a subject that is both timeless and immediate.