IPSEC Educational Strategy 

Through research and publications, as well as high-level consultations with religious leaders and policymakers, IPSEC strives to eliminate a major void of substance and clarity on peace ethics in theological education – to the benefit of religious leaders and policymakers. While for the religious leaders it is vital to gain clarity and specificity on the ethics of war (so that they can offer appropriate structure to their future clergymen), for the policymakers is important to be properly counseled particularly when they make policy decisions that involve or affect the members of the Orthodox Church, such as in former Yugoslavia, Republic of Georgia, Middle East, Eritrea, etc. During IPSEC’s first pan-orthodox consultation in Bucharest, the experts, who came from twelve Orthodox Churches from around the world, and spoke from a historic perspective about the practice of peace ethics in their own settings, determined that the Orthodox Churches are unanimous in promoting a peace agenda, but they need to rectify some dubious practices from their past. Additionally, these experts deplored current devious acts practiced by some Orthodox clergy that contradict the core teachings of the Gospel, acts ranging from militant nationalism and xenophobia, to liturgical anomalies such as the sacramental endorsement of Weapons of Mass Destruction – a case in point being the recent blessing atomic submarines by some Russian Orthodox bishops. (read report…)

IPSEC’s educational strategy involves the following areas:

a) Curricula Development
IPSEC develops educational curricula for peace studies for the benefit of theological schools and seminaries by providing educational resources such as bibliography (listed by geographic, ethnic, and thematic areas), book reviews, course syllabi, e-books, etc. These educational models will be offered to Orthodox dioceses from around the world interested in a gradual adoption and implementation of IPSEC’s educational curricula in their seminaries within their jurisdiction.

b) Observant-Centered Learning
IPSEC offers observant-centered learning programs such as a Parish Lectureship Program, and a Distance Education (on-line courses)

c) Participant-Centered Learning
IPSEC’s participant-centered learning programs focus on workshops designed to develop strategies and skills for conflict management, as well as simulations designed to develop conflict negotiation and conflict resolution skills. Additionally, IPSEC works to develop and advance introductory conflict management courses as well as case-based courses designed for seminarians.

d) Expert Consultations and Conferences
IPSEC works to develop expert consultations for mutual education in partnership with institutions with similar interests, as to advance research, publications, and exchange of ideas.

e) Summer Institutes
IPSEC will organize Summer Institutes in conjunction with Orthodox Theological schools with the purpose of offering peace education, and conflict management skills. The summer institutes will be integrative in nature as to include both seminarians and clergy.

f) Field Education
IPSEC hopes to become a field education site by offering internships to seminarians, theologians and political science students wishing to specialize in peace studies in Orthodox Christianity.

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