Will the Sun Shine for the Koreans?

“Very few of us are able to understand the struggles and the hopes of smaller nations which had been cursed by history to be subjects to plundering empires, whom the smaller nations had to resist, obey, and survive. The story of the Koreans makes the case for an amazing tale of survival and hope. Full of narratives of willingness, the Koreans represent a nation which has been tried by history at every possible level, yet never failing to hope for a better tomorrow. Despite of being invaded, divided and humiliated by numerous superpowers, the Koreans have learned how to be patient, particularly when their self-appointed outside masters turned them against each other. And, they are still waiting, patiently, for the sunny day, when they will become one country again. Such a story of patience and heroic hope I read in the eyes of President Kim Dae-Jung on May, 27, 2008, as he welcomed our BTI [Boston Theological Institute] group at his home office in Seoul, which also serves as the Kim Dae-Jung Peace Center. The life and the public service of President Kim Dae-Jung can easily be confused with an old legend. His life is the story of a man who not only struggled to survive between despair and hope, but also an amazing story of success, and deep trust in God and in the power of forgiveness and reconciliation.” (fragment from Marian Gh. Simion, “The Sunshine Policy in the life and work of President Kim Dae-Jung: A BTI Visit and Interview with Former President of the Republic of Korea, and 2000 Nobel Peace Laureate” pp. 293-301 in Rodney L. Petersen & Marian Gh. Simion, eds. Overcoming Violence: Religion, Conflict and Peacebuilding, foreword by Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., Newton Centre: Boston Theological Institute, 2010)

• 2017 President's Report of Activity (2/3/18)
• Textbook on Research Methodology (9/16/17
• IPSEC Honorary President (9/15/17)
• IPSEC and Romanian Parliament Partnership (12/19/16)

Training on Religion and Secularity in Conflict for Peacebuilding
Reflections by Practitioners

Last week, the Center for Security Studies (CSS), ETH from Zurich, Switzerland, released a report titled, “Reflections by Practitioners: Training on Religion and Secularity in Conflict for Peacebuilding”—a report in which IPSEC is being represented. The report contains an analysis conducted by Al Amana International, revealing the continuing need for training on religion and secularity in conflict for peace practitioners, policymakers and mediators. The report also presents good practices on five strategic aspects which each course organizer and curriculum developer need to take into account, such as: course design, course content, training methodology, training evaluation, and course advertising. The report also shares practical recommendations on the use of resources, a list of courses, and specific training tools. (download report)

IPSEC courses filling a gap in peace education
peace practitioners, policymakers and mediators
Training Needs

“Analysis conducted by Al Amana International (AAI) analyzed 91 courses and workshops on religion and secularity in conflict. Roughly two thirds are university courses geared at an academic audience. The remaining third are courses and workshops aiming at professionals and key actors in the conflict transformation and peacebuilding field. Of this third, the majority are organized by NGOs (60%), some are offered by universities (30%) and faith-based organizations (FBOs) (20%), and a handful of courses by multilateral organizations (MLOs) (>10%). […] Most training targets religious peacemakers, grassroots peace practitioners and conflict actors, followed by local governmental actors. Only very few courses target diplomats and staff of foreign services and MLOs. Little public information exists regarding government-organized courses; hence they were not included in the AAI mapping. Some governments do include sessions on religion and conflict in more comprehensive training packages for their diplomatic and foreign service staff, sometimes on an annual basis, or as part of entry level training.” Two IPSEC courses are part of this analysis; helping fill the gap for targeted audience of students, diplomats, academics and government leaders. (download report)

Semegnish Asfaw
Programme Executive, International Affairs,
World Council of Churches, Geneva, Switzerland

The World Needs Thoughtful, Religiously Literate Leaders

June 18 to June 21, 2018

Join Harvard Divinity School’s
inaugural executive education program:
Making Change. (details)

Russia’s Patriarch Kirill Visits Muslim-Majority Albania (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)

How Ethiopian Americans changed US policy on their homeland (The Hill)

Why Syria's patriarchs back Assad (La Croix International)

For more news about conflicts affecting Orthodox Christians around the world, click here!

WORDS OF SPIRITUAL BENEFIT