Meet the Peace Trainers: Church needs to be seen addressing the issue of peace



 








For Deborah Walker, minister of connection and social justice at Shaughnessy Heights United Church in Vancouver, participating in the Peace Train is a way to show that the church is involved in things people care about.

This includes things like addressing issues like global hunger and poverty. But “peace is an overarching issue” since war is a major reason why people are poor and hungry as they are driven from their homes, work and farms, she said.

War also impacts women through rape and sexual violence. “There is a gender dimension to war,” she said. 

As a minister, “it’s important for people to see the church is trying to do something about this issue,” she shared. “It’s important for us to be seen.”

By participating in the Peace Train, “I’m saying the church has something to say about peace.”

Speaking personally, Walker also wanted to be part the Peace Train in order to participate in “the deep yearning” for peace.

The goal of the Peace Train is to ask the Canadian government to establish a Centre of Excellence for Peace and Justice focused on research, education, and training in conflict resolution, diplomacy, and peace operations. More information can be found at https://www.peacetraincanada.com


 

 

 

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