Mission Network Director of Global Partnerships Andrew Suderman, an Eastern Mennonite University professor and secretary of Mennonite World Conference Peace Commission, organized the third Global Mennonite Peacebuilding Conference and Festival held in Virginia, USA, in June. “Coming Together: The Journey of Faith and Peace” was the theme event organized by EMU and endorsed by MWC.

“There’s something in the water among Mennonite theologians and peace building scholars and practitioners…around the decolonial project that people are drinking from now that is interesting and quite good,” said Suderman.

The four plenary speakers included Tigist Tesfaye, MWC Deacons Commission secretary, and César García, MWC general secretary. Some 160 participants from 20 countries participated in 10 presentations of papers, 15 workshops, a panel discussion, an art installation and four theatre and music performances. Difficulties obtaining travel permission prevented some international guests from attending.

García urged participants to bring together church and peace work despite the former’s past mistakes: 

“Creating structures that are completely independent and separated from the church is an unnecessary detour that affects the impact of our peace witness…. The need of peace work that is theologically and biblically grounded is an ongoing reality in many of our churches and institutions."