This article is translated from the Agencia Menonita Latinoamericana de Comunicaciones Spanish news bulletin.
Lorraine Stutzman Amstutz, co-director for the Mennonite Central Committee Office on Justice & Peacebuilding, facilitated a workshop on restorative justice at the Bragado Mennonite Church in Bragado, Argentina, on Feb. 19.
Stutzman Amstutz came to Argentina as part of a delegation of the churches of the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Mennonite Mission Network who visited the Argentine churches involved in the Evangelistic Missionary Vision of the Western Zone. After the workshop, there was a meeting of the partnership in which a new covenant of cooperation was signed for the next three years. (See related article.)
Over twenty brothers and sisters from different Mennonite churches in the region participated. In addition to speaking of the ministry of Mennonite Central Committee in the area of Restorative Justice, she distributed copies of the Spanish translation of “The Little Book of Restorative Justice,” by Howard Zehr.
In this work, MCC primarily provides consultancy, supporting the development of local programs. Many of the programs focus on reconciliation between victims and offenders in order to reach a mutual healing. In general the idea of Restorative Justice puts more emphasis on healing than on punishment.
Some of the Argentine participants traveled in 2009 to Pennsylvania where they had the opportunity to personally hear the testimony of Amish leaders, including one of the parents of the girls assassinated in an elementary school several years ago. They shared the impact of hearing the story of forgiveness. Believing that God calls us to forgive, they knew they had to forgive, even if it is a process, a continuous decision to forgive. They also looked for ways to help restore the family of the assassin.
It is not only a ministry outside the church, but in the church too. Lorraine emphasized that conflict in churches is normal. Our goal should not be to prevent all conflicts, but to find constructive ways to transform conflicts.
As part of the rich debate the need emerged for greater understanding of the role of the churches in relation to the vulnerability of human rights and the challenge that we face as a historic peace church to proclaim the message of peace with justice. One participant pointed out "Peace without justice is neither peace, nor justice."
