Using the Social Statement in Your Congregation
Session 4: Section 5

Aims for this Session
Through this session’s study, participants will:

1. Consider differing views about when it is (or is not) appropriate to use military force in conflict situations;

2. Get an overview of the tasks involved in building, making and keeping peace.

Resources and Advanced Preparation

• Reread "Guideposts to Learning" at the beginning of this guide
• Newsprint (or blackboard)
• Post "Questions for Consideration" from last session
• Set up clippings display
• List and post aims for Session 4 on newsprint
• Make copies of Handout # 4--the Web Chart: "Tasks For Making, Building, and Keeping International Peace."

NOTE: Session 4 is structured with a major transition from considering the possible use of military intervention in a conflict situation to considering the myriad tasks of building peace. It is essential that participants are aware of this transition at the beginning of the session so that the first half of the session can be drawn to a close. In the event that the group decides it is more important to continue the discussion concerning military conflicts into the second half of the session, you would have several options for completing the study process. You might add a sixth session or you might have the group look oven Handout #4 at the beginning of Session 5, shortening the process presented in this guide.

Opening Devotion
Invite participants to offer intercessory prayers for one of the conflict situations reflected in the clippings that they have brought in. Prayers may be a short as a simple sentence ("We pray for the people of Bosnia.") or they may be several sentences. Take a few moments for people to look at the clippings display and collect their thoughts before you begin the prayer.

You might begin the prayer in this way:
God of all peoples and nations of this earth, we come before you with frustration and sorrow about the many conflicts that plague our human family and pray for guidance for ourselves and for our political leaders on the pathways to peace.
Conclude:
We offer these petitions for peace in the name of Jesus Christ through whom we have been reconciled to you, and who has entrusted to us the ministry of reconciliation. Amen.

Introducing the Aims of the Session
Call the participants’ attention to the goals for Session 4 that you have listed on the newsprint.

Deciding about Wars

1. Using the "Guideposts to Learning," remind people it is okay to disagree and that we can learn from other’s points of view.

2. Remind all of the conflict situation that you will be considering in this session and point out the "Questions for Consideration" in Handout #2 that each presenter will be addressing.

• Ask each volunteer prepared something to make a case for what the U.S. should do. Ask someone to make notes on newsprint in a way that the group can compare responses. (You may want to use a half sheet of newsprint for each of the "Questions for Consideration.")

3. Invite the group to compare and contrast the responses. What questions do you have? What is similar and what is different? Do the responses reflect the principles in the social statement? What do you find challenging?

Tasks: What Do We Do to Keep, Make and
Build International Peace Today?
1. Distribute Handout # 4-- "Tasks for Making, Building and Keeping International Peace" and explain that it is a way of presenting the main point of Section 5 of the statement.

2. Highlight the three main building blocks and ask participants what they think each of the three phrases means: Politics of Cooperation; Culture of Peace; and Economy with Justice.

• For each of the three, ask a volunteer to read the components of that task, using the chart. Explain that most of these tasks can be worked on at different levels and by different actors: international organizations like the UN; private international or national organizations like Lutheran World Relief; national governments such as our own U.S. government; a church body such as the ELCA; a congregation, a family; or an individual. These are noted on the chart as "Actors."

3. Ask participants to match one or more tasks with each of the specific actors listed at the bottom of the web chart Some examples:

• The UN can promote respect for human rights.
• A private international organization, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services can care for the uprooted.
• The U.S. government can promote the control and reduction of armaments.
• The ELCA, through its office in Washington, can lobby to revitalize aid.
• The congregation can develop appreciation of the differences in the human family.
• The family can work with their children to counter and transform attitudes that encourage violence.
• The individual can encourage and support nonviolent action.

4. Conclude by asking each person to reflect briefly and share the one task on the chart that is most interesting or compelling to hen/him. Have someone record these on newsprint.

Preparation for Next Session
Ask participants to do the following:

• Volunteers might find out what your congregation has done on is doing related to peace-building, through its youth program, its women’s group, its social concerns committee, its Christian education program, and other groups. Activities may include a variety of educational programs, service projects, or advocacy on particular issues. Also make sure someone speaks with the pastor(s).
• Reread Section 5 and read the "Implementing Resolutions" Section. Think of ways that the congregation might relate to some of the tasks presented.
• Watch the media for examples of ways that people, groups or governments have been peacemakers. Bring in one example to share with the group.

Closing Prayer

Next section