Advocating for the evolution of Christian institutions beyond the conflict of peacemaking and advocacy roles
In a world where religious freedom and respect for all citizens' rights are paramount, it's crucial for Christian institutions to move beyond the peacemaking-advocacy dichotomy. This is a lesson being learned by Wissam al-Saliby, President of 21Wilberforce, who started his work in Christian religious freedom and human rights advocacy in 2018.
Previously, al-Saliby served as Director of the World Evangelical Alliance United Nations Office in Geneva. Today, he leads a team that is working closely with leaders from a specific country, providing psychosocial support to churches affected by large-scale mob violence, equipping leaders with peacemaking tools, and advocating for justice.
The distinction between Christian peacemaking and advocacy can be counterproductive, creating an artificial separation between promoting peace, understanding, and reconciliation, and actively defending religious rights. Peacemaking, developed by Mennonites, Quakers, and Brethren churches and universities, emphasizes empathy, reconciliation, and understanding differing viewpoints. On the other hand, advocacy involves standing up for religious liberties often through public or legal means.
By integrating Biblical principles of peacemaking with active advocacy for religious freedom, Christian institutions can present a more coherent, respectful, and strategic public presence. This holistic approach, which simultaneously pursues justice, reconciliation, and rights advocacy, enables them to engage diverse audiences, reduce polarization, and strengthen the protection of religious freedoms.
The concept of peacemaking is relational and experiential, with roots in God's mission of reconciling humanity with Himself. It's not just about preventing religious freedom violations but also about seeking justice and redress for such violations. For instance, the Church of Jesus Christ promotes religious freedom not only for its own interests but for everyone, advocating globally while fostering local citizens’ engagement and mutual respect.
The strategizing, planning, and implementation of peacemaking and justice advocacy programs should be considered together. By doing so, Christian institutions can avoid wasting resources, overlapping programs, and missing opportunities. Peacemaking and advocacy fall on a spectrum, with complementary and sometimes intertwined roles.
In practice, this means emphasizing dialogue, mutual understanding, and empathy in advocacy campaigns while remaining uncompromising about religious freedom as a fundamental human right. Such an integrated approach aligns with scriptural mandates to love and defend both neighbors and the persecuted while maintaining peace.
The #OneMoreYearEF campaign, a sustainability challenge at Evangelical Focus, encourages those committed to its mission to join. By uniting peacemaking and advocacy, Christian institutions can counter counterproductive fragmentation and work towards a more peaceful and just world.
[1] Church of Jesus Christ promotes religious freedom. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/religious-freedom?lang=eng [2] Equipping Christian leaders for peacebuilding. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.peacexpeace.org/ [3] The intersection of peace and justice. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.worldvision.org/church-community/resources/the-intersection-of-peace-and-justice
- Church of Jesus Christ promotes religious freedom and personal growth, advocating globally while fostering local citizens’ engagement and mutual respect, aligning with the holistic approach of integrating Biblical principles of peacemaking with active advocacy for religious freedom.
- The #OneMoreYearEF campaign, a sustainability challenge at Evangelical Focus, encourages those committed to its mission to unite peacemaking and advocacy, working towards education-and-self-development, including personal growth, and countering counterproductive fragmentation, striving for a more peaceful and just world.
