'Healing from Conflict' Peace Conference

On the weekend of 24th-26th April, around 100 people gathered at Kents Hill Park, Milton Keynes, for a joint peace conference organised by the Fellowship of Reconciliation, Pax Christi, Christian International Peace Service (CHIPS), the Anglican Pacifist Fellowship and Church and Peace. The theme of the conference was 'Healing from Conflict', looking at how individuals and communities heal after conflict so that our communities can be places of peace, justice and hope.

On Friday evening, the conference joined the online Friday prayers for peace with others from across the country, and the world, to pray for peace.

The keynote speech on Saturday morning was from Jane Kinninmont, Chief Executive Officer of the United Nations Association, UK, entitled '80 Years and Bust? Where now for the United Nations in Keeping the Peace'. The talk considered the future of the United Nations, as well as how civil society could play a role in shaping it, including faith groups working for change.

The afternoon keynote was from Siniša Klem, a Baptist theologian from Croatia, titled "I am Abel, but Cain lives in me", looking at the story of Cain and Abel to help us understand violence, particularly in ethnic conflict, and how we can break cycles of violence.

Both keynotes were followed by a range of workshops, including looking at peace in Darfur, roleplays exploring the arguments around nuclear weapons, a labyrinth to explore the right to peaceful protest, a session looking at supporting survivors of PTSD, dance to explore the role of the body in healing, and a session looking at international protective accompaniment of communities in Colombia.

Pax Christi led the evening prayer, which was followed by CHIPS hosting a creative 'sip 'n' paint' inviting participants to respond to biblical quotes for peace and justice through painting.

On Sunday morning, the conference joined the Christ the King Community Church, an ecumenical community in Kents Hill, for a Sunday service and afterwards were welcomed with cake, before the final session summing up the weekend, including remembering peacemakers past and present.

The weekend was a fantastic opportunity to bring peacemakers from diverse places and backgrounds together to explore peace, reconciliation and healing, and how we can play a part in bringing this to our communities.