Give Peace A Hand 'day away'
Saturday 22 March 2003
Spiritual reflection, workshops, bookstalls, and a presentation on the Decade to Overcome Violence: Churches Seeking Reconciliation and Peace were all part of the excellent Give Peace a Hand 'day away' organised by WISE (Women In Solidarity Ecumenically) and the NCCA Gender Commission on 22 March. Held at Christ Church St.Laurence in Sydney, this offered an opportunity to deepen personal peace and to learn about a variety of encouraging 'overcoming violence' initiatives in Australia.
Sister Joan Fisher and the 'Spirituality of the Heart'
The morning session was ably led by Sister Joan Fisher msc, who spoke of the vital importance of developing a 'Spirituality of the Heart' in overcoming violence, personally and globally. Drawing on her considerable experience and expertise as a spiritual director, she outlined the main features of such a spirituality, emphasising how relationship is the core. Forgetting or ignoring who we are in relationships (brothers or sisters of one another) is violence, she outlined. It tears us away from our core identity as children of God, all made in the image of God.
Sister Joan shared her insights through two conceptual 'wheels' which she has developed in her work. The first is the wheel of violence, which has power and control at its heart. Around this core spin various types of violence, each of which Sister Joan drew attention to with examples: intimidation, dominance, exploitation, sexual abuse, isolation, threats, emotional abuse, and economic abuse (to which we might add environmental abuse). In contrast the reverse cycle, or 'wheel' of active non-violence, has forgiveness and reconciliation at its heart (the spirituality of the heart). Here, each sector of the 'wheel' provides positive alternatives to the sectors around the wheel of violence; courage instead of intimidation; empowerment instead of dominance; reverence instead of exploitation; intimacy instead of sexual abuse; community instead of isolation; affirmation instead of threats; compassion instead of emotional abuse; solidarity instead of economic abuse.
DOV presentation
The afternoon began with a powerpoint presentation from Emily Ninnes of the DOV in Australia unit at the NCCA. She outlined the development in Australia of the Decade to Overcome Violence and its hopes and plans for the future. Each of the participants received a copy of the DOV in Australia kit 'Give Peace A Hand' and were enthused to take this into the congregations and other groups to which they belong.
From Violence to Wholeness
John Dacey then introduced the gathering to the From Violence to Wholeness programme, an initiative of the Pace e Bene Franciscan Nonviolence Centre which is being developed across Australia. Offering both a theological vision of nonviolence and a toolbox of techniques for use in daily life, this experiential approach enables participants to engage effectively with the violence in ourselves and our culture. Led by John, the 'Give Peace A Hand' gathering explored a little of how we may find that 'sacredness that lies deeper than our wounds.' (For more information please contact John: animate@palms.org.au)
Alternatives to Violence project (AVP)
Last, but by no means least, Katherine Smith and Julie Matthews then involved everyone in a lively 'taster' of the Alternatives to Violence Project. Begun in New York, AVP has been operating in Australia since 1991 and has been growing steadily ever since, with substantial results in prisons and in schools (through the HIPP (Help Increase Peace Programme). Building on a spiritual basis of respecting and caring for self and others, AVP works experientially to transform violence. Guided by Katherine and Julie, the group exercises proved both great fun and energising on many levels, filling everyone with great enthusiasm for this way forward too.
(For more information, please consult the AVP website)
All agreed that the day had been spiritually invigorating and of considerable practical inspiration
- a wonderful antidote to the military campaign just begun in Iraq!
The Revd.Dr.Jon Inkpin
Programme Manager
DOV in Australia |
