Ambassadors of Reconciliation

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Ched Myers and Elaine Enns from Oak View, California are a couple who have spent decades working in the fields of restorative justice, conflict transformation, and faith-based witness for justice. Enns is a mediator, consultant, educator, and trainer who provides mediation and consultation services for individuals, churches, schools and businesses. Myers focuses on building capacity for biblical literacy, church renewal and faith-based witness for justice. He has worked with many peace and justice organizations and movements, including the American Friends Service Committee, the Pacific Concerns Resource Center and the Pacific Life Community. The couple has recently finished writing a book together, entitled “Ambassadors of Reconciliation”: A Theology and Diverse Practices of Restorative Justice and Peacemaking

Conrad Grebel University College is pleased to host Ched Myers and Elaine Enns as speakers for the 2009 Bechtel Lectures in Anabaptist Mennonite Studies on Thursday, March 26 and Friday, March 27, 2009.  The lectures begin at 7:30 pm and are held in the Great Hall at Grebel.

Ron Mathies, Grebel's acting president, said:

Ched and Elaine have a wealth of experience with peace research and restorative justice work. Their commitment and passion for peacebuilding are inspirational and challenging.

The overall theme for this year’s lectures is "Ambassadors of Reconciliation: Biblical and Contemporary Witnesses". On Thursday, March 26 the lecture title is "Ambassadors in Chains: Evangelizing the Powers." This lecture will looks at Ephesians 3 through the lens of Martin Luther King’s 1963 Letter from Birmingham City Jail. On Friday, March 27 the lecture title is "Women Clothed with the Sun: Facing the Beast." This lecture will use the evocative images in Revelations 12:1-6 to examine four different aspects of the “beast” of violence in our world: war, the death penalty, nuclear weapons, and murder. A reception will follow the Thursday evening lecture.

The Bechtel Lectures in Anabaptist-Mennonite Studies at Conrad Grebel were established in 2000 by Waterloo County businessman and farmer, Lester Bechtel. The purpose of the lectureship is to foster interest in and understanding of Anabaptist/Mennonite faith and its relevance today by seeing it projected through the eyes of experts from a range of disciplines.

For more information about the 2009 Bechtel Lectures, please contact the president’s office at Conrad Grebel University College at 519-885-0220 x24223.