Peace with Justice is a faithful expression of shalom in the Bible. It calls the church to "strengthen its capacity to advocate publicly in communities and nations" throughout the world. The Peace with Justice program aims to make shalom visible and active in people's lives and communities by setting people free from bondage. We will celebrate peace with justice when all people have access to adequate jobs, housing, education, food, health care, income support and clean water. We will further celebrate when structures and systems that reflect economic exploitation, war, political oppression and cultural domination no longer exist.
The Old Testament speaks of God's sovereignty in terms of covenant, more particularly the "covenant of peace" with Israel, which binds that people of God's shalom (Isaiah 54:10; Ezekiel 37:20). In the covenant of shalom, there is no contradiction between justice and peace or between peace and security or between love and justice (Jeremiah 29:7). In Isaiah's prophecy, when "the spirit is poured upon us from on high," we will know that these laws of God are one and indivisible: "Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, and the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever. My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places" (Isaiah 32:16-18, NRSV).
The MARC office houses the Peace with Justice Library (formerly located at GR Trinity UMC), a collection of 63 books and videos. For a complete listing of these resources, contact Betsy Weems in MARC at marc@wmcumc.org.
For additional information on Peace with Justice Ministries, visit the web page on the West Michigan Conference website at www.westmichiganconference.org, or contact Ellen Brubaker, West Michigan Conference Peace with Justice Coordinator.