Quakers and Anabaptists: Peacebuilding Today

Commitment to nonviolence can be perceived as withdrawal from society and a refusal to pursue justice in a violent world. Peace witness is often criticised as unrealistic. How have Anabaptists and Quakers practised peacebuilding? How have they explored nonviolent ways to pursue justice? How can each learn from the other’s experiences?

The term ‘pacifist’ may be associated with both the Anabaptist and Quaker traditions, but it is an unhelpful term that sounds passive. This session will introduce examples of both traditions engaging in active peacebuilding and offer opportunities to reflect on what has been achieved and learned.

Presenters from both traditions with lived experience of peacebuilding in different contexts will engage in conversation with each other and with participants – some of whom we hope will have their own experiences to share.

This is the second session of a two-part series exploring these Historic Peace Churches, the first session Quakers and Anabaptists: A Shared History of Nonviolence will place on Wednesday 24 September.