St Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary - News Releases News Release Jim Forest of the Orthodox Peace Fellowship Lectures at the Seminary

On Saturday, November 20, 2004, the seminary received a special visit from Jim Forest, secretary of the Orthodox Peace Fellowship. His lecture, attended by members of the seminary community and several of the seminary's trustees, was titled "'In Peace Let Us Pray to the Lord': Peacemaking, Conflict Resolution, and Reconciliation as a Pastoral Concern." He discussed the calling of each person as peacemaker, as well as the calling of the Church to work on behalf of peace. He pointed out that the word "peace" has been tarnished with many false associations that obscure its true meaning. "I have known peace movements," he said, "that are themselves filled with an anger that verges on violence." Like an ancient icon covered with soot, the word "peace" needs to be cleaned and restored to its true meaning by those in the Church.

In regards to the Orthodox perspective on violence, he pointed out that the Church does not bless the killing of another human being. Those who have killed may not be ordained, or serve within the altar during liturgical services, for example. When as Christians we are threatened by violence for our faith, we must try to resist with courageous nonviolence. He gave the example of the monks of Constantinople who, risking their lives, made a non-violent march around the city holding up icons during the iconoclastic period. Although these monks were successful and survived their resistance, Forest pointed out that sometimes blood will be shed. But the Church is strengthened by the blood of the martyrs, so martyrdom is not a defeat.

He also discussed the ways in which our national enemies can become less than human in our eyes through the influence of media coverage that—while not necessarily fabricated—fails to provide us with a full picture of what is really happening in conflicts overseas. He urged people’s efforts to gain a fuller, more human, and more educated vision of those who are hurt by warfare, particularly the poor and vulnerable.

In the discussion that followed many were eager to ask Mr Forest about how his views translate to a national, governmental level. To this he answered that war should only be waged as a last resort when under attack—not preemptively. At the same time, he admitted the complexity of this issue. He also pointed out that democracy in America, with its two-party system, has grown unwieldy, so that the citizens no longer feel that their vote, or involvement, matters very much. Nevertheless, the Orthodox Christian citizen is called to do what he or she can on behalf of peace.