JUSTICE AND RECONCILIATION
IAMS Mission Study Group no. 12
Robert Schreiter, Convenor
As an over-all text to serve as background for the
study group sessions, I suggest John De Gruchy, Reconciliation—Restoring
Justice (Minneapolis : Augsburg, 2003).
For further background on the current discussion on justice, see Walter J.
Burghardt, Justice : A Global Adventure (Maryknoll, NY : Orbis Books,
2004).
As a general way of organizing the four study group
sessions, let me suggest the following. The participants are invited to modify
this in any way at our first session. I will be prepared to make some brief
opening remarks to get our discussions going. Please bring ideas and
materials from your own setting to contribute to the sessions.
* * * * *
SESSION 1
There is nearly universal agreement that reconciliation in
post-conflict situations is only likely to be sustained if some measure of
justice is enacted to address the wrongdoing of the past. This first session
will look at some of the issues surrounding the pursuit of justice in the
immediate post-conflict (or beginning of reconstruction) situation, especially
those of truth-telling. Attention will be given to the impact of globalization
on the pursuit of justice as well.
SESSION 2
Punitive justice is usually the first kind of justice sought.
Discussion will focus on the possibilities and limits of punitive justice, and
the role of missionaries and church workers (as well as the churches themselves)
in this situation.
SESSION 3
Restorative justice is one of the prime areas in which
missionaries and church workers can become involved in the reconciliation
process. We will look at some examples of this from recent situations, and hear
from participants about their experience in this regard.
SESSION 4
Structural justice is the long-term work of the pursuit of
justice in reconciliation. Ideas, issues and experience in these directions will
be discussed.
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