Peace/Shalom/Salam
Scripture
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27 (NIV)
Focus Statement
Traditionally, Jewish and Islamic believers greet each other with the peace salutation
Shalom or Salam. Our world is troubled with 34 or more conflicts as of the beginning of
2024 2 , causing people to flee homes and homelands. Conflicts destabilize families and
adversely impact women and children who often become victims of sexual violence.
There is a yearning for peace.
Peace is defined as a tranquil state of mind whether among nations, within countries, at
home or within self. To achieve peace, world leaders must balance the thirst for power
and territory wish versus the needs of the people. In a spiritual sense, peace brings
comfort and strength amid distress. When our spirit is troubled, Paul teaches: “Do not
be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with
thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all
understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
(NIV)
War is a state of armed conflict between different nations or states or different groups
within a nation or state. 3 It often includes physical violence, destruction, and loss of life.
Hostilities stem from territorial disputes, ideological differences, power, religion, or the
control of resources. The ravages of war have had profound social, economic, and
political consequences throughout history. It has led to the rise and fall of empires, the
redrawing of national boundaries, and the displacement of populations. The United
Nations was established to prevent and/or resolve conflicts peacefully, as were various
treaties on disarmament and non-proliferation of weapons. However, tensions still arise,
and the atrocities of war remain a significant challenge to global peace and stability.
Church Women United advocates for peace and justice throughout the world. These
start with valuing one another’s humanity and right to exist.
Actions Items
To promote peace in a broken world:
● Affirm one another’s presence and concerns, Mental Health First Aid,
https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org.
2 Global Conflict Tracker l Council on Foreign Relations (cfr.org), Accessed January 13, 2024.
3 War,’ Oxford Languages: Google English Dictionary, Accessed January 26, 2024.
● Learn about peace building from the United States Institute of Peace,
https://www.usip.org/.
● Promote Democracy with materials from the National Democratic Institute (NDI),
https://www.ndi.org/ .
● Support the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS),
https://sdgs.un.org/goals.
● Become familiar with the International Coalition for Peace, icpglobal.org.
● Become familiar with the CWU Social Justice Core Value, The Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, https://www.ohchr.org/en/universal-declaration-of-
human-rights.