How is it possible to find the face of God in each other?
Too often, difference is noticed rather than the beauty of the divine image. At the 34th Irish Inter–Church Meeting reconciliation was prioritised as the theme of “Finding the Face of God in One Another” was explored.
Prof Dr. Martin Leiner, the director of the Jena Center for Reconciliation, gave the first keynote address highlighting the need to reprioritise reconciliation studies globally because of the crisis of war internationally, economically and in the cyber space. He painted pastoral images of how a seemingly dead garden might flourish with a drop of rain. Similarly, within the gravity of conflict, the grace of reconciliation can bring surprise and transformation.
As well as parsing out the meaning behind the Pauline word for reconciliation from 2 Corinthians 5:19, he re–emphasised the importance of framing reconciliation as a long term project. Practically, Dr. Leiner traversed wide political landscapes to explain common themes pertaining to reconciliation such as the importance of understanding the different scripts for reconciliation that communities become attuned to as well as understanding how different communities might prioritise different aspects of the reconciliation story. He provided helpful metaphors through which to understand the tender work of reconciliation better such as satoyama: an ecosystem for peace as well as the Kinyrwandan word for reconciliation which means: “I accept that I am suffering instead of you and for you – I am carrying the suffering for you.” As he concluded, Leiner encouraged the participants to tend to the garden of reconciliation well, as peace can quickly unravel if there is not purposeful maintenance. He acknowledged the importance of church leaders speaking out to make joint statements together and encouraged ongoing commitment to the process.
Practical examples of reconciliation were highlighted when community artist Carole Kane invited the group to participate in collaborative artmaking as a way of exploring how shared space was negotiated. The “Peaced Together” program demonstrated practically how churches might engage with their communities in ways that gently pointed to gospel themes of hope, gratitude and forgiveness.
As the conference pivoted towards future thinking, a panel of academics and practitioners spoke to the future needs of reconciliation. Rev Philip McKinley discussed the challenge of racial reconciliation. Dr Kevin Hargaden lyrically invited the group to consider the parish as an oasis through the lens of ecological reconciliation. Dr Suzanne Mulligan observed the global strengthening of the politics of fear and how a three pronged response might be to offer sound principles involving respect for human equality, arguments that are not self–serving and a curious and sympathetic imagination. In a society that has perpetuated the idol of individualism, Mulligan suggested that the response of proximity becomes an invitation to enter into the suffering and chaos of others in order to empathise and rehumanise.
Rather than close the conference with another presentation, the table groups were invited by Julieann Moran to listen to what the Spirit might be saying. In a process of sharing together and listening attentively, the question: “What is the Spirit presenting to us at this Kairos moment and how are we being called to respond as ambassadors of reconciliation” was explored. Through articulating God’s invitation to risk, embrace and let go, the group listened for deep resonances. This intentionally slower finish to the event was a salient reminder to look for fecundity in the margins rather than at the center. This was an important call not to exclude the other but to follow Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s example not to ask whether humans are good or bad but to acknowledge that we were all made for goodness and the call is to find ways to be good together.
