Objectives and concepts of the International Ecumenical Peace Convocation (IEPC)

The World Council of Churches' 9th Assembly (Porto Alegre, Brazil, February 2006) decided that "the conclusion of DOV be marked by an International Ecumenical Peace Convocation (IEPC)". The Assembly also called for "a process of wide consultation to be undertaken toward developing an ecumenical declaration on "just peace". This consultative process leading up to the IEPC allows for broad participation with many entry points, and covers a wide spectrum of thematic and methodological approaches.

The IEPC will bring together a wide spectrum of people witnessing to the peace of God as a gift and responsibility of the entire human family. It seeks to strengthen the church's position on peace, provide opportunities for networking and deepening our common commitment to the processes of reconciliation and just peace.  

• celebrating God's peace and the good will of God's people;
• working on our theology of peace and relinquishing any theological justification of violence;
• telling our stories of failure and success, and listening to examples of good practice;
• equipping ourselves with creative and effective tools for preventing and overcoming violence, and promoting peace and justice;
• committing ourselves to a theology and practice of nonviolence, peace and justice;
• proclaiming an Ecumenical Declaration on Just Peace.

Inversing the spiral of violence: