Reconciliation Insights: 4th Lausanne Congress in Seoul
October 2024 |
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Dear Friends,
Salaam from Nazareth!
Reflecting on the one-year anniversary of the Israel-Gaza war, I can’t help but wonder: What have we gained? Where do we go from here? These questions weigh heavily on my heart, shaping the urgency of our work at the Nazareth Center for Peace Studies.
With this deep sense of reflection and a heavy heart, I traveled to Seoul, carrying these realities with me. It was in this context that I spoke at the 4th Lausanne Congress, where over 5,200 leaders from 202 countries gathered. I shared our story—a story of hope and a deep longing for peace—amid the ongoing suffering and division in the Holy Land. |
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Speaking on Reconciliation |
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The theme of my talk during the evening plenary panel was 'Reconciliation – The Church’s Responsibility in Areas of Brokenness.' Alongside three other panelists from Ukraine, Burundi, and Congo, we were invited to share our peacebuilding journeys. Standing before this global gathering, I felt the weight of not only representing my own story but also the people back home in the Holy Land and the Middle East—those in Gaza, the West Bank, Israel, and Lebanon—who have faced conflict for as long as I can remember. With the latest war breaking out on October 7, the sense of devastation feels closer than ever.
During my talk, I shared my peacebuilding journey, which started as a law student and then as a public prosecutor, believing that justice could be achieved through legal means. However, God had different plans for me. I soon came to understand that while laws are important, they cannot heal hearts. True reconciliation goes beyond legal frameworks; it’s about repairing relationships and restoring human dignity. This realization led me to deepen my studies, exploring how Christ’s teachings on truth, forgiveness, and justice could bring healing to our troubled land.
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In my talk, I highlighted the core elements of reconciliation that shape our work at the Nazareth Center for Peace Studies: shared truth, forgiveness, justice, and a shared future. These components are essential for genuine healing and social change.
Shared truth demands a shift from 'truth-owning' to 'truth-seeking,' which requires humility and a willingness to listen to other people’s perspectives, even if they challenge our convictions or identity. Healing starts with truth-telling—facing painful histories and moving beyond narratives that perpetuate victimhood toward a shared narrative or mutual recognition of diverse histories.
The hardest step is forgiveness, a radical choice that breaks the cycle of violence. Forgiveness doesn’t pretend the past didn’t happen or overlook justice; it creates room for healing and truth-telling. It is the space between enmity and reconciliation, where we begin to see the 'enemy' as human again.
Justice, in the context of reconciliation, fosters healing by restoring dignity, holding wrongdoers accountable, and repairing what’s broken. Achieving reconciliation requires confronting systemic injustices, addressing root causes, and ensuring a just resolution for all parties involved. Without justice, peace is hollow; and without forgiveness, justice becomes another weapon in the fight.
Reconciliation envisions a shared future where peaceful coexistence is possible, and past wounds no longer dictate relationships. It calls for genuine apologies and reparations that acknowledge pain and wrongdoing, restore dignity, and raise public awareness—crucial steps toward true healing and social transformation. |
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This vision of reconciliation may seem aspirational, especially as war escalates and voices of hatred and extremism grow louder on both sides—even, sadly, within some Christian circles. But this conflict isn’t just about land or ancient claims; it’s about real people—Palestinians and Israelis—trapped in its complexities, suffer its tragedies, and long for dignity, security, and a place to call home. In such a deeply rooted context of pain and violence, historical reconciliation isn’t a luxury; it’s an absolute necessity. Without it, the cycle of violence will only continue.
In Christianity, reconciliation is a divine mandate. We are called to participate in God's mission of restoration and healing by stepping into brokenness, confronting injustice, and bringing hope to the darkest places. The Church’s role is not to take sides but to act as a bridge, drawing both sides closer to each other and to God. By living out this mission, we embody God’s reconciling love in action, reflecting God’s kingdom, where enemies are loved, wounds are healed, and hope endures. |
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Connecting with leaders who share this vision of peace was deeply moving. The Church, spanning every continent, is called to be a force of healing in our world. As God’s family, we are meant to carry each other’s burdens—this isn’t just the Church’s responsibility in the Holy Land; it’s a global calling. In my closing remarks at the Congress, I urged our global family to stand with the Church in the Middle East and support those suffering in Gaza, the West Bank, Israel, and Lebanon. Together, we must speak out, seek shared truth, foster forgiveness, and advocate for an end to the war and a just resolution to the ongoing conflict. |
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Finally, returning from Seoul to a war-torn land has been very challenging, to say the least. The images of destruction, the loss of life, the cries of the wounded, and the pervasive fear in the air—these are heavy burdens to bear. Yet, in these moments, I am reminded of the urgent need for reconciliation. It’s easy to lose hope when surrounded by pain, but we are called to be a source of hope for those who suffer, even when it feels impossible. We are called to stand in the gap, speak truth even when it challenges our convictions, extend forgiveness where it seems undeserved, and pursue justice that restores dignity and heals relationships. This is the work of reconciliation; it is not an easy path, but it is the path we are called to walk. |
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Please continue to pray with us for an end to the war and for a just and lasting peace.
Thank you for your ongoing prayers and financial support, which enable us to grow and expand our ministry.
Grace and Peace |
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Rula
Rula Khoury Mansour, PhD
Founder and Director
Nazareth Center for Peace Studies
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Nazareth Center for Peace Studies is committed to empowering individuals and communities as peacebuilders. Your financial support can help us expand our ministry. Thank you! |
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