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Curriculum helps congregations discuss international relations
 Oct. 17, 2005
By Linda Bloom*
NEW YORK (UMNS) — “Should the United States be the 21st century version of ancient Rome?”
So begins an essay on U.S. Christians and the issue of multilateralism by Jan Love, a longtime professor of international studies and current chief executive of the Women’s Division, United Methodist Board of Global Ministries.
Love’s essay is part of “For the Peace of the World: A Christian Curriculum on International Relations,” released at the end of September by the National Council of Churches.
As Love points out in her essay, factors such as the end of the Cold War — allowing the United States to be the dominant military power as well as top economic power — and the increasing recognition of globalization are part of any discussion about the U.S. role in international relations.
“We who are citizens of the most powerful nation on earth need urgently to figure out how these circumstances affect us at home and abroad as well as what impact they have on others across the globe,” she writes.
Antonios Kireopoulos, the NCC’s executive for international affairs, edited the 87-page book, which he calls “an exciting milestone” for the council.
“The curriculum addresses some of the most complex issues facing us in these difficult times, and it does so by bringing the moral and religious imperatives of our Christian faith to the analysis of these issues,” he says.
Study sessions are offered on six topics: Is American Number One?; Fear, Security and Love: Is America God’s Favorite Nation?; Poverty in a Rich World; Self-Interest and World Citizenship; and Preventing War with Peace.
“The curriculum does not seek to impose one particular perspective,” Kireopoulos says. “Instead, it seeks to encourage within faith communities a meaningful discussion on international relations.”
Several congregations from the Protestant and Orthodox traditions tested an initial draft of the curriculum, which was rewritten based upon the results of the field tests.
Love believes the study guide will provoke needed discussion among Christians.
“Since the end of the Cold War, the United States has been trying to define its role in the world, a matter of considerable debate,” she notes. “In contrast to the Cold War era, no new foreign policy doctrine for our country has yet captured the hearts and minds of the citizenry.”
Using the curriculum, church members can talk about the role of the United States in the world both as citizens and people of faith. “The study guide helps open up questions for discussion without prescribing specific policies or frameworks and thus invites Christians to engage the debate,” explains Love, who served on the project’s advisory committee.
Jim Winkler, chief executive of the United Methodist Board of Church and Society, says he hopes “many thousands of our local churches will make use of this solidly biblically-based material. The authors are top-notch, outstanding experts. This curriculum will help Christians as we seek to live holy lives in a confusing and troubled world.”
While “For the Peace of the World” is designed for adult religious education classes, it could be used by college or high school classes as well, Kireopoulous says.
Grants from the Rockefeller Brothers Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the Carnegie Corp. and the Tides Foundation provided funding for the curriculum project.
Bishop Mvume Dandala, a Methodist from South Africa and chief executive of the All Africa Council of Churches, and the Rev. Karen Hamilton, chief executive of the Canadian Council of Churches, served as co-chairpersons of the project’s advisory committee.
The curriculum can be ordered from Friendship Press by calling toll free (800) 889-5733 or sending an e-mail to RBray@gbgm-umc.org. Details are also available at www.ncccusa.org/peace/.
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