International Ecumenical Peace Convocation addresses issues of nonviolence and the environment

Kingston, Jamaica, 23 May (ENInews)--As the International Ecumenical Peace
Convocation (IEPC) in Kingston, Jamaica, enters its seventh day, attendees
discussed topics such as helping communities resolve conflict through peaceful
means and how churches can positively respond to the challenge of climate change
and environmental destruction.

The IEPC website refers to the conference as both a "harvest festival,"
celebrating the achievements of its Decade to Overcome Violence initiative, and
a call for individuals and churches to renew their commitment to nonviolence,
peace and justice. The event, taking place from May 17-25, is being hosted by
the World Council of Churches (WCC), the Caribbean Conference of Churches (CCC),
and the Jamaican Council of Churches (JCC). A number of news releases have
provided updates about events at the convocation.

Margareta Ingelstam, coordinator of Just Peace, a group of Swedish churches,
shared her experience organizing the Ecumenical Monitoring Program in South
Africa. She believes peace monitoring teams should arrive in local areas before
conflict erupts into violence. "Most conflicts have to be taken care of early
before they become violent," said Ingelstam. "Education should be the most
important part of bringing peace to a community."