Quakers and Anabaptists: Peacebuilding Today

Both Historic Peace Churches have long been committed to peacebuilding. This session focuses on how each tradition continues to engage in peace efforts today, learning from each other's experiences.

Commitment to nonviolence can be perceived as withdrawal from society and a refusal to pursue justice in a violent world. Peace witness is often criticised as unrealistic. How have Anabaptists and Quakers practised peacebuilding? How have they explored nonviolent ways to pursue justice? How can each learn from the other's experiences?

The term 'pacifist' may be associated with both the Anabaptist and Quaker traditions, but it is an unhelpful term that sounds passive. This session will introduce examples of both traditions engaging in active peacebuilding and offer opportunities to reflect on what has been achieved and learned.

Presenters from both traditions with lived experience of peacebuilding in different contexts will engage in conversation with each other and with participants – some of whom we hope will have their own experiences to share.

This panel will be facilitated by Quakers in Britain's Peacebuilding Coordinator, Rebecca Bellamy.

Speakers include:

Jim Cason served 17 years at FCNL as Associate General Secretary for Policy and Advocacy, leading strategies to advance peace and justice through congressional engagement and grassroots lobbying. He built diverse coalitions, expanded FCNL's reach, and organised events with lawmakers to influence policy. A long-time advocate for social change, Jim also worked as a journalist and non-profit leader, including as U.S. correspondent for La Jornada and Senior Editor at AllAfrica.com. Read more about Jim here.

Juliet Kilpin is a community organiser, peacemaker, creative and coach. She co-created the Peaceful Borders initiative while volunteering in the Calais refugee camp nicknamed the 'jungle', a liminal melting-pot of desperation and hope. A place of solidarity, mutual-aid and tension, Juliet supported refugee community-leaders in their efforts to care for others. The Peaceful Borders international, inter-faith team continues to support asylum-seekers in the UK. Juliet is a Baptist minister. She founded pioneering initiative Urban Expression and relaunched The Fishermen's Chapel in Leigh-on-Sea as a venue for music, art and spirituality. She is also a Senior Community Organiser with Citizens UK.

Megan Sethuraman is 25 years old and from Belfast. She has just completed a Master's in international peace studies and is excited for the future. In April 2024, she went to the West Bank in Palestine to act as a Human Rights monitor for three months. On her return, she completed advocacy, which included presentations, interviews, podcasts and news articles.

This is the second session of a two-part series exploring these Historic Peace Churches, the first session Quakers and Anabaptists: A Shared History of Nonviolence will place on Wednesday 24 September.