By Jax Johnson
Beginning on January 30th and continuing through February 2nd, the Center for Faith, Justice and Global Engagement will host their annual Kindschi Faith and Justice Symposium, which will be centered around the theme of “War and Conflict: Creating Sanctuaries in Times of Violence”.
The Symposium will feature five different events throughout the week:(1) a lecture with Belinda Bauman, (2) a workshop with Elsa Barron, (3) an art gallery opening and discussion with Houghton alumnus Joel Mulindwa, (4) a lunch discussion with Theodore Kuchar, and (5) a panel discussion on conflict-induced migration.
As the director of the Center for Faith, Justice and Global Engagement, Brian Webb has worked to organize this event and says that he is, “excited about this year’s speakers, who will address conflict from many different perspectives, including its impact on immigration, the environment, social justice, and interpersonal relationships.” He also talks about this year’s theme, saying, “‘War and Conflict: Creating sanctuaries amid the violence’ is certainly appropriate for today. While the war in Ukraine looms large in our minds, there are many other conflicts going on around the world today from Afghanistan to South Sudan to the Congo to Yemen. Conflict is not only horrific in its own right, but it also exacerbates other global challenges including human migration, hunger, and poverty.”
Of the five symposium events, all will host a variety of perspectives and ideas. The first event is a lecture given by Belinda Bauman on Monday, Jan. 30., from 7. to 8:15 p.m. in Library 323. Bauman’s lecture is titled, “From Wrong to Strong: How Trauma Can Forge Resilience” and follows the topic of trauma and how to overcome it.
The second event is a symposium workshop with Elsa Barron called “Faith in the Future: Environmental Peacebuilding in the Face of Conflict and Climate Change”, which discusses the connection between conflict and climate change, and how the two can have a strong impact on the other. This workshop will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 31, from 4:30 -5:45 p.m. in Library 323.
On Tuesday, Jan. 31.,from 7-8 p.m. in the Wesley Chapel Art Gallery, there will be an art gallery opening and discussion with Artist and Houghton alumnus Joel Mulindwa, who brings light to the stories of both the victims and the perpetrators of war.
On Wednesday, Feb. 1, a lunch discussion will occur from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the South End Dining Hall with conductor Theodore Kuchar, who will talk about the dynamics between Russia and Ukraine to illuminate the complexities of the situation. In conjunction with this event, Kuchar will lead the Lviv National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine in the Westley Chapel at 7:30 p.m. that same night;tickets for the concert can be purchased from the Houghton Hub.
The symposium will close with a panel discussion on conflict-induced migration on Thursday, Feb. 2, from 7-8:15 p.m. in the Center for the ArtsRecital Hall. This event will present stories of those who have been affected by conflict , while also showing the hope that can be gathered.
The Kindschi Faith and Justice Symposium offers a wide variety of events that shed light on the impact of world conflicts, as well as the stories of those who have been impacted by them. By participating in these events, people have the opportunity to learn something new while connecting this knowledge with a foundation in faith. ★
