Peacebuilding &conflict transformation A ... - Peaceworkafrica

Excerpts from the joint position paper by the AGEH and EEDThe Civil Peace Service (CPS): an instrument of Christian peace work (2009)“O Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace”This position paper has its origins in the dialogue between the AGEH (GermanAssociation for Development Cooperation) and EED (Church Development Service)with their partner organisations in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin Americaduring the joint CPS partner conferences in 2001, 2004 and 2007. Particularly atthe 2007 conference, the partner organisations of both religious denominationscame together to formulate profile attributes of Christian peace work and expresslyencouraged the AGEH and EED to intensify their joint activities within the CPSframework. The following document was prepared by a joint working group ofAGEH and EED head offices. …1. Church involvement in the CPSThe fundamental mission of the churches is to devote themselves to working forpeace. Preserving, promoting and restoring peace is the constant objective of thechurches in the service of their fellow man. The churches do not see this service asbeing subject to any constraints relating to time, subject matter, region or any otherfactor. The objective of church-based development work and its services, includingthe AGEH and EED, is to help bring about social justice, to promote and safeguardpeace and to preserve creation worldwide by means of concerted efforts. This isdone by helping the poor, the disadvantaged and the oppressed to improve theirown lot and to become involved in shaping peace.The CPS gives the churches the opportunity to bolster their own peace-buildingactivities by joining forces with the state and with other civil society organisations.In this regard, the AGEH and EED act as church development services on behalf ofthe churches and their partner organisations in Germany and abroad. The CPS isseen by the AGEH and EED as being complementary to rather than separate fromother church instruments concerned with development and peace work. It is implementedon the basis of well-established and recognised development policy principles.At the same time, the AGEH and EED make a specific contribution to the CPS’s ownprofile as an instrument of civil conflict management. They contribute the experienceand strengths of church peace work to the CPS, thereby shaping the conceptualframework of the latter together with the other development organisations.E x c e r p t s o f t h e j o i n t p o s i t i o n p a p e r b y t h e A G E H a n d E E D 315