Arlington, VA – (3 September 2013) – Scheduled to be released by Lexington Books in December 2013, Peace on Earth: The Role of Religion in Peace and Conflict Studies, features an IGE contribution to analysis on the involvement of religious organizations in peacebuilding, both its practice and pedagogy. Pulling from a wide body of expertise, the book describes different approaches to peacebuilding across faith traditions, and demonstrates how the combination of these approaches creates a holistic view of “peace on earth.”

Unlike past publications that focus primarily on the negative impact that religion can have on conflict situations, this body of work presents alternative perspectives on traditional approaches, demonstrating both the positive and complex roles that religious bodies can and have played in conflicts. The reality that religion can play a positive part in resolving conflict and building stability has been core to the Institute for Global Engagement’s (IGE) work for over a decade, and has been a catalyst for significant progress for religious freedom in East & Central Asia and the Middle East. Additional resources about religion’s positive role can be found here.

Building off of this foundation, Peace on Earth features a chapter on “Evangelical Women and Transformative Peacebuilding,” by IGE’s Hien Vu, Kristen Lundquist, and Dr. Chris Seiple. The chapter specifically focuses on the interaction of evangelical women with peacebuilding endeavors in Vietnam and the Middle East, pulling from the firsthand experience and field work of Ms. Vu, and Ms. Lundquist, with a general analysis of the importance of evangelical women in peacebuilding provided by Dr. Seiple.

While women of faith traditionally operate at the forefront of community and domestic issues, they often remain at the margins of global affairs and decision making. Reflecting the mission of IGE’s Center for Women of Faith & Leadership (CWFL), this chapter demonstrates that mobilizing current and emerging women of faith leaders to freely and actively engage in and influence decision making, operating out of their theology and beliefs, contributes to a society that is civil and flourishing and, as a result, a state that is stable and secure.

The book includes 500 pages of expertise from 25 contributors, and is currently available for pre-order on Lexington Books and Amazon. Its editors include Thomas Matyók, associate professor in the Program in Conflict and Peace Studies at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro; Maureen Flaherty, assistant professor in peace and conflict studies at the Arthur V. Mauro Centre for Peace and Justice, St. Paul’s College, University of Manitoba; Hamdesa Tuso, faculty member at the Department of Peace and Conflict Studies of the University of Manitoba; Jessica Senehi, associate professor of peace and conflict studies, and associate director of the Arthur V. Mauro Centre for Peace and Justice, St. Paul’s College at University of Manitoba; and, Sean Byrne, professor of peace and conflict studies, and founding head of the Ph.D. and joint MA programs in peace and conflict studies at University of Manitoba, and founding director of the Arthur V. Mauro Centre for Peace and Justice housed in St. Paul’s College at the University of Manitoba.

About the Institute for Global Engagement – The Institute for Global Engagement works at the critical intersection of religion and global affairs, building sustainable environments for religious freedom worldwide. Through local partnerships, IGE works transparently to convene, connect, and build consensus among government, religious leaders and scholars to ensure that people of all faiths and none have full freedom of conscience and can participate as equal citizens in public life.