After the July 6-9 Conference for the National Association of Community and Restorative Justice, the one-day Restorative Church gathering on took place on July 11 at Chicago Theological Seminary. The title, “Restorative Church: Engaging the Wisdom of our Faith Traditions and Science to Reclaim Our Call to Be Peacemakers” spoke to the integration of both the communal and missional dimensions of peacemaking for church congregations. The event brought together around 45 people, most of whom expressed an interest to have ongoing learning and trainings in restorative practices.
Many thanks to our many presenters!
Our planning team all together:
View the promotional flyer: Restorative Church Gathering Flyer July 11, 2022
In the same way that the New Testament calls us to “love one another” within our respective church groups as well as to “love everyone” in society with self-giving Christ-love, the church can also display an integrity between restorative practices in the context of church relationships and restorative practices promoted in local communities.
With sponsors (see below) based in Chicago’s Southside area, the gathering highlighted some of the ways that church and ministry supported efforts are supporting the growth of restorative practices in neighborhood settings and in partnership with community and justice agencies in Chicago.
If you took part in this event, or would like to be notified of future opportunities offered for Chicago-based people, please contact M. Michelle Day at mday2@sbcglobal.net
Church ministers, leaders and members who attended came to…
• Learn more about restorative justice
• Find out what science teaches about trauma and healing
• Connect biblical narratives to restorative work
• Apply restorative practices to church conflicts
• Hear about church-supported restorative ministries
Equipping ourselves and our church communities internally to be ambassadors of peace and justice externally in our local communities.
Sponsored by Restorative Church Project, A Just Harvest, Advocate Aurora Health, Catholic Mobilizing Network, Chicago Metropolitan Association of the United Church of Christ, Church of Good Shepherd (Congregational, United Church of Christ), Nehemiah Trinity Rising, and the Presbytery of Chicago.