Overview

Globally, where faith and political processes share the public space with indigenous populations, religious leaders of tolerant voice, who desire to transcend the conflict that often divides their peoples, are coming forward. Affirming and enabling these leaders is increasingly becoming the focus of the reconciliation efforts of peace builders, both internally and externally to existing conflict. By way of theoretical analysis and documented case studies from a number of countries, Military Chaplains as Agents of Peace considers Religious Leader Engagement (RLE) as an emerging domain that advances the cause of reconciliation via the religious peace building of chaplains: A construct that may be generalized to expeditionary, humanitarian, and domestic operational contexts. An overview of the benefits and limitations of RLE is offered and accompanied by a candid discussion of a number of the more perplexing questions related to such operational ministry: Influence Activities, Information Gathering for Intelligence Purposes, and the Protected (Non-Combatant) Status of Chaplains.

Full Product Details

9780739149102

Table of Contents

Reviews

Occasionally a book comes along that (re)defines a field: this in one such book. Military Chaplains as Agents of Peace is worth having on the reading list for any course that engages seriously with the deep nature of peacemaking and peace support. The case study section on religious leader engagement alone makes the book a powerful resource. But it is only when you add the work Moore includes on defining the practice of religious leader engagement in operational terms and its implementation within mission spaces that the full value becomes apparent. This is a book that will feature centrally in the readings for my future courses in humanitarian action, CIMIC / CMCoord, and development practice. -- Conor Galvin, University College Dublin and Field Exercise Coordinator, UN Training School, Ireland Moore helpfully elaborates the evolving role of military chaplains as peacemakers and religion experts in the context of 'whole of government' efforts to establish peace in conflict zones. -- Eric Patterson, Regent University This book perfectly and comprehensively describes one of the most important set of skills and capacities of the whole-of-government approach to intervening in a divided country: listening, learning, and talking with local people. Diplomacy and dialogue between military chaplains and local religious leaders in today's war zones is not optional, it is essential. Too often, military forces rely on the power of the gun, when real power lies in religious authorities, relationships and networks. Religious leader engagement complements official diplomacy and can enable real openings for greater understanding and transformation that reduces the likelihood of violent clashes. With an insightful command of the broader context and field of peacebuilding, this book will connect the dots for many readers between religious leadership, diplomacy and the role of military forces. -- Lisa Schirch, Eastern Mennonite University Military Chaplains as Agents of Peace breaks original theoretical ground and roots theory in practice with absorbing stories from the theatre of war. RLE is a brilliantly conceived antidote to the idea that the role of religion in conflict and post-conflict environments is always destructive. Retired Major S.K. Moore, a former military chaplain, demonstrates persuasively that yes, chaplains are brave, vulnerable, empathetic, and caring, but they also play a critical role in peace building, connecting with religious leaders of many different faiths and cultures in 21st century war zones. This is a must read for those trying to fill the gaps in our present national security strategy. -- Merle Lefkoff, International Mediator, Center for Emergent Diplomacy

Author Information

S. K. Moore is an ordained minister with the United Church of Canada who served as a chaplain in the Canadian Forces for twenty-two years. His operational tours include Bosnia, during the war (1993), Haiti (1997), and the Kandahar Provincial Reconstruction Team, Afghanistan for research purposes (2006). He is presently involved with conflict studies at Saint Paul University, Ottawa, Canada.

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