Engaging students in the classroom continues to be an essential part of undergraduate education but is often a challenging task. Current world events can be complicated, stressful, and difficult to understand. NetVUE’s November 2023 Webinar focused on vocational elements of peacemaking and conflict resolution in the context of existing conflict and violence in various parts of the world, such as Gaza and Ukraine. Exploring meaning and purpose as peacemakers can help students connect academic topics as well as personal development to global and local realities. On November 21, three speakers discussed experiences and strategies for how we can integrate global events in our work with students.
Jonathan Golden (bottom left); Rachel Pickett (bottom right)
Geoffrey Bateman, associate professor of peace and justice studies at Regis University in Denver, Colorado, spoke first. He specializes in conflict transformation, queer activism in social justice movements, and gender and sexuality. Geoffrey discussed issues of identity and vocation in responding to calls borne out of hardship.
The second speaker, John Barton, presented on the vocational elements of using religion as a positive resource and challenge in addressing global conflicts. As a professor of religion and the director of the Center for Faith and Learning at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, he specializes in world religions and interreligious peace building.
The final speaker, Jonathan Golden, assistant professor of religion at Drew University in Madison, New Jersey, discussed vocational elements of supporting peacemakers and local personal engagement. He directs the Conflict Resolution and Leadership Program at Drew, holds several certificates in conflict resolution, and specializes in working with interfaith and peace organizations around the world.
The concluding 30 minutes of the webinar were dedicated to questions from participants. They included questions about specific approaches to integrating vocation, peacemaking, and conflict resolution within the context of global issues in the classroom. Additional related resources were also provided: the podcast episode on Agents of Repair with Norman Wirzba and blog posts on Vocation in a Time of Crisis: Reflections from Pepperdine, November 2018, Our Call to Trans Flourishing, Called to Build Peace, and Vocation in an Interconnected, Interdependent World.
The webinar was recorded and can be accessed here. Please note that when you go to this link, it will prompt you to share your name and email address, but this is not a login; it simply allows NetVUE to keep track of interest. You are unlikely to receive any follow-up emails unless you are at a NetVUE member institution. However, if you do, you’ll have the opportunity to unsubscribe.
Rachel F. Pickett is the webinar coordinator for NetVUE.
