Stated Clerk urges them to go out courageously and prayerfully for the sake of God’s peace
by Darla Carter | Presbyterian News Service
LOUISVILLE — The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s 2024 Peacemakers prayed to offer “hope in a hurting world” and to find “new possibilities for relationship and restoration” during a commissioning service that also served as a commemoration of the International Day of Peace.
The nine Peacemakers from various countries and the United States gathered in the chapel of the Presbyterian Center to lead the service with staff of the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program and to receive their charge from the Rev. Jihyun Oh, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the PC(USA).
The 2024 Peacemakers pray during a service that aired on Wednesday. (Photo by Rich Copley)
“This is my charge to you as you go out to do this work,” Oh said. “Go out courageously, go out prayerfully, go out in mutuality, go out humbly into the world in peace, and for the sake of God’s peace, live holy, whole, and joyful lives in the spirit of the crucified and risen Savior.”
The service, which aired Wednesday in a pre-recorded format, was organized by the Peacemaking Program, which brings in Peacemakers each year to travel to various parts of the denomination to share their stories and perspectives on issues affecting their countries such as climate change, poverty, migration and militarization. This year, two of the Peacemakers are from within the United States, but the majority are from distant locations, spanning from Eastern Europe to the South Pacific.
“God of all nations, you have poured out your blessings upon all the peoples of the Earth,” prayed Frances Namoumou, a Peacemaker from Fiji. “Grant us eyes to see your gifts of faith and love. Appoint us as heralds of your mercies that are new every morning. … Through our worship, empower us to be sent out with joy as bearers of your hope in a hurting world — through Christ. Amen.”
The Peacemakers, who will travel to various parts of the denomination as guests of presbyteries, synods and other institutions over the next few weeks, were introduced by Amy Lewis, Mission Specialist for the Peacemaking Program.
“We are so pleased and grateful to have this group of Peacemakers with us this year,” said Lewis before highlighting them in this order: Mía Umaña (Costa Rica); Namoumou; the Rev. Joram Calimutan (Hong Kong/Philippines); Dumitru Roibu (Moldova); Dr. June Lorenzo (southwestern U.S.); Peter Egwudah (Nigeria); Zoughbi Zoughbi (Palestine); the Rev. Marielis Barreto (Puerto Rico) and the Rev. Dr. Hiheon Kim (South Korea).
The Rev. Carl Horton, manager of Presbyterian Peacemaking, helped to lead Peacemakers through a series of questions about the task ahead and their loyalty to Christ.
“God has called you through our partner churches and ministries around the world to this particular service as a Peacemaker with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.),” said Horton, who received a strong “I do” from the Peacemakers after asking whether they welcomed their new role with determination to follow Jesus, love their neighbor and work for reconciliation of the world.
The service also included hymns, such as “We Wait the Peaceful Kingdom” and “Peace of God be With You” and prayers for the world read by Peacemakers Lorenzo and Zoughbi.
“Grant us eyes to see new possibilities for relationship and restoration,” prayed Lorenzo, who is Laguna Pueblo and Diné (Navajo Nation). “Embolden us not only to see but to act.”
While addressing the Peacemakers, Oh directed their attention to Jeremiah 29:7-9, noting that it speaks to the people in exile who are seeking their own peace and wishing for their own wholeness.
The Rev. Jihyun Oh, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), offers the charge to the International Peacemakers. (Photo by Rich Copley)
“God says to them, ‘Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare,’” Oh said.
The text goes on to say, “For, thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let the prophets and the diviners who are among you deceive you, and do not listen to your dreams that you dream, for it is a lie that they are prophesying to you in my name. I did not send them, says the Lord.”
Oh emphasized that in the passage, “the welfare of the city, the wholeness of the city, the places where you will be going, and the places where you serve doing this work” are tied to “the welfare of those who seek it and dream of it and hope for it. And so there is a mutuality in the seeking of that peace and wholeness.”
The 2024 Peacemakers worship with Presbyterian Peacemaking staff, at right, Dr. Andrew Peterson, the Rev. Carl Horton and Amy Lewis. (Photo by Rich Copley)
She also took time to compare the reference to prophets, diviners and dreams to what’s going on in the world today, noting, “Many who purport to speak in God’s name, to say what peace and wholeness looks like, that you will be speaking and challenging those statements that they say are on behalf of God but are not the ways in which wholeness and peace will come.”
However, “there’s also this humility that we also bring to this work,” she noted, “because sometimes the ways that we dream of peace are not necessarily the ways that God dreams of peace either.”
She closed by giving the Peacemakers their charge, and a rousing hymn, “We Will Go Out with Joy” was sung by all in attendance.
Earlier, Dr. Andrew Peterson, Associate for Peacemaking for the Peacemaking Program, thanked God for leading the Peacemakers “to this time and place” and prayed, “Establish them in your truth, guide them with your wisdom and accompany them on their journeys, that they may be speaking your word, bearing your mercy and bringing your peace, teaching your people. May they be blessed along the way as dedicated and faithful disciples of Jesus Christ.”
To watch the full service, go here.
The Presbyterian Peacemaking Program is one of the Compassion, Peace and Justice ministries of the Presbyterian Mission Agency.
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