PEACE AND RECONCILIATION: BASIC COURSE

::  Pursuing Peace.  This is an in-depth discussion of the differences and similarities in various conceptions of peace.  Peace will be discussed from theological, psycho-social, political, and economic-ecological perspectives.

::  Understanding Strategic Peacebuilding.  Strategic peacebuilding is protracted peacemaking.  It is the opposite of protracted warfare.  Learn the concepts, processes, and strategies of building peace from a conflicted situation to reconciliation.  Get familiarized with various components of peacebuilding and why reconciliation is its main component.

::  The Nature of Conflict.  Conflict is like a tree.  It has leaves and fruits, trunk, and roots.  Learn how this analogy crystallizes the various conflicts we’re experiencing—at home, in our communities, in our neighborhoods, in our towns and cities, in our province, in our country and in our world.

::  The Process of Conflict Transformation.  Conflict grows like cancer.  It transforms people and communities.  Before you know it, it may have affected the larger system—marriage, family, church, government, business, etc.  Learn some practical ways to detect the negative effects of conflict during its early stages.

::  The Process of Reconciliation.  Is it possible to rebuild positive relationships between antagonists?  Does reconciliation really work in the healing of emotional and psychological aspects of the conflict?  Learn practical principles that have been tested around the world.  Hear stories of people who chose to journey from violent conflict towards reconciliation.


SUGGESTED SCHEDULE

::  Weekend Version: From Friday evening to Sunday afternoon

::  Five-day Version: From Monday to Friday or any 5 consecutive
     days of the week



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PEACE AND RECONCILIATION: SKILLS FOR EVERYONE

::  Learning the Art of Conflict Resolution.  Get exposed to the various approaches and stages of Conflict Resolution—i.e., informal discussion, negotiation, conciliation, facilitation, mediation, arbitration, litigation, legislation.  Find out what works best in certain situations.  Experience simulated scenarios where you will be prompted to learn the following:
     ::  Fact-Finding Skills
     ::  Listening Skills
     ::  Conflict Mapping Skills
     ::  Conflict Energy Management Skills
     ::  Resolution Approach Skills


::  Asserting Your Rights through Peaceful Negotiation.  Learn the art of being assertive without being abrasive or offensive.  Sharpen your skills in distinguishing the other parties’ real interests from their officially stated position.  Find out the characteristics and qualities of a good negotiator.

::  Bridging Conflicting Parties through Mediation.  Mediation is the art of facilitated negotiation.  It is a process by which a mediator assists disputing parties to collaboratively discuss their concerns through problem-solving.  Find out how to assist in documenting mutually acceptable points of agreement the parties may reach.  This is a fascinating experience where a mediator, who does not have authoritative decision-making or enforcing power, becomes an effective peacebuilder because of the voluntary, private, and face-to-face participation of the parties-in-conflict.


SUGGESTED SCHEDULE

::  Weekend Version: From Friday evening to Sunday afternoon

::  Five-day Version: From Monday to Friday or any 5 consecutive
     days of the week




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PEACE AND RECONCILIATION: FOR THE HEALING OF OUR LAND

::  Understanding Peace in the Context of Globalization.  What is Globalization?  How do global realities affect our local life?  This is a discussion of global realities from the perspective of local people.  This is also the context of our peacebuilding task among the various social-political groups in our country.

::  Enlisting Peacebuilding Volunteers.  Learn the process of prospecting, qualifying, training, and developing volunteers for peacebuilding.  Test yourself how you’ll fit as a member of a Peace and Reconciliation Team.

::  Organizing Peace and Reconciliation Teams.  How do we share the vision of peacebuilding with others?  Is your community or organization ready to launch a Peace and Reconciliation Team?  What are the mission objectives of a Peace and Reconciliation Team?  How do we inspire and challenge others with this mission?

::  Communicating Cross-Culturally.  The Philippines is a multi-cultural country.  How do we communicate the Culture of Peace across these cultures?  How does cross-cultural communication contribute to peacebuilding?

::  Armed-Conflict Area Survival Training.  This is an outdoor experience.  Participants will be exposed to a simulated armed-conflict situation and will be taught how to react with clarity of mind and discipline.

::  Fundamentals of Trauma Healing.  Understand the basic concepts of trauma and trauma healing.  After a lecture presentation, you will be exposed to true-to-life case studies to apply the principles you’ve learned.

::  Volunteer Evaluation.  This is a tested tool to assess the ability of a volunteer-candidate to effectively do the task of peace and reconciliation in the context of Philippine realities.  This will also provide leaders with additional tools to be active in multiplying peacebuilding workers.

SUGGESTED SCHEDULE:

::  Weekend Version: From Friday evening to Sunday afternoon

::  Five-day Version: From Monday to Friday or any 5 consecutive days
     of the week






  printer friendly

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  REV. LUIS DANIEL ALBA PANTOJA


Dann was ordained as a Baptist minister, taught in a Catholic college, received his graduate theological training from the Anglicans, committed to Peace Theology, worships like a Pentecostal, and was commissioned as a peacebuilding missionary by the Mennonite Church.  His closest co-worker in the field is an Islamic Teacher.  He practices Yang-style Tai Chi.  He is a learner of Zen arts.

Pastor Dann's academic journey at Febias College (B.A., 1979), at the Asian Center, University of the Philippines (M.A., 1982), his 20 years' work as a Christian ministry leader, and his theological reconstruction years at the Vancouver School of Theology, University of British Columbia (Th.M., 2002) made him aware that genuine peace is cosmic—that is, harmony with the Creator (Spiritual Transformation), harmony with our Being (Psycho-Social Transformation), harmony with Others (Socio-Political Transformation), and harmony with the Creation (Economic-Ecological Transformation).  His current passion is to help multiply effective, cross-cultural peacebuilding leaders in the context of 21st century realities.  He does his leadership mentoring while actually doing field work.  He serves as President & Director of Field Operations, Peacebuilders Community, Inc.

He is married to Joji Felicitas Bautista-Pantoja.  They have three adult children—Jojie Alethea (b. June 1980), L’nielle Joy (b. April 1982), Daniel Byron (b. June 1983)—and three grandchildren.

My current spiritual journey has led me to commit my energies to help in the transformational peacebuilding among the people of this beautiful archipelago.  Submitting to God’s sovereignty and motivated by the love that was demonstrated by Jesus of Nazareth, I envision to contribute to the salam-shalom between various people groups representing different worldviews and value-systems in this country.  This renewed sense of the Holy Spirit’s leading energizes me to live, learn, and share with the people of my beloved land.