Probably most people in our congregations are for peace and justice. Some might identify themselves as "peacemakers," while others might think of themselves more as "peacekeepers." Both keeping the peace and making peace can be good activities in the personal, interpersonal and transpersonal spheres of action. But both can also become coercive, "keeping the lid on," forcing "reconciliation" on those who are not ready, perpetuating oppression or injustice.

None of us has cornered the market on peace. Differences will continue, not least of all between "peacemakers" and "peacekeepers" within our congregations. But within the Christian tradition we say that we are called to a "ministry of reconciliation" and "Christ is our peace who has broken down the middle wall of separation between us."

As the poet W.H. Auden says in For the Time Being, "Therefore at every moment we pray that, following Him, we may depart from our anxiety into His Peace."