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Books

 

The following books are ones identified by MCC Canada's Peace Ministries Program as excellent resources in the areas of peace theology, peacebuilding, voluntary simplicity, economic justice and earth care.
 
Look for them at a library or use a search engine to find them online.
 
At Peace and Unafraid: Public Order, Security, and the Wisdom of the Cross
Edited by Duane K. Friesen and Gerald W. Schlabach. Scottdale and Waterloo: Herald Press, 2005. This collection of essays was commissioned by MCC as part of a two-year study process seeking to discern an Anabaptist-Mennonite response to terrorism, violent conflict, disorder and insecurity. In particular, it tries to discern ways that Christian pacifists like Mennonite and Brethren in Christ can bring a peace theology perspective to the structures of society.
 
Bread for the Enemy: A Peace & Justice Lectionary
Compiled and edited by Dorothy Jean Weaver. Mennonite Church Peace & Justice Committee, 2001. Bread for the Enemy reflects Weaver's personal search throughout the scriptures, from Genesis to Revelation, to find traces and hints of shalom in the unfolding story of God and God's people.
 
Building Peace: Overcoming Violence in Communities
Mary Yoder Holsopple, Ruth E. Krall and Sharon Weaver Pittman. Geneva: World Council of Churches Publication, 2004. Moving beyond theory and demographic analysis, the authors offer a leadership manual for assisting communities as they envision and begin to realize a culture of peace.

Choosing Against War: A Christian View
John D. Roth. A new book by a leading writer and thinker. How might Christians look on the world differently if they—actually!—believed that God's love was indeed stronger than their fears?
Creation and the Environment: An Anabaptist Perspective on a Sustainable World
Edited by Calvin Redekop. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2000.
In Creation & the Environment, the first book on this subject supported and produced by the Mennonite church, Redekop and his coauthors explain the unique environmental position of the Anabaptists.
 
Crowned with Glory and Honor: Human Rights in the Biblical Tradition
Christopher D. Marshall. Telford, PA: Pandora Press, 2001. A short readable book which identifies the biblical and theological roots for human rights discourse. A great bridge for Christian activists seeking to bring a faith perspective to their actions and for secular human rights advocates trying to bring Christians on board.
 
The End of Poverty: Economic Possibilities for our Time
Jeffrey D. Sachs. New York: Penguin Press, 2005. In depth analysis by a world-renowned expert on the obstacles and solutions to ending global poverty.
 
From the Ground Up: Mennonite Contributions to International Peacebuilding
Edited by Cynthia Sampson and John Paul Lederach. New York: Oxford University Press, 2000. A collection of essays on Mennonite contributions to the practice and theory of faith-based peacebuilding and conflict resolution in nine countries.
 
Just Peacemaking: Transforming Initiatives for Justice and Peace
Glen H. Stassen. Louisville: Westminster/John Knox Press, 1992.Glen Stassen bases his just peace theory on the reality of our world, on biblical interpretation, and on the experiences of people who lived in the face of oppression and nuclear threat, and who — together with political scientists, Christian ethicists, and activists - fashioned realistic steps of peacemaking.
 
The Little Book of Strategic Peacebuilding
Lisa Schirch. Intercourse: Good Books, 2004. Schirch sets forth paths to a more peaceful world; pointing the way to more than the absence of conflict she foresees justpeace — a sustainable state of affairs because it is a peace which insists on justice.
 
Mennonite Peacemaking: From Quietism to Activism
Leo Driedger and Donald B. Kraybill. Scottdale and Waterloo: Herald Press, 1994. This work traces the profound transformation of Mennonite peacemaking - from passive non-resistance to active participation in the political order - in the twentieth century.
 
A Peace Reader
Edited by E. Morris Sider and Luke Keefer Jr. Nappanee: Evangel Publishing House, 2002. This book is a practical resource for everyone who seeks to serve Jesus Christ and, drawing from the writings of leading Christian pacifists over the past century, highlights various facets of peace studies.
 
The Powers That Be: Theology for a New Millennium
Walter Wink. New York: Doubleday, 1998. Walter Wink, biblical scholar and human rights activist, helps us reformulate our ancient religious concepts — such as God and Satan, angels and demons, principalities and powers — in light of what we now know.
 
Pursuing Peace: The Essence of Mennonite Central Committee
Esther Epp-Tiessen. Winnipeg: Mennonite Central Committee, 2009.
Pursuing Peace explores MCC's theology and practice of peace. It includes sections on biblical foundations, church history, new interpretations, and difficult challenges. Each section includes questions for reflection. Available from your local MCC Office.
 
Radical Gratitude
Mary Jo Leddy. New York: Orbis Books, 2002. This wonderful book suggests that the spiritual discipline of radical gratitude can free us from the tyranny of consumption, materialism and dissatisfaction.

Shalom: The Bible's Word for Salvation, Justice and Peace
Perry B. Yoder. Nappanee, IN: Evangel Publishing House, 1987. An engrossing study of the Bible's concept of peace and how it should direct the lives of Christians today.
 
The Trek Series
Scottdale and Waterloo: Herald Press.
Basic Trek invites readers to reflect on the question "What is enough?" in thought and experience. Each day of this 28-day journey starts with a story and Scripture followed by reflection questions to consider and actions to try.
 
The authors and contributors of Parent Trek set out to provide a resource for adults interested in helping children develop the capacity to live creative, generous, joyful lives in a world of limits and great disparities.
 
Earth trek uses the seven days of creation as a basis for exploring the aspects of our created world, how it is threatened, what is being done to protect it, and further actions that individuals, households, and congregations can take to live more sustainably on the earth.
 
Sam Martin Went to Prison: The Story of Conscientious Objection and Canadian Military Service
William Janzen and Frances Greaser. Winnipeg and Hillsboro: Kindred Press, 1990. A short book about the history of conscientious objection in Canada and one C.O.'s experience during World War I.
 
The World at War - The Church at Peace
Jon Bonk. Winnipeg: Kindred Press, 1988.
This book is designed to go back to first principles, the biblical record, to establish a theology and rationale for the role of the Christian peacemaker in the world.

 

For more information about any of the resouces you see here, contact peace@mennonitecc.ca.