Military Chaplains as Agents of Peace: Religious Leader Engagement in Conflict and Post-Conflict Environments

by S. K. Moore

Overview

Globally, where faith and political processes share the public space with indigenous populations, religious leaders of tolerant voice, who desire to transcend the conflict that often divides their peoples, are coming forward. Affirming and enabling these leaders is increasingly becoming the focus of the reconciliation efforts of peace builders, both internally and externally to existing conflict.

By way of theoretical analysis and documented case studies from a number of countries, Military Chaplains as Agents of Peace considers Religious Leader Engagement (RLE) as an emerging domain that advances the cause of reconciliation via the religious peace building of chaplains: A construct that may be generalized to expeditionary, humanitarian, and domestic operational contexts. An overview of the benefits and limitations of RLE is offered and accompanied by a candid discussion of a number of the more perplexing questions related to such operational ministry: Influence Activities, Information Gathering for Intelligence Purposes, and the Protected (Non-Combatant) Status of Chaplains.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780739149102
Publisher:	Lexington Books
Publication date:	12/19/2012
Pages:	338
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

S. K. Moore is an ordained minister with the United Church of Canada who served as a chaplain in the Canadian Forces for twenty-two years. His operational tours include Bosnia, during the war (1993), Haiti (1997), and the Kandahar Provincial Reconstruction Team, Afghanistan for research purposes (2006). He is presently involved with conflict studies at Saint Paul University, Ottawa, Canada.

Table of Contents

Part I. Theoretical Considerations of the Role of Religion in the Conflict Environment
Chapter One: Introduction
Chapter Two: Theory and Praxis
Chapter Three: The Role of Religion in Conflict and Peacebuilding
Chapter Four: Religious Leader Engagement—An Emerging Role for Operational Chaplains
Part II. Case Studies from the International Military Chaplaincy Community
Chapter Five: Canada in Bosnia and Afghanistan: An Interfaith Celebration for Peace in a Theater of War (1994)
Whole of Government Partners: The Ulema Shura (2006-07)
Chapter Six: France in Kosovo: Breaking Bread Together and Building Trust: An Apology (2005-
06)
Chapter Seven: The United States in Iraq: An Integrated Approach to Forging Inter-religious Alliances: The Baghdad Accords (2007-2008)
Chapter Eight: New Zealand and Norway in Afghanistan: Additional Perspectives on Religious Leader Engagement: A Reconstruction Role (2009-10) and Specialist Considerations (2007)
Chapter Nine: The Religious Directors of the Bosnia-Herzegovina Defense Forces: From Conflict to Collaboration—A Model of Reconciliation in Process
Part III. Religious Leader Engagement in Application
Chapter Ten: Religious Leader Engagement in Implementation
Chapter Eleven: A Practical Theology of Reconciliation in Theaters of War
Conclusions

Editorial Reviews

The provocative title of this work draws the reader into a world that is unknown to many.. . .Readers of this work who have a military background might be surprised by the range of experiences that chaplains have had in the past two decades. Readers who come from a theological perspective might doubt the possibility of any member of the military achieving peace. This book provides a challenge to the worldview of Western military leaders, which is becoming increasingly secular.. . .The real strength of this work is that the author has explored a number of models to create a theory to underpin his work. Every chapter is backed up with extensive endnotes for further reading.. . .[T]his text will appeal to two broad groups of people. First, those involved in military operations, either commanding, planning or as chaplains and, second, those reflecting on theological questions, such as just-war theory and pacifism, where Moore has provided fresh insight into the nature of conflict and peace.

Stimulus: The New Zealand Journal of Christian Thought and Practice

Military Chaplains as Agents of Peace breaks original theoretical ground and roots theory in practice with absorbing stories from the theatre of war. RLE is a brilliantly conceived antidote to the idea that the role of religion in conflict and post-conflict environments is always destructive. Retired Major S.K. Moore, a former military chaplain, demonstrates persuasively that yes, chaplains are brave, vulnerable, empathetic, and caring, but they also play a critical role in peace building, connecting with religious leaders of many different faiths and cultures in 21st century war zones. This is a must read for those trying to fill the gaps in our present national security strategy.

Merle Lefkoff

Moore helpfully elaborates the evolving role of military chaplains as peacemakers and religion experts in the context of 'whole of government' efforts to establish peace in conflict zones.

Eric Patterson

This book perfectly and comprehensively describes one of the most important set of skills and capacities of the whole-of-government approach to intervening in a divided country: listening, learning, and talking with local people. Diplomacy and dialogue between military chaplains and local religious leaders in today’s war zones is not optional, it is essential. Too often, military forces rely on the power of the gun, when real power lies in religious authorities, relationships and networks. Religious leader engagement complements official diplomacy and can enable real openings for greater understanding and transformation that reduces the likelihood of violent clashes. With an insightful command of the broader context and field of peacebuilding, this book will connect the dots for many readers between religious leadership, diplomacy and the role of military forces.

Lisa Schirch

Occasionally a book comes along that (re)defines a field: this is one such book. Military Chaplains as Agents of Peace is worth having on the reading list for any course that engages seriously with the deep nature of peacemaking and peace support. The case study section on religious leader engagement alone makes the book a powerful resource. But it is only when you add the work Moore includes on defining the practice of religious leader engagement in operational terms and its implementation within mission spaces that the full value becomes apparent. This is a book that will feature centrally in the readings for my future courses in humanitarian action, CIMIC / CMCoord, and development practice.

Conor Galvin