Peace Curriculum
We compiled a short list of curricula suggestions for use in congregations interested in an in-depth, guided study on topics related to peace. We recommend these resources, but as with any curriculum not created in-house, there may be ideas and information with which our Faith & Practice disagrees. We trust your judgment in utilizing the aspects of these resources that are helpful for you, while understanding that no curriculum will be perfect. That said, these are excellent resources we hope you will find helpful. Of course, there are many other good resources out there, so feel free to do your own searching as well!
Children & Youth
Young Peacemakers Project Book by Kathleen Fry-Miller and Judith Myers-Walls.
The “peace month children’s activities” mailed to your churches were taken from this book. You can order it from Brethren Press.
Young Peacemaker (Available from the YM Lending Library)
Provides detailed plans for teaching biblical peacemaking to 3rd-7th grade children in families, Christian schools, home schools, Sunday schools, VBS, and youth groups. The Young Peacemaker is a powerful system that parents and teachers can use to teach children how to prevent and resolve conflict in a constructive and biblically faithful manner. The system emphasizes principles of confession, forgiveness, communication, and character development, and uses realistic stories, practical applications, role plays, and stimulating activities. Although the material is designed for 3rd through 7th grades, it has been successfully used with preschool and high school students. View it online.
Learning the Skills of Peacemaking: A K-6 Activity Guide to Resolving Conflicts, Communicating, & Cooperating (Paperback), Naomi Drew
View it online.
Kids and Conflict: Resolving Problems the Jesus Way – by Eleanor Snyder, MennoLink Books
This exciting new VBS program uses stories from the New Testament to teach children how Jesus handled conflict. Modern skits wrap around the daily Bible story. Children are given choices, offering experience in making good choices toward conflict resolution. The program is designed for early childhood through junior high youth. This dynamic program will inspire your entire congregation! Age 4-Grade 8. View it online.
Living Without Violence by Jody Miller Shearer, MennoLink Books
This five-session Bible study encourages youth students to live nonviolently. Through storytelling, activities, and scriptural reflection, students discover creative ways to deal with anger. They will become familiar with nonviolent responses, discover the importance of honesty in times of conflict, and form a new perspective on their relations hips with “the enemy.” View it online.
Peace Heroes by Christine Neufeld, MennoLink Books (Available from the YM Lending Library)
Your junior-high youth challenge the violence that increasingly surrounds them by promoting “heroes” that obey Christ’s call to be peacemakers. This newest release in the Fast Lane Bible Studies series for junior-high groups examines the lives of real people who worked for peace. Five active sessions combine biblical material with the stories of Jesus, Mother Teresa, Francis of Assisi, John Perkins, and Muriel Lester to challenge youth to become peacemakers in their communities. View it online.
Peace, Just Live It! by Christine Neufeld, MennoLink Books (Available from the YM Lending Library)
“Peace in our time”–this quest and prayer of Christians for centuries is perhaps more valid today than ever before. In an increasingly angry and abusive world, the Christian spiritual heritage of peace is being lost to a culture of violence and retaliation. Peace–Just Live It! addresses the challenges facing youth in the 21st century and develops the skills young people need to live as God’s peacemakers. The curriculum’s 10 sessions include such topics as peace in the Bible, family violence, racism, criminal justice and reconciliation, conscientious objection, and more. Each lesson follows a step-by-step teaching plan and includes user-friendly, reproducible student sheets. Through active sessions, youth are led to examine their world, look to the Bible, and apply the truths they find to their everyday lives. The material poses tough questions–requiring youth and leaders to explore Scripture together and struggle with issues of violence in their own settings to find God’s direction. View it online.
Conflict – how do you respond?
An online questionnaire that is a tool for youth to begin to explore the many ways to deal with conflicts in light of Christianity. Questionnaire takes about 30 minutes. A leader’s guide is available with the outline of an hour long session. Created and published by the Mennonite Church, USA. View it online.
Adults
Second Mile is a peace curriculum that invites congregations and small groups to enter a journey of worship, study, action and reflection that will help them become active signs of Christ’s peace in a broken world.
Second Mile is sponsored by Church of the Brethren, Mennonite Church, USA, Mennonite Church Canada, Mennonite Central Committee U.S. and Mennonite Central Committee Canada. Available online.
Adult Personal Conflict Style Inventory
View it online.
The Peacemaking Church Resource Set – personal peacemaking
The Peacemaking Church Resource Set is designed to change the way your people think about conflict and help your church on its journey toward a Culture of Peace. A full curriculum, including an eight-week small group study to enable your entire church to learn the basic principles of personal peacemaking as well as Model sermons and foundational teaching to help the pastor gain leadership support and cast a vision for a culture of peace in your church. The Peacemaking Church Resource Set is designed to change the way your people think about conflict and help your church on its journey toward a Culture of Peace. The Peacemaking Church Resource Set contains three key components: the Pastor’s Box, the Small Group Box, and the Peacemaking Team Box. Combine the sermons and small groups in an eight-week teaching season for your church. View it online.
The Peacemaker (Updated Version): A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict (Baker Books, Updated ed. 2003) (Available from the YM Lending Library): Ken Sande describes powerful biblical principles you can use to resolve everything from simple personal offenses to family and marital conflicts, church divisions, business and employment disputes, and complicated lawsuits. Includes practical illustrations and detailed application questions. For information on what’s new in this edition, click the button below. Chapter 1 available free.
Thank you for the great resources. RiversWay Community is participating in Peace Month by discussing ways of cultivating peace within as modeled by Jesus. The resource we have been inspired by is Living Peace: A Spirituality of Contemplation and Action by John Dear.