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Creating Space
Dear Reader,
Grace and peace to you. Thank you for engaging with the Fall 2024 edition of the Seminarians for Peace (SFP) devotional! The purpose of Seminarians for Peace is to help Columbia Theological Seminary move toward fulfilling our call to be a prophetic people by engaging in social activism as a community. This issue is focused on highlighting the experiences of oppressed people groups around the globe.
Through this devotional, Seminarians for Peace seeks to create space for reflecting on the importance of activism and community action in the Christian life, as well as gaining a deeper understanding of our place in God’s creation.
Since this devotional is the work of a student group, our entries align with Columbia Theological Core Values. These values include:
| Gratitude | Hospitality |
| Mutual Respect | Inclusive community |
| Excellence | Belonging & becoming |
| Compassion | Communal engagement |
| Innovation |
Together, let us join a semester-long journey of promoting practices that recognize the world, and all the humans in it, as God’s creation.
Until liberation,
Austyn Long and Naomi McQuiller, M.Ed.
Columbia Theological Seminary – Seminarians for Peace, co-moderators
Dear Seminary Community,
As we grapple with the terrible realities of wars and political unrest, causing anguish and confusion as we try to understand the senselessness of hatred and violence, the Seminarians for Peace and the Office of the President humbly offer this journal for your daily devotions. The contributions come from colleagues and friends of Columbia Seminary as we provide this resource of hope and solidarity.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude for the brave efforts of our students and, specifically, the Seminarians for Peace, who, inspired by a call for justice, have created and coordinated this invaluable resource. May it bring comfort to our weary hearts and hope to all those who are praying for political leaders to lay down their weapons of hatred and our weapons of complicity.
A Prayer
Sustain together in undiminished hope, O God of hope, those who continue to labor with undiminished determination to build peace in the land from which, of old, out of brokenness, violence, and destruction, nevertheless hope emerged for so many of faith. Bless all the spiritual seed of Abraham together with the light of your Presence. For in the light of your Presence, we have found a way of justice, mercy, and a vision of Peace. We praise you, O God, Giver of Peace, who commands us to Peace.
Reverend Dr. Victor Aloyo, Jr, President Columbia Theological Seminary
Please enjoy these first few entries of the journal. We will be posting new ones weekly throughout the fall semester.
