From 9am to 4pm on Saturday, 15 May 2010
St Matthew-in-the-City, corner Wellesley and Hobson Streets, Auckland

- to meet other people interested in issues of peace
- to talk about how peace and spirituality intertwine
- to talk about how peace and justice intertwine
- to save the world

Is peace just unrealistic? Is peace toothless verbiage? Has/is the church invested in the continuation of violence? Is peace just a word that politicians use to buy time in order to re-arm; or to get their country's companies to move in to maximize profits in a new market? What difference does doing anything in NZ make to anyone anywhere? Should NZ have soldiers? Should we be involved in 'peace keeping' operations - like Afghanistan? What are the limits of violence in non-violent protest?

The day will feature as keynote speaker Canon Paul 'Apostle for Peace and Reconciliation' Oestreicher, retired Director of the Centre for International Reconciliation at Coventry Cathedral; founding Chair of Amnesty International; Vice President, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament; Quaker Chaplain to the University of Sussex and a lifelong worker for peace and social justice. The abstract of Paul's planned remarks available here.

To respond and expand on his remarks we have invited an impressive panel of New Zealand peace activists, scholars, and theologians to join us:

• Fr Peter Murnane, Peace activist recently acquitted in the Waihopai 3 trial - the abstract of the presentation 'Disturbing the peace at Waihopai spy base' is available here
• Revd Sande Ramage, School chaplain and former military chaplain - the abstract of the presentation 'Environment matters' is available here
• Ms Edwina Hughes, Coordinator of Peace Movement Aotearoa - the abstract of the presentation 'Disturbing the notion that we are a peaceful nation' is available here
• Dr Heather Devere, Lecturer in Peace and Conflict Studies - the abstract of the presentation 'Disturbing the peace through education' is available here
• Associate Professor Peter Lineham, Historian of peace movements
• Mr Andrew Shepherd, Peace theologian

9am - Registration and morning tea
10am - Address by Paul Oestreicher
11am - Panel response and Q & A
12.30pm - Lunch (and morning and afternoon teas) provided by the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
1.30pm - Address by Paul Oestreicher
2.30pm - Panel response and Q & A
4pm - Finish with afternoon tea and informal conversation

$40.00 / $20.00 for students and unwaged (includes lunch and teas for those who pre-register - lunch cannot be guaranteed for those who do not pre-register for the event).

The registration form is available here - for more information contact Clay Nelson email or call St Matthew's office, tel 09 379 0625

Canon Oestreicher will also be the guest preacher at St Matthew-in-the-City the next morning, 8am and 10am, Sunday, May 16.