Peace-building involves everyone. It is not restricted to politicians or leaders. Nor is it restricted to those most obviously engaged in a conflict. Movement is from the top down, from the grassroots up, and from the middle out. The churches have a vital role to play both because they are major institutions in society and because the work of reconciliation and peacemaking is central to the gospel.
Relationships are the primary building blocks of peace.
Fruitful peacemaking is about creating a real and lasting context in which differences can be accommodated. Central to the whole enterprise is facilitating communication between individuals and groups from different sides to a conflict, which can lead to trust and the mutual acceptance of differences. This is the foundation essential for any lasting political agreement and it cannot be achieved by politicians alone. Making and finding spaces where differences can be explored honestly in a safe atmosphere is the key task of community relations work. It is also very difficult to appreciate how things are seen from the other side.