Peace Clan: Mennonite Peacemaking in Somalia - Paperback

by Peter M. Sensenig (Author), David W. Shenk (Foreword by)

What happens when North American Mennonite Christians arrive in Islamic Somalia? The answer, according to Peter Sensenig, is that something new emerges: a peace clan. From the first schools and medical work in the 1950s up to the educational partnerships of the present day, Somalis and Mennonites formed a surprising friendship that defied conventional labels. Peace Clan is the story of two deeply traditional communities as they encounter change. How can Somalis apply the profound peacemaking resources of their culture and faith in a society fragmented by violence? And how can modernizing Mennonites make sense of their peace convictions in the context of civil war and military intervention? In struggling with these questions over the course of six decades, Somalis and Mennonites held a mirror up to one another. The author shows how the common quest to transform enmity brings out the best in both communities, and suggests what a fruitful partnership might look like in the present challenges. Students, academics, and lay readers alike will find on these pages a compelling invitation to join the peace clan.

Author Biography

Peter M. Sensenig is a Regional Interfaith Consultant for Mennonite Board East Africa. He has taught in Somaliland, Djibouti, and the United States, and currently resides in Zanzibar, Tanzania. He holds a PhD in Theology, Christian Ethics concentration, from Fuller Theological Seminary. He has published and presented in the areas of just peacemaking, Christian ethics, and peacemaking leadership.