Peacebuilding Institute

Rev. Wayne Lavender
Peacebuilding Institute Speaker and Facilitator

Wayne Lavender

Wayne Lavender, the director of Passing the Peace, is an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church and a recent Ph.D. graduate from George Mason university's School of Public Policy. He is available to preach, lead workshops or speak at public events. He is the author of Counting Ants While the Elephants March By, Theolegal Empire and soon to be published Worldview and Public Policy: From American Exceptionalism to American Empire.

Passing the Peace

Passing the Peace is an interfaith, international organization that believes all people share the same dream: to live peacefully with our neighbor, to provide for ourselves and our children, and to work towards a brighter tomorrow.

Our Mission:

Building a world of peace and justice for all of God’s children.

Our Two-Pronged Approach:

1. Effective and efficient development projects in poor nations (the Global South) that support housing, education, agricultural and health projects.

2. Prophetic witness through education and advocacy within the US in regards to reducing the budget, scope and influence of the US military as a foreign policy actor on the global stage.

Our Theory of Change:

Passing the Peace believes that a two-pronged approach addresses two inexorably linked issues that prevent peace. Peace begins when the hungry are fed, the naked clothed and the thirsty receive clean, potable water: peace begins when people have access to decent housing, education, health care and opportunities for meaningful employment. But in addition to development, the U.S. must address the cultural root issues that perpetuate war and violence.

The cost to prepare and wage wars far succeeds the cost to feed, clothe, house and educate all of the world’s poor – hence, our goal of converting swords to plowshares, spears to pruning hooks, tanks to tractors and rifles to rakes. Further, we believe that the application of violence to solve or settle international conflict is barbaric, ineffective and, in fact, counter-productive in that it creates a cycle of violence that is difficult to stop. Ultimately, the United States will be a more secure and safe nation – less vulnerable to attacks, as it decreases its military spending and shifts its vast political, economic and cultural powers into alleviating human suffering.

Passing the Peace, Inc.
Wayne Lavender, Executive Director
13706 Springstone Drive
Clifton, VA 20124

www.passingthepeace.org
wayne@passingthepeace.org

Passing the Peace - Peacebuilding Institute affiliate page