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In June 2011, nine female graduate students from Iran took a summer course on Christian Understanding of Peace and Justice at CMU. The students were in Winnipeg for an academic conference bringing together Mennonite scholars from North America and Shi’a Muslim scholars from Iran.

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The student scholars, who participated in the 2011 interfaith conference as observers, remained afterwards for a special five-day course, held June 6 – 10, presented by Irma Fast Dueck, associate professor of Practical Theology, Sheila Klassen-Wiebe, associate professor of New Testament, and other faculty members.

“The inclusion of Iranian women at the conference, and the opportunity afterwards for study, was exciting for us,” says Fast Dueck, who along with Klassen-Wiebe developed academic and personal friendships with CMU’s academic guests.

Among those taking the CMU course was Maryam Esmaeili, who teaches history of Islam and the interpretation of the Quran at the al-Zahra University, an Islamic university for women in Qom that has 15,000 full-time and correspondence students. She believes interfaith conversations and interactions can improve relationships between Muslims and Christians.

“If I don’t speak with you, my judgment about you might be wrong,” she said. “When we sit around the table and talk, my judgment about you is correct because I understand you and you understand me.”* (*excerpt from CMU/MCC news release)  The course work led to reflection and opportunities for meaningful dialogue on similarities and differences in faith traditions and cultures.

“We hope to continue this important process of listening and learning from one another at future conferences,” says Klassen-Wiebe, who expressed her appreciation for the rich daily prayer life of the student scholars.

Shota Yoda (CMU ’11, BA, PACTS Major)

Japan-native Shota Yoda came to CMU in early 2008 with a desire to study peacebuilding from a biblical perspective; after graduating from CMU in 2011, he begins graduate studies with an ignited passion and a clear sense of direction and purpose.

“My studies at CMU enabled me to look at pursuing peace and justice as compatible with God’s vision of the gospel of his kingdom,” says Yoda, who graduated in April with a four-year Bachelor’s degree, majoring in Peace and Conflict Transformation Studies (PACTS), after first becoming interested through a peace and conflict-related course that he took at Langara College, Vancouver.

“CMU also helped me discover my passion for working with peace and justice issues in Asia-Pacific,” says Yoda.

Further, CMU inspired Yoda, who completed his PACTS practicum in Guatemala, to continue learning; as of fall 2011 he is a student in the new joint Master’s program in Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Manitoba and The University of Winnipeg.

“My interest in this program is peacebuilding through the church in Asian contexts,” says Yoda. “It also offers the opportunity to learn about human rights issues, which are very pressing in Asia.”

After completing his Master’s degree, Yoda plans to bring his passion, knowledge, and experience back to Japan, where he hopes to partner with organizations in addressing the many complex issues of peace and justice, such as poverty, violence, human rights, oppression, human trafficking, child labour, and arms trade.

“I share the burden to use what I am given to contribute to efforts to stop violence and establish safe and loving communities together with people in my region,” he says. “My future long-term goal is to establish a ministry that bridges Japan and other countries to work together to tackle the issues of peace, justice, and conflict, and to build communities based on the gospel Jesus Christ preached.”