International Fellowship of Reconciliation
Encyclopedia
The International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR) is an international faith-based nonviolent movement created shortly after the First World War
, in 1919, to draw together national Fellowships of Reconciliation
that had been founded during the war.
" was formed as a result of a pact made in August 1914 at the outbreak of the First World War by two Christian
s, Henry Hodgkin (an English Quaker) and Friedrich Siegmund-Schultze
(a German Lutheran), who were participating in a Christian pacifist
conference in Konstanz
, southern Germany (near Switzerland). On the platform of the railway station at Cologne
, they pledged to each other that, "We are one in Christ and can never be at war".
To take that pledge forward, Hodgkin organised a conference in Cambridge
in 1915 and founded the "Fellowship of Reconciliation". In this Cambridge conference have been set out the principles that had led them to do so in a statement which became known as "The Basis". It states:
Shortly afterwards, an organization with the same name was founded in the United States
. After the end of the war, in 1919, these organizations agreed to found the International Fellowship of Reconciliation as an umbrella organisation to which they affiliated as members.
Muriel Lester
became "Ambassador-At-Large" in 1934 and later "Traveling Secretary".
in UK and US). Its office is based in Alkmaar
(Netherlands) and its Honorary president is Dr Hildegard Goss-Mayr
.
IFOR is a member of the International Coalition for the Decade
for the Culture of Peace and Nonviolence. It maintains a permanent presence at the United Nations
in New York and Geneva and at the UNESCO
in Paris.
recipients are members of IFOR:
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, in 1919, to draw together national Fellowships of Reconciliation
Fellowship of Reconciliation
The Fellowship of Reconciliation is the name used by a number of religious nonviolent organizations, particularly in English-speaking countries...
that had been founded during the war.
Origins in wartime
The first body to use the name "Fellowship of ReconciliationFellowship of Reconciliation
The Fellowship of Reconciliation is the name used by a number of religious nonviolent organizations, particularly in English-speaking countries...
" was formed as a result of a pact made in August 1914 at the outbreak of the First World War by two Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
s, Henry Hodgkin (an English Quaker) and Friedrich Siegmund-Schultze
Friedrich Siegmund-Schultze
Friedrich Siegmund-Schultze was a German academic working in theology, social pedagogy and social ethics, as well as a pioneer of peace movements.-Life:...
(a German Lutheran), who were participating in a Christian pacifist
Christian pacifism
Christian pacifism is the theological and ethical position that any form of violence is incompatible with the Christian faith. Christian pacifists state that Jesus himself was a pacifist who taught and practiced pacifism, and that his followers must do likewise.There have been various notable...
conference in Konstanz
Konstanz
Konstanz is a university city with approximately 80,000 inhabitants located at the western end of Lake Constance in the south-west corner of Germany, bordering Switzerland. The city houses the University of Konstanz.-Location:...
, southern Germany (near Switzerland). On the platform of the railway station at Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
, they pledged to each other that, "We are one in Christ and can never be at war".
To take that pledge forward, Hodgkin organised a conference in Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
in 1915 and founded the "Fellowship of Reconciliation". In this Cambridge conference have been set out the principles that had led them to do so in a statement which became known as "The Basis". It states:
- That love as revealed and interpreted in the life and death of Jesus Christ, involves more than we have yet seen, that is the only power by which evil can be overcome and the only sufficient basis of human society.
- That, in order to establish a world-order based on Love, it is incumbent upon those who believe in this principle to accept it fully, both for themselves and in relation to others and to take the risks involved in doing so in a world which does not yet accept it.
- That therefore, as Christians, we are forbidden to wage war, and that our loyalty to our country, to humanity, to the Church Universal, and to Jesus Christ our Lord and Master, calls us instead to a life-service for the enthronement of Love in personal, commercial and national life.
- That the Power, Wisdom and Love of God stretch far beyond the limits of our present experience, and that He is ever waiting to break forth into human life in new and larger ways.
- That since God manifests Himself in the world through men and women, we offer ourselves to His redemptive purpose to be used by Him in whatever way He may reveal to us.
Shortly afterwards, an organization with the same name was founded in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. After the end of the war, in 1919, these organizations agreed to found the International Fellowship of Reconciliation as an umbrella organisation to which they affiliated as members.
Muriel Lester
Muriel Lester
Muriel Lester was born in Leytonstone in east London and grew up at Loughton, where she was a member of the Union Church. She was a social reformer, pacifist and nonconformist. As a Baptist, she was baptized in 1898, at 15...
became "Ambassador-At-Large" in 1934 and later "Traveling Secretary".
Current commitment
IFOR is present in 50 countries (Cf. Fellowship of ReconciliationFellowship of Reconciliation
The Fellowship of Reconciliation is the name used by a number of religious nonviolent organizations, particularly in English-speaking countries...
in UK and US). Its office is based in Alkmaar
Alkmaar
Alkmaar is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands, in the province of Noord Holland. Alkmaar is well known for its traditional cheese market. For tourists, it is a popular cultural destination.-History:...
(Netherlands) and its Honorary president is Dr Hildegard Goss-Mayr
Hildegard Goss-Mayr
Hildegard Goss-Mayr is an Austrian nonviolent activist and Christian theologian.-Life and commitment:Daughter of Kaspar Mayr, founder of the Austrian branch of the International Fellowship of Reconciliation, she studyed Philosophy in Vienna and New Haven.In 1958, she married Jean Goss , a French...
.
IFOR is a member of the International Coalition for the Decade
International Coalition for the Decade
On 10 November 1998, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the first decade of the 21st century and the third millennium, the years 2001 to 2010, as the International Decade for the Promotion of a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World.Since 2001, some national...
for the Culture of Peace and Nonviolence. It maintains a permanent presence at the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
in New York and Geneva and at the UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
in Paris.
Presidents
- Al Hassler
- Diana Francis 1988-1996
- Marie-Pierre Bovy 1992-1996
- Akadim Chikandamina 1996-2000
- Virginia Baron 2000-2002
- Jonathan Sisson 2002-2006
- Jan Schacke 2006-2010
- Hansuli Gerber 2010-
Nobel Peace Prizes
Six Nobel Peace PrizeNobel Peace Prize
The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes bequeathed by the Swedish industrialist and inventor Alfred Nobel.-Background:According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize shall be awarded to the person who...
recipients are members of IFOR:
- Jane AddamsJane AddamsJane Addams was a pioneer settlement worker, founder of Hull House in Chicago, public philosopher, sociologist, author, and leader in woman suffrage and world peace...
(1931) - Emily Green Balch (1946)
- Chief Albert Luthuli (1960)
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (1964)
- Mairead Corrigan-Maguire (1976)
- Adolfo Pérez EsquivelAdolfo Pérez EsquivelAdolfo Pérez Esquivel is an Argentine sculptor, architect and pacifist. He was the recipient of the 1980 Nobel Peace Prize.-Biography:Pérez Esquivel was born in Buenos Aires to a Spanish fisherman who emigrated to Argentina...
(1980)