This call is hosted by the Christian Peacebuilding Network (CPN), a multi-org group we helped found, and is part of a series of monthly conversations to help connect Christian peacebuilders and discuss themes related to peacebuilding and the Christian faith.
Join us for a conversation about the question, “Who counts as ‘Christian’?” The question may seem simple, but how we answer it reveals our underlying frameworks. When belonging is defined by boundaries—by who’s “in” or “out”—our faith can easily become a project of self-protection and superiority rather than transformation. In this session, we’ll explore a different way of seeing: shifting from a bounded-set mindset, focused on defending identity and correct belief, toward a centered-set vision, where the focus is God’s reign of shalom/eirene—a life oriented toward justice, restoration, and flourishing for all creation.
Through group conversation and scripture reflection, we’ll examine how Jesus continually re-centers faith on God’s healing mission rather than on religious labels. What happens when our measure of faithfulness is not boundary-keeping, but movement toward the center of God’s peace? This paradigm shift invites us to stop policing who “counts” and start embodying the self-reflective, reconciling, and boundary-crossing love that defines the reign of God. We'll be tackling questions like:
Who “counts” as Christian—and what happens when we stop drawing boundaries and start focusing on movement toward God’s shalom instead?
How does the biblical vision of shalom expand or challenge what we’ve assumed “peace” or “salvation” mean?
Where do you see gaps between Christianity as it’s practiced and the holistic, justice-oriented reign of God that Jesus describes?
What might it look like for our communities to center on God’s healing mission rather than defending religious identity?
Time:
3:00-4:15 pm Central Europe / West Africa (4:00-5:15 pm Central Africa / Jerusalem, 2:00-3:15pm UK, 9:00-10:15am USA Eastern, 7:30-8:45pm India Time)
Facilitator:
Bryan Carey
Bryan is a peacebuilding consultant, conflict transformation trainer, and Director of International Peacebuilding for Peace Catalyst International. Bryan and his family have lived in Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina since 2017, where they have been learning alongside and supporting the work of Muslim, Catholic, and Orthodox peacebuilders. Bryan also hosts workshops, conducts training, and teaches about peace-oriented theology, peacebuilding practices, and how Christian groups can get involved in community peacebuilding. He regularly organizes learning experiences for international and regional Balkan participants that cultivate understanding and empathy for the narratives of other groups, ultimately with the aim to deepen relational connections that allow for collaborative work.