Willi Hugo Perez, president of Latin American Anabaptist Seminary, will present his speech titled “Mennonite Peacemaking in Central America” during Forum at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 27, in Centennial’s Stutzman Lecture Hall.

Perez will evaluate Christian faith and peace practice in the midst of violence of Central America. The event is free and open to the public.
 
Perez is the president of SEMILLA (Latin American Anabaptist Seminary) in Guatemala City, Guatemala, where 11 Bluffton University students are currently studying. Perez recently completed his doctoral studies in sociology and political science at the Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca, Spain.
 
During the presentation, Perez will explore how the Gospel of Peace can be lived out in places of violence and suffering. The reflection will explore the role of a group of churches and followers of Jesus in the midst of the various forms of violence currently engulfing Central America.

It begins with an overview of the violent reality in Central America; one that is similar to others in many parts of the world, and one that is different in many ways from the traditional contexts of conventional war in which much of the historic peace theology emerged.

The study then examines the unique role followers of Jesus can play in this social context as promotors of life, hope and peace grounded in Biblical teachings.
 
This study hopes to contribute to our understanding of a peace theology and practice within the circumstances and challenges that we are living today.