Military Chaplains as Agents of Peace: Religious Leader Engagement In Conflict and Post-Conflict Environments

Moore helpfully elaborates the evolving role of military chaplains as peacemakers and religion experts in the context of ‘whole of government’ efforts to establish peace in conflict zones.

Occasionally a book comes along that (re)defines a field: this is one such book. Military Chaplains as Agents of Peace is worth having on the reading list for any course that engages seriously with the deep nature of peacemaking and peace support. The case study section on religious leader engagement alone makes the book a powerful resource. But it is only when you add the work Moore includes on defining the practice of religious leader engagement in operational terms and its implementation within mission spaces that the full value becomes apparent. This is a book that will feature centrally in the readings for my future courses in humanitarian action, CIMIC / CMCoord, and development practice.

The provocative title of this work draws the reader into a world that is unknown to many. . . .Readers of this work who have a military background might be surprised by the range of experiences that chaplains have had in the past two decades. Readers who come from a theological perspective might doubt the possibility of any member of the military achieving peace. This book provides a challenge to the worldview of Western military leaders, which is becoming increasingly secular. . . .The real strength of this work is that the author has explored a number of models to create a theory to underpin his work. Every chapter is backed up with extensive endnotes for further reading. . . .[T]his text will appeal to two broad groups of people. First, those involved in military operations, either commanding, planning or as chaplains and, second, those reflecting on theological questions, such as just-war theory and pacifism, where Moore has provided fresh insight into the nature of conflict and peace.

This book perfectly and comprehensively describes one of the most important set of skills and capacities of the whole-of-government approach to intervening in a divided country: listening, learning, and talking with local people. Diplomacy and dialogue between military chaplains and local religious leaders in today’s war zones is not optional, it is essential. Too often, military forces rely on the power of the gun, when real power lies in religious authorities, relationships and networks. Religious leader engagement complements official diplomacy and can enable real openings for greater understanding and transformation that reduces the likelihood of violent clashes. With an insightful command of the broader context and field of peacebuilding, this book will connect the dots for many readers between religious leadership, diplomacy and the role of military forces.