IPSEC Newsletter

Marian Gh. Simion discusses global issues & his new book
Research Methodology in Orthodox Peace Studies
with Journalist Valeria Tănase

"Meaningful Dialogues with Dr. Marian Simion" by Valeria Tănase, Vâlcea1 TV
(Antim Ivireanul District Library, Rm. Vâlcea, November 12, 2017)

2017 President's Report of Activity (2/3/18)
Textbook on Research Methodology (9/16/17
IPSEC Honorary President (9/15/17)
IPSEC and Romanian Parliament Partnership (12/19/16)

THANK YOU!
TO ALL OUR SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERS

Our team at IPSEC would like to say a heartfelt “thank you!” to all our sponsors and supporters who made the work of IPSEC possible during 2017. Generous financial support came from our trustees and staff as unrestricted and restricted donations for programs and operations, as well as through the volunteering of their time, work and talent. IPSEC activity was also made possible through direct and indirect support, as well as encouragement offered by institutions such as SanoVita Foundation (Romania); Conscience and Liberty Association (Romania); The Juridical Committee on Discipline and Immunities of the Romanian Parliament (Romania); Harvard Divinity School, Office of Ministry Studies (USA); International Religious Liberty Association (USA), Al Amana Centre (Sultanate of Oman); Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Directorate of Political Affairs (Switzerland); University of Groningen, Centre for Religion, Conflict and the Public Domain (The Netherlands); The Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers (Finland); Babes-Bolyai University, Faculty of Orthodox Theology (Romania), The Ministry of National Education and Research (Romania); SperantaTV (Romania); TrinitasTV (Romania), and others. Thank you!

2017 ACTIVITY

Activity of IPSEC President & CEO
Programs & Operations

The work performed pro bono by Marian Gh. Simion, PhD, as IPSEC President & CEO, consisted of a minimum of 46 weeks of full time work on programs and operations. A minimum of tree weeks were spent on operations, and a minimum of forty-three weeks were spent on programs: research (11), education (23) and consulting (9). Research involved writing one research paper and one book chapter; reviewing and editing 15 papers, and research program development for HSS and RAIS. Educational activity involved course development; the writing and the publication of a university textbook; and Field Education program at Harvard Divinity School. Consulting involved a plenary speech presentation during the 8th World Congress of The International Religious Liberty Association, work at the Romanian Parliament, expert presentations, TV appearances, and so forth. (download full report)

IPSEC Financial Activity
Income

During 2017 the financial activity of the Institute for Peace Studies in Eastern Christianity, Inc., was made possible through the generous financial support of our trustees, and through the volunteering of their work and talent. 19% represented unrestricted funding and 81% restricted. Indirect support came from various partners and sponsors acknowledged above.

IPSEC Financial Activity
Spending

During the calendar year of 2017 IPSEC spent its funds on programs and operations, and cleared a debt from the previous year. Operation spending was 27%, consulting 61%, research 10%, and education 2%. The work performed was 100% donated.

FREE TEXTBOOK
Research Methodology in Orthodox Peace Studies:
university textbook by Marian Gh. Simion

Metodologia Cercetării în Studiile de Pace Ortodoxe - Manual Universitar, Cluj–Napoca: Presa Universitară Clujeană, 2016 (Foreword Laurențiu Tănase, Editorial Coordination and Introductory by Study Cristian-Sebastian Sonea); 232 pages; ISBN 978–606–37–0104–7 This is a textbook on qualitative research methodology in the field of peace studies in Orthodox Christianity, authored by Marian Gh. Simion, in Romanian language. The textbook is organized around the structure of process, and it focuses on inductions, meaning-making, and verdicts. Inductions involve the standard information imparted by the institutionalized religion, concomitant with relevant faith phenomena. Meaning-making focuses on how inductions are interpreted by groups and individuals in position of power, under conditions of crisis. The verdicts are the byproducts of the refinement of inductions through meaning-making, which generate new cognitive and affective realities. CONTENTS: Preface by Laurenţiu Tănase | Introductory Study by Cristian-Sebastian Sonea; Author's Note; 1 Introduction: Religion and Collective Violence; 2 The Scientific Research of Religious Violence; 3 Factors of Induction; 4 The Context of Meaning (Trans)Formation; 5 Liminality and Communication; 6 Transformation and Interpretation; 7 The Essence and the Structure of Verdicts; 8 The Measurement of Verdicts and Opinion Poll; 9 Conclusions; Index

EXPLORE
Harvard Divinity School's
Religions and the Practice of Peace Colloquium Series

This monthly public series, convened by Professor David N. Hempton, the Dean of Harvard Divinity School, brings together a cross-disciplinary RPP Working Group of faculty, experts, graduate students, and alumni from across Harvard University and the local area to explore topics and cases in religions and the practice of peace. A diverse array of scholars, leaders, and religious peacebuilders are invited to present and engage with the RPP Working Group and general audience. For archived educational material and details, click here!

THE WORLD WE LIVE IN
REFLECT, ACT, and MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE!

Communism “Very Similar” to Christianity, Putin Claims (The New American)

Ethiopia is an outlier in the Orthodox Christian world (Pew Research Center)

Christians in Egypt face unprecedented persecution, report says (The Guardian)

For more news about conflicts affecting Orthodox Christians around the world, click here!

WORDS OF SPIRITUAL BENEFIT

“In our ascetic warfare we can neither rid ourselves of evil thoughts apart from their causes, nor of their causes without ridding ourselves of the thoughts. For if we reject the one without the other, before long the other will involve us in them both at once.” (attributed St. Mark the Ascetic, No Righteousness By Works 170)