The Centre for Peace Church Theology (Arbeitsstelle Theologie der Friedenskirchen ATF) is a place of dialogue between academia and practice, between theological depth and social responsibility. Since its foundation in 2006, it has been a unique centre for research, teaching and further development of peace theology and peace ethics as part of the Department of Protestant Theology at the University of Hamburg.

Prof. Dr. Fernando Enns, Director of the Centre for Peace Church Theology (ATF), gave a remarkable lecture in spring 2024 as part of our lecture series "Peace Perspectives in Times of War", in which he asked: "How do we become capable of peace?" An important consideration in this lecture was the need for networking between civil society and churches. This encounter led to the networking of the ATF and the die schwelle Foundation, which has been a new project partner since spring 2025.

In a world marked by uncertainty, polarisation and violence, voices are needed that speak from a spirit of non-violence, reconciliation and justice. The ATF gives this voice a forum– and brings it into universities, churches, society and international discourse.

Theological roots and peace church profile

The ATF is inspired by the tradition of the historical peace churches, including the Mennonites, the Church of the Brethren and the Society of Friends (Quakers). These churches are united by a consistent rejection of violence and a peace ethic that is deeply rooted in their theology. Non-violence is not merely an ethical principle here, but a fundamental theological stance that shapes central beliefs such as the image of God, Christology and the understanding of the church.

The ATF sees itself as a place where these perspectives are academically explored and further developed in context – systematically, theologically, ecumenically, historically and interdisciplinarily.

Research: interdisciplinary, historical, contextual

The ATF's research profile is broad:

• systematic theological foundations of a theology of non-violence,
• peace ethics issues in the context of war, peace, security and justice,
• historical research on Anabaptist and Mennonite history,
• interreligious and intercultural dialogue, for example with Palestinian theologies,
• integration of other academic disciplines: for example, trauma research, conflict and violence research, gender studies, climate justice and international law.

Close cooperation with other Hamburg institutes has resulted, for example, in the Peacebuilding Initiative, a one-year curriculum for students that combines theory and practice.

Teaching: Peace theology for the next generation

The focus of teaching is on imparting a theology of peace that addresses the questions of our time. Courses deal with topics such as:

• Postcolonial peace theology
• War and peace from a biblical and contemporary perspective
• Reconciliation and non-violent resistance
• The power of language in the context of conflict
• Confession in the question of peace
• Contextual theologies from the Global South
• The Sermon on the Mount and a basic course in the history of peace theology.

These topics are also covered in practical theology and church history. Examinations can be taken in various departments. Special attention is paid to training future pastors and religious education teachers who will bring peace theology into their professional fields.

International networks and events

The ATF is strongly involved in ecumenical and international networks. It participates in study projects of the World Council of Churches (WCC) and maintains close partnerships with theological faculties and peace institutes worldwide, including the Amsterdam Centre for Religion and Peace & Justice Studies at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

One example of the international and social relevance of its work is the Menno Forum, a publicly accessible lecture series that is also broadcast online. The theme for the 2025 cycle is

‘Another world is possible?! Movements that have changed / are changing societies nonviolently.’

In addition, the ATF regularly organises international colloquia, study days and summer schools, as well as public guest lectures with leading voices from theology, politics and peace work.

A Mennonite academy is currently being established to serve as a platform for making the ATF's content accessible outside the academic context – in communities, educational initiatives and civil society groups.

Outlook: 20 years of ATF

The ATF plans to celebrate its 20th anniversary in October 2026. The focus will be on the role of the centre as an interface between science and practice. Workshops and contributions from international partners are planned, possibly including project partners of the schwelle Foundation.

The ATF is an important partner for our foundation in recognising and promoting the historical depth of non-violent positions and their reflection today.

The website of the Theology of Peace Churches Research Centre can be found here: Center for Pece Church Theology