There is nothing new about conflict, and we all know how costly it can be. We also know that our faith equips us to respond to conflict constructively, attentive to the presence of God and alert to the possibilities for growth and transformation that God makes possible. In this season of heightened conflict, we need to remember the power of grace. Even in the most contentious of moments, God’s grace can steady us, disrupt the patterns of attack and defense, and enable us to speak openly and to listen fully. During this hour in November, we will step into these contentious times together by remembering the power of grace as the gift it is and as a resource for our contentious times.

Dr. Ellen Ott Marshall (M.A. Notre Dame 1992, M.A./Ph.D. Vanderbilt 2000) is Professor of Christian Ethics and Conflict Transformation at Candler School of Theology, Emory University. Dr. Marshall focuses on contemporary Christian ethics, with particular attention to violence, peacebuilding, conflict transformation, gender and moral agency. She has edited three volumes and written three books including Parenting for a Better World (co-edited with Susanna Snyder, Chalice Press, 2022) and An Introduction to Christian Ethics: Conflict, Faith, and Human Life (Westminster John Knox Press, 2018).