In 1925, in Stockholm, with the aftermath of World War I still fresh in their minds, representatives of churches from different countries came together with a strong conviction: war could never be a good thing. The churches had a special responsibility: to acknowledge their part in fuelling national hatred and to commit themselves to becoming peacemakers.

One hundred years later, on September 12, 2025, the "Resisting War" day, organized at the John Knox Center, served as a reminder of how relevant this legacy remains today. The presentations highlighted two key points: the importance of concrete unity, which is built through practical engagement, and the duty of the Church to place its action within a mission for the world, in favor of reconciliation and peace.

> "Reserve" in the face of permanent war | Laure Borgomano

Laure Borgomano (PhD in philosophy, semiology, and theology, former advisor to the French delegation to NATO) suggests paying attention to the various "reserves" that can be drawn upon in crisis situations, particularly in the face of contemporary warfare. Her thinking is based on research published in her book La réserve. Modesty, Resources, and Resistance in Times of Crisis (Labor et Fides, 2025).

Video of Laure Borgomano's speech (Lyon, France)

> Alliance as a resource for thinking about peace | Marco Hofheinz

Marco Hofheinz (Professor of Ethics, Theological Institute of Hanover) proposed an interpretation of the conceptof covenant as a theological and political resource.

In dialogue with Johannes Althusius (1557–1638) and Immanuel Kant (1724–1804), he showed that two logics intersect:

• Kant's, who envisions peace through a federation of free states based on universal law; (top-down)

• Althusius's approach, which emphasizes local social dynamics, subsidiarity, and concrete reciprocity (bottom-up).

Video of Marco Hofheinz's speech (Hanover)

> Resist transgression

During the concluding round table discussion, Sévane Garibian, professor at the University of Geneva Law School, emphasized that resistance to war involves resisting the various abuses that characterize the contemporary conflict situation. Like Holocaust denial, which distorts memory to reverse the victim-aggressor relationship, positive law is never safe from being diverted from its original purpose. Abuse can turn a shield into a sword.

Video of the round table discussion (Sarah G., Laure B., Sévane G., moderator Christophe C.)

The above texts are taken from Mr. Jaillet's blog on the EERS website.