(BIRMINGHAM, AL ? July 17, 2022)
En el último día de la reunión anual de la Alianza Mundial Bautista (BWA) de 2022, la BWA entregó el Premio de Derechos Humanos Denton y Janice Lotz 2022 a Daniel L. Buttry. Establecido en 2006, el premio anual es otorgado por la BWA por actividades significativas y efectivas para asegurar, proteger, restaurar o preservar los derechos humanos.
Considering himself a ?Peace Warrior,? Buttry has devoted his life to conflict transformation, nonviolence, and peacebuilding. A Baptist pastor, denominational leader, and missionary, he is a global advocate in the ministry of reconciliation.
“Thank you so much for this very special award,” said Buttry. “I am humbled especially as I worked with Denton Lotz on a major Baptist body mediation, and as I have worked closely with some other awardees, especially Wati Aier, Gustavo Parajón, and Glen Stassen. I am honored to be in their company.”
Recibir el premio en Birmingham fue una experiencia significativa para Buttry, con una conmovedora conexión con su participación en una reunión de la Asociación Bautista por la Paz años antes.
“The last time I was in Birmingham was on the 30th Anniversary of the Birmingham chapter of the Civil Rights Movement. In our Baptist Peace Fellowship gathering, we met Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, the leader of the struggle in this city and the one who invited Dr. King here,” said Buttry. “I have a photo that has been over my desk since then of Dr. King, Ralph Abernathy, and Fred Shuttlesworth leading a march in their ‘going to jail’ clothes. As you know, Dr. King ended up arrested and penned his amazing ‘Letter from Birmingham Jail’ not far from here. You could say these brothers have been among that great cloud of witnesses inspiring me as I?ve run my leg of the race.”
Buttry ha facilitado esfuerzos de mediación en todo el mundo, especialmente en Myanmar e India. De 1989 a 1992, fue el único ciudadano no birmano del Comité de Paz de Birmania, que medió entre el gobierno militar y los grupos étnicos insurgentes. También dirigió un equipo de pacificadores internacionales de Estados Unidos, Reino Unido, Canadá, Alemania y Tailandia que apoyaron el proceso de paz en Myanmar.
Since 1996, he has worked to bring about peace for the Nagas in northern India and northwest Myanmar. He mediated between warring Naga insurgent groups that resulted in an informal cease-fire and a Covenant of Reconciliation. He trained Naga leaders in negotiation so they could enter into political talks with the Government of India, and worked with Naga NGOs, churches, and civic organizations to develop a nonviolent peace movement called ?The Journey of Conscience? which changed the public dynamics of the conflict between the Nagas and the Indian Government.
In addition to his mediation work, Buttry has had significant global impact as a trainer and mentor. He has led trainings in each of the six BWA regions around the world, reaching from Bolivia to Bosnia and Ukraine to the United States. Traveling to more than 35 countries, he has helped individuals, churches, and communities pursue peace through Gospel-centered conflict transformation and interfaith mediation. This legacy of training and equipping was further solidified by Central Seminary with the launch of The Buttry Center for Peace and Nonviolence in May 2018. The Buttry Center?s mission is to theologically engage, educate, and connect people of faith in seeking justice, nurturing peace, and caring for creation.
“So many of God?s people invested in me, and it has been a joy to invest into the rising generations of leaders, especially Baptists but many other Christians as well as people of other religions. Human rights, peace, and justice are not Baptist matters alone. They are human matters, and ? if we look at Jesus ? they are God?s matters as well,” said Buttry. “So my hope and joy is to see a bit of what some of these younger leaders are already doing in the areas of peace, justice, and human rights. They are doing amazing work around the world, and someday some of them might stand before the BWA to receive this very award.”
Buttry es autor de numerosos libros sobre el establecimiento de la paz, ha dado muchas conferencias y predicado, y ha ayudado a organizar tres conferencias bautistas mundiales sobre la paz. Ha ayudado a construir un mundo más justo y pacífico a través de su papel como Consultor Global para la Paz y la Justicia de los Ministerios Internacionales de las Iglesias Bautistas Americanas, en el personal de la Asociación Bautista para la Paz de América del Norte, y como fundador de Interfaith Partners en Detroit, Michigan, Estados Unidos.
A lo largo de su ministerio, ha honrado a las muchas personas que han servido junto a él, sobre todo a su esposa Sharon, que ha colaborado con él durante muchos años.
“I thank my wife Sharon who easily could have been a co-recipient of this award with me,” said Buttry. “Sharon has been my companion on the journey of faith and service for over 50 years, including some of our global peace and justice work.”
The award selection process was led by BWA Awards Committee Chair Thomas Klammt, Committee Vice-Chair Fernando Brandão, and committee members Kwame Adzam, Samson Fatokun, Pau Khan Khai, Sylvester King, Harry Lucenay, MDR Mayuranjana, Curtis Ramsey-Lucas, Lina Sawan, Vee Tetseo, Elijah Wanje, and Anslem Warrick.
Para presentar una candidatura al Premio de Derechos Humanos Denton y Janice Lotz 2023, visite BaptistWorld.org/premio-derechos-humanos.
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