Melva Kauffman Lecture Series to explore “slow peace” with Hesston College alumna Dr. Angela Lederach

Hesston College will host the annual Melva Kauffman Lecture Series January 25 to 26, 2026, welcoming internationally recognized peace studies scholar and Hesston College alumna Dr. Angela Lederach for a three-part series titled “Slow Peace: Lessons from Grassroots Peacebuilders in Colombia.”

The 2026 lecture theme addresses a striking global reality: 2025 marked one of the most violent years since World War II, with the highest number of armed conflicts recorded in seven decades.* Dr. Lederach will draw on these global trends, alongside stories of courage and resilience from Colombia, to offer reflections on what she calls “slow peace,” a patient, community-rooted approach to building peace with justice in difficult contexts.

“Grassroots peacebuilders in Colombia have spent generations cultivating hope and sowing the seeds of peace amid ongoing violence,” says Dr. Lederach. “Through this lecture series, we will hear their stories, feel their pain. Their patient dedication to the everyday work of building peace with justice will give us critical insight into the possibilities for transforming our own cycles of violence and cultivating a more livable and just future.” 

While the example may come from abroad, it’s a message that will hit home. 

“Here in the U.S., we need to hear that peace truly works,” says Michele Hershberger, HC Bible professor and event coordinator. “True peace comes slowly and I believe it only comes through the help of the Spirit. And true peace always includes challenging the oppression in the system — it’s hard work — but it does work. What a gift of hope for us today and also what a great challenge.”

All events are free and open to the public and will be held at Hesston Mennonite Church (HMC) at 309 S Main in Hesston, Kan., unless noted otherwise. The event schedule is as follows: 

Sunday, January 25

7 to 8:30 p.m. — “Learning to Feel the Grass Grow: Building Slow Peace in Colombia”
HMC sanctuary
Reception to follow in the HMC community center

Monday, January 26

11 to 11:30 a.m. — “Cultivating Abundant Life: Guardians of Hope in Times of Violence”
HMC sanctuary

11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. — Lunch with Dr. Lederach, students and community
Hesston College’s Bontrager Student Center dining hall
(Meal at your own expense.)

7 to 8:30 p.m. — “Youth Provoking Peace: Intergenerational Coalitions for Resilient Futures”
HMC sanctuary

Dr. Lederach serves as assistant professor of peace studies at the Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities and Social Services at Chapman University (Orange, Calif.). Her work centers on grassroots movements, restorative justice and the long-term, relational practices that shape sustainable peace. Her research includes more than a decade of collaboration with communities in Colombia who continue to navigate the aftermath of more than fifty years of armed conflict.

Founded in memory of longtime Hesston College faculty member Melva Kauffman, the annual lecture series invites speakers who engage faith, scholarship and justice in ways that challenge and inspire the community. Dr. Lederach’s work reflects Kauffman’s commitment to thoughtful inquiry, meaningful dialogue and the pursuit of peace rooted in lived experience.
For more information about the Melva Kauffman Lecture Series, contact Michele Hershberger. 

*Source: Uppsala Conflict Data Program

Dr. Angela Lederach ʼ04, is a Hesston College alum and currently serves as the assistant professor of  peace studies at the Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities and Social Services at Chapman University.