On the edges: Mennonite peacemakers on Christian peacemaker teams

This study explores how Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) members’ self-conceptions change throughout the course of their involvement with the CPT. To address this issue, I produce an ethnographic life history account of two members of CPT, Keith Rempel and Lena Siegers. This thesis offers both a descriptive survey of CPT and a record of the life histories collected through fieldwork with the organization. The thesis devotes special attention to how these CPT members understand their religious identities; specifically, their sense of being similar to or different from their families, friends and religious tradition—in this case, the Mennonite faith. Charles Taylor’s theories of identity formation form the basis of this investigation of Keith’s and Lena’s self-conceptions. Their understanding of their faith and how it motivates the work that they do in situations characterized by violence is also examined. There are two primary conclusions. First, while CPT connects with Keith’s and Lena’s identities, especially as Mennonites, involvement with CPT accentuates their actual and perceived difference from their families, friends and religious tradition. Second, work with CPT also strengthens Keith’s and Lena’s commitments to their faith, while at the same time making it more political