Recognizing David Jehnsen

David Jehnsen facilitating a workshop with Matt Guynn.

David Jehnsen

David Jehnsen is the co-author of the Kingian Nonviolence Conflict Reconciliation curriculum we use in our Kingian Nonviolence training.  In 1962, David joined Brethren Volunteer Service assigned to a project in Chicago.  There, he participated in the Albany, Georgia Movement - Chicago Delegation, part of a national delegation of 85 interfaith leaders that provided an opportunity for direct ongoing involvement with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King’s campaigns.  Along with Dr. Bernard LaFayette and James Bevel, he helped lead the development of the Chicago End the Slums Campaign and lay the groundwork for Dr. King’s work in the Chicago Freedom Movement. Before King’s assassination, he charged Dr. LaFayette to institutionalize and internationalize nonviolence- a call Lafayette partnered with David to carry out. 

In a 2020 interview for an On Earth Peace newsletter sharing about our emerging focus on Kingian Nonviolence training and organizing, David was asked, “As a lifelong member of the Church of the Brethren, what would be your highest dream for this material in the Church of the Brethren?” He replied: “My hope is that Kingian Nonviolence becomes institutionalized as part of the Historic Peace Church position of the Church of the Brethren because it is such a natural fit. It’s happening with On Earth Peace and it will increasingly become a part of the CoB in terms of their practice of nonviolence.”  

Today, On Earth Peace is training 1000 Brethren in Kingian Nonviolence.  This symbolic number expresses our hope to develop a critical mass of Brethren who are spiritually grounded and equipped with tools to help a hurting world and build Beloved Community. That work would not be possible without David’s challenge going back to his quitting the OEP board in frustration, asking if we would ever get serious about leadership development and organizing. After 2009 - no longer on the board - he provided close mentorship for our staff to learn and apply Kingian Nonviolence. 

David offered his training and consultative experience in many of our training settings -- including a 2008 delegation to Puerto Rico where David and I spoke at the majority of  congregations in the Puerto Rican Church of the Brethren.   

David identifies as someone who develops special projects to institutionalize nonviolence. Three examples of that: 1) Working with the staff of Senator Spark Matsunaga (HI) to lay the groundwork for the creation of the United States Institute of Peace. 2) Working with 36 African American congregations in post-Katrina NOLA providing Kingian Nonviolence, trauma healing, and technical skills, every month for at least three years to create the conditions in which black communities could become resettled.  3) Training hundreds of Christians across the entire country of Cuba in Kingian Nonviolence, in partnership with the Martin Luther King Center of Havana.   

We benefit from David's commitment to the practice of nonviolence and to his commitment to institutionalize the practices of Kingian Nonviolence.  For this we are grateful. We celebrate David.