A comment from John Cooper, Director of the Fellowship of Reconciliation, to pay tribute to the life of Bruce Kent:
The story of Bruce Kent is one of a life well lived. His years of activism saw him as someone who dared challenge both church and world to affirm the value and worth of every human life. He was aspirational in what the world would become, and passionate when given a platform to share his Christian perspectives on peace, justice and nonviolence. The conviction of his delivery of his ideas saw him welcomed into both religious and secular stages. He was a friend to the Fellowship for many years.
Yet, for all his large, public, image he was someone who touched and changed individual lives. His decades on the road find testament in the lives of many people. These people – including Richard Bickle, former Chair of FOR – who heard him speak about war, peace or injustice and heard their faith and worldviews combine in a way that inspired them to become active for peace.
We will be remembering the life of Bruce in our weekly prayers for Peace (Fridays at 7.30pm online) and in that time will be upholding not just his life and witness, but also his wife Valerie who he worked closely with throughout his activities. The wider peace movement has lost an icon who challenged us all to live out more actively our discipleship as a follower of the Prince of Peace.
