Virginia Episcopalian Magazine Fall 2013 Issue | Page 10

People Profile

A Call to Peace & Justice: The Rev. Allison Liles
Emily Cherry
Founded in 1939, the Episcopal Peace
Fellowship was established to support
conscientious objectors of World
War II. Since that time, its scope has
expanded – and its leadership has
evolved with that changing scope. Most
recently, the Rev. Allison Liles, a young
priest from the Diocese of Alabama
living with her family in the Diocese
of Virginia, was appointed executive
director of the organization.

“Our mantra is to do justice,
dismantle violence and strive to be
peacemakers,” said Liles. And “justice,”
she explains, is a big umbrella.

Liles’ appointment “is the
culmination of a long and thoughtful
transition process toward young
and vibrant leadership of EPF,” said
outgoing EPF board chair Linda Gaither
in a recent statement.

Virginia Theological Seminary was
where Liles made her initial connection
between issues of faith and justice.
“My parents certainly raised my sister
and me to treat everyone fairly and
equally, no matter how different they
were from us,” said Liles. “However,
the connection to our faith wasn’t
made at that point.” During college,
“Our chaplain emphasized the renewal
of baptismal vows, … so I better
understood my call to work for justice
and peace from the perspective of
being an Episcopalian.”

At VTS, Liles was introduced to
EPF in 2003. After attending an initial
meeting of the seminary chapter,
“I immediately felt drawn to its
work,” said Liles. So she got involved,
participating in prayer vigils, organizing
speakers and attending rallies. By her
middler year, she became convener of
the VTS chapter.

“The more I read the Bible –
particularly the major and minor
prophets in Hebrew Scripture, and
studying the words and actions of
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Virginia Episcopalian / Fall 2013

Jesus – I realized that, as a Christian, I
must work for peace,” Liles explained.
“Striving for justice and peace were
not just part of a vow, but central to
my faith.”

And it was EPF that provided the
context for making that concept a
reality. “EPF provided opportunities to
live out my understanding of faith,” said
Liles. “I could talk to other Episcopalians
about how they were working for
peace and being active in their yearning
for justice.” Plus, she added, “EPF
created times and spaces for those
conversations and public witness to
take place. It was such a gift to me.”

In 2006, when Liles graduated
from VTS, EPF had taken on a new focus
of training young adult peacemakers.
At 26, Liles fell into that category, and
she was one of 10 adults selected to
attend the 2006 General Convention
as part of the official EPF presence. “I
had never seen the Episcopal Church
on such a big platform before,” she

explained. “As a woman who was 26
and a brand new deacon, it was really
just transformative for me.” She was
elected to the EPF national executive
council that fall.

EPF is a member-based
organization, with