Name: Sister Barbara Reid, O.P. Sr. Barbara Reid, a Dominican of Grand Rapids and professor of New Testament, is a sought-after biblical scholar known for her expertise in the New Testament and her ability to make the Bible come alive. Author of many books including Choosing the Better Part? Women in the Gospel of Luke, Sr. Reid skillfully relates contemporary issues to the biblical tradition. She is fluent in Spanish.

1. How were you called to your current ministry/service? The example of the Dominican Sisters I had as my grade school, high school, and college teachers were women who awoke in me the desire to live a life of joy and service in the pursuit of truth, justice, and peace. Through them I understood my own calling to be a Dominican sister engaged in the ministries of preaching and teaching.
2. Who inspires you? People who have given their lives to peacebuilding in extraordinary ways, such as Jesus did, such as Martin Luther King Jr., Gandhi, Bishop Samuel Ruiz in Chiapas, Mexico, Bishop Kenneth Untener of Saginaw Michigan, Bishop Thomas Gumbleton of Detroit, Sisters Ardeth Platte, Carol Gilbert and the Jonah House Community in Baltimore (founded by Phil Berrigan and Liz McAlister). All of these have been willing to go to prison, or even to give their very life for the sake of the Gospel.
3. What are the biggest obstacles to peace?
   • the violence in my own heart in need of conversion.
   • the prevailing myth in our culture that violence can be quelled with more violence and war.
   • a culture of fear.
   • a lack of imagination that there are other ways than retaliation of violence for violence
   • objectifying & dehumanizing opponents with a dualistic “us” vs. “them” mentality
4. What is the biggest challenge your organization faces? I can only speak as one member, not for the whole organization. One big challenge that the Church (one of my organizations) faces is sexism and clericalism, which is intimately interwoven with other obstacles to peace, such as racism, militarism, classicism.
5. Describe for us a typical day. My private prayer time with morning coffee; Morning prayer with my community, 30 minute walk for exercise. A typical day will have any or all of the following: preparing classes, teaching, advising students and others who call or write for consultation, answering email, phone calls, department or committee or faculty meetings with colleagues, preparing presentations for various church groups, writing articles and books.
6. How do you get the news? Reading the Chicago Tribune, NPR (radio), America, NCR, and websites such as ZENIT, Pax Christi, Sojourners.
7. What are your favorite websites and why? Those that correspond to the above for facts & for analysis from a faith perspective through the lens of peacebuilding.
8. How do you nurture your faith life? Through daily prayer, community prayer & community living, yearly contemplative retreat, regularly connecting with my spiritual director, time with good friends and community members who like to discuss faith life & ministry; a women’s spirituality group with whom I meet monthly.
9. What advice would you give the next generation of church and civic leaders? Listen to the voice of God in the voices of those least heard in church and society.
10. Tell us something about yourself that we wouldn’t know. I used to play guitar in High School & college.
11. Last good book you read? Anne Lamott, Plan B. Further Reflections on Faith.
12. Last good movie you saw? Aquila and the Bee
13. What were you like in High School? Quiet, studious, romantic, high ideals, keenly compassionate toward those in need, wondering how to find the way to make my contribution toward making the world a place with more justice and peace.
14. If you were a teenage Peacebuilder you would… try to resist ways that move against peacebuilding in our world (e.g., consumerism, individualism, militarism), find a group that can support me in my desire for peacebuilding---it can’t be done alone.
15. What is your favorite comfort food? Pasta
16. Share a favorite quote that inspires you. “the Truth will set you free” John 8:32