The European Council of Religious Leaders is one of five regional Interreligious Councils (IRCs) within the Religions for Peace network. The European Council of Religious Leaders brings together senior religious leaders from Europe’s historical religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam together with Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs and Zoroastrians. |
Stein Villumstad
Mr. Stein Villumstad is General Secretary of European Council of Religious Leaders – Religions for Peace. More
Interreligious dialogue on «Arabic Spring» concluded
11.01.12
The Consultation which gathered some twenty religious leaders at Stiklestad National Culture Centre in Norway to elaborate on the processes going on in the “Arab Spring” ended Wednesday 11 January 2012. The participants committed themselves whole-heartedly to engage with others in promoting democratic development, human rights, social justice and human dignity in their own countries and the region. >>>
Dialogue on “Arab Spring” process as it unfolds
05.01.12
European Council of Religious Leaders – Religions for Peace (ECRL) will convene some twenty religious leaders 10 and 11 January 2012 from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region as well as representatives of Africa and Europe to explore challenges and possibilities in the nation building following the “Arab Spring”. This consultation is part of a Religions for Peace process that started with a meeting of the MENA Council of Religions for Peace in Marrakesh 15 – 16 November. The ECRL Moderator, Bishop Gunnar Stålsett and General Secretary, Stein Villumstad participated in this meeting with religious leaders from Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and representatives of the United Nations and other international organisations. >>>
ECRL delegation on a year-end solidarity visit to Kyrgyzstan
04.01.12
Bishop Gunnar Stålsett led an ECRL delegation including Sheikh Ibrahim Mogra, Sister Marian Murcia, Professor Bulent Senay, Mr. Vakhtang Kipshidze, and General Secretary Stein Villumstad to Kyrgyzstan 19 – 22 December. The visit was a follow up of a January 2011 delegation visit and conference, which encouraged ECRL to accompany Kyrgyz religious leaders in their efforts to contribute to reconciliation and nation building in the aftermath of violent conflicts in their country. The ECRL delegation engaged in conversations with representatives of government, religious leaders, civil society groups and international organisations in Bishkek and Osh. The delegation was informed about progress and challenges in the political and economic developments in the country since the social and political upheavals in June 2010. They heard reports of civil society efforts to address humanitarian and human rights challenges, and received updates on the initiative to explore a possible mechanism for interreligious cooperation, an interreligious council. >>>
The European Council of Religious Leaders – Religions for Peace is a coalition of senior religious leaders from Europe’s historic religions, Christianity, Judaism and Islam together with Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs and Zoroastrians committed to common action for peace. More
