European Council of Religious Leaders

[Council Members] [Moderator] [Members of Executive Committee] [Advisers]

WHO?
The European Council of Religious Leaders is one of four regional Inter- Religious Councils (IRCs) within the World Conference of Religions for Peace (WCRP) network. The European Council of Religious Leaders brings together senior religious leaders from Europe’s historical religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam, with Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs and Zoroastrians as active participants. The Council, which has 30 members, was founded in Oslo in 2002. The Council is funded by its members and has received project support from The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Religions for Peace (WCRP) is a network of national and regional Inter-Religious Councils (IRC) connected through an international World Council and Secretariat, based opposite the UN Headquarters in New York. The global organisation brings together 51 national and 4 regional IRCs. Through these IRCs Mosques, Synagogues, Churches, Temples and Gudwaras form a network that enables them to mobilise and use their shared potential as religious communities for Reconciliation and Peace.

WHAT?
The vision of the European Council of Religious Leaders is based in the shared commitment of the faith traditions to human dignity and the right to live in peace. On this basis religious leaders have committed themselves to work together to prevent conflict, to promote peaceful coexistence and to encourage their communities to do the same.
Work through the European Council of Religious Leaders is undertaken on the basis of mutual respect and appreciation for religious diversity. The task of the European Council of Religious Leaders is –based in the different religious traditions and Holy Books- to encourage a common moral responsibility for the prevention of conflict and the promotion of dialogue. In a continent where religion has often been seen as a source of conflict, the European Council of Religious Leaders seeks to be a resource for peace.

WHERE?
The European Council of Religious Leaders was founded at a time when political and social changes in Europe are being achieved through peaceful negotiation. In these processes of change a great diversity of religions, traditions and cultures are brought together. Through dialogue, education and influence the European Council of Religious Leaders promotes cooperation for peace and stability among religious communities The European Council of Religious Leaders supports and equips inter religious councils in countries like Bosnia, Kosovo and Albania to work through dialogue and cooperation for peace between different ethnic and religious groups- from the grassroots to political and religious leadership in countries with a past filled with conflict.

Mission
The European Council of Religious Leaders is a coalition of Senior religious leaders of Europe’s historic religions, Christianity, Judaism and Islam with Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs and Zoroastrians in Europe who have committed themselves to cooperating on conflict prevention and transformation, peaceful coexistence and reconciliation and encouraging members of their respective communities to do the same.

We believe that religious leaders have a special responsibility to work for peace and reconciliation. We believe that the seed for peace is present in all the great religious traditions of the world and that we can realize this potential together.
Respecting religious differences while celebrating our common humanity, the European Council of Religious Leaders is a part of the Religions for Peace network of the World Council of Religions for Peace (WCRP).

The European Council of Religious Leaders/Religions for peace is not itself a religion, but our unique council is designed to advance cooperation among all of Europe’s religious people for peace and stability in through dialogue education and advocacy.

History
The ECRL held its inaugurational meeting in Oslo in 2002. In 2006 the ECRL established

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- Moderator
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