Project Report 1

The Rovereto Inter-Religious Encounter: Shared Values for a Changing Europe

 

“Building Structures to Promote Inter-Religious Cooperation”

  

The project session on building structures to promote inter-religious cooperation through presentations of case studies from Albania, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Norway and the United Kingdom inspired concrete commitments to build inter-religious councils in other European countries. 

 

Two themes in particular were highlighted during the two days of the project session, including the relationship between state and religion, and the connection between religious leadership and the grassroots.  Learning from the experiences of their neighbors with these same issues, participants found models with which to confront these challenges at home and committed to learning more from the examples of others who have already established mechanisms and structures to overcome these challenges.

 

The building, equipping and strengthening of these structures were explored, and Religions for Peace provided as a resource their Inter-Religious Council (IRC) Building Manual.  This was well received and found helpful by the participants. Inter-religious councils serve as an instrument for reconciliation and prevention to create a more peaceful, just and harmonious society.  These structures should be representative, action oriented and sustainable.  They should include all major faith traditions of the country, facilitate multi-religious cooperation and common action, and ensure funding to continue their important work.  In realizing this purpose each country must assess for itself which structure best fits their context, keeping in mind the importance of engaging religious communities from the leadership to the grassroots, and mainstreaming women and youth. 

 

 

 

Action Oriented Commitments and Partnerships

Albania

Their unique challenge in Albania has been a direct result of the relationship between State and religion.  This relationship weakened religious institutions during the communist era and for over four decades the religious leaders of Albania endured enormous suffering.   After a series of consultations and facilitation by Religions for Peace the Inter-religious Council of Albania was formalized in October 2007 where the religious leaders from the four majority religions affirmed their shared moral values while recognizing their unique faith traditions.  They continue to be committed as religious leaders to promote tolerance, coexistence and the positive development of a vibrant, open civil society in Albania. Additionally, they call upon civil authorities to protect the religious freedom of each individual and the practices of religious communities.  At the Encounter, Albanian delegates met with leaders from Kosovo to discuss possible sub-regional cooperation for reconciliation and prevention. 

 

Ireland

To advance reconciliation and prevent conflict in the country the Irish religious leaders after consultations with Religions for Peace, have begun the process of building a country-wide inter-religious council including both the North and the South of Ireland.  They are preparing a draft constitution for their inter-religious council and will be meeting on June 10th in Dublin to review it before a formal launch of the IRC of Ireland.   

 

Bulgaria

The Bulgarian delegation re-confirmed their commitment to inter-religious cooperation for peace.  As a result of the relationships built, and active learning at the Encounter they would like to work with religious leaders in neighboring countries, Mecedonia and Serbia, to cooperate on promoting peace in the region.  They also have been engaged in the network building process, and expect to launch a formal network in the near future.  They will be meeting a week after this Encounter, and share the results of that meeting with Religions for Peace followed by an application for affiliation with the Religions for Peace network. 

 

Sweden

In Sweden the challenging relationship between State and religion, the relationship between majority and minority religions, as well as religious education in public schools are the main issues of concern for the religious leaders of the country.  The presentation from Norway on their approach to religious education in the public schools has encouraged Sweden to meet on June 20th to move forward with this important work.  They are interested in learning more from their neighbor, Norway where an inter-religious council has existed for more than ten years.  This inter-religious structure was critical in advancing multi-religious cooperation for religious education in the public schools, and dealing with the State and other concerns.   

 

Denmark

In the case of Denmark, the delegation found that because of their context and the challenge faced by minority religions relationship with the State they would emphasize multi-religious cooperation on the grassroots level.  They fully recognize the need for inter-religious dialogue in Denmark and would first build upon the grassroots before development of a national structure. 

 

The Religions for Peace Global Women’s Network

Representatives of the Global Women’s Network shared with the participants the importance of the mainstreaming of women.  Highlighting their unique access to the grassroots and necessary presence at the leadership level.  Participants committed to pursuing the inclusion of women in their work to promote peace through multi-religious cooperation, as well as in the building of inter-religious councils.

 

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