“As a European wide Council we support the social and humanitarian benefits which working as a pan-European community can bring, and therefore reject the popularist ideologies and movements which incite fear, and advocate division and national interests for political gains”, ECRL representatives from Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh and Zoroastrian traditions state in a common declaration.
The European Council of Religious Leaders met in Turku, Finland, on the 17th-19th May 2017, discussing Migration, Human Security and Multi-faith Action. “People increasingly recognise religion’s role as a stable guiding force in people’s lives”, thus ECRL President Thomas Wipf. “However, media tends to view religion only as one of the causes of argument and violence. I call for the ECRL to make much greater use of the resources that make up our innermost substance and conviction: understanding, reconciliation and resistance to violence and abuse of our religions.”
As leaders and spokes-people, ECRL members condemn acts of violence, aggression and discrimination committed by anyone in the name of religious, political or national ideologies: “We unanimously and unequivocally reject erroneous interpretations of religion used to justify these indiscriminate and abhorrent acts.”
Concerning recent migration challenges Europe is facing the declaration continues: “Evidence demonstrates that religions working closely together can have a significant and positive impact on the integration process, both for those escaping conflict and host communities. We call on National governments and European institutions to recognise the valuable work being achieved by multi-faith collaborations, and do more to support this vital instrument for sensitive integration.“
ECRL acknowledges the need to work in close partnership with governments, European institutions, and civil society organisations across Europe. Members “are committed to working with anyone who shares our goal of creating a just, peaceful and harmonious Europe”.
“We call on all religious communities and leaders to embrace and celebrate the religious freedom and diversity and freedom of Europe, and work closely together to create respectful and harmonious societies in which everyone can flourish and be respected for who they are and what they believe”, the declaration closes.
The next Council meeting will be held in Hungary, 6th-9th May 2025.
The European Council of Religious Leaders – Religions for Peace (ECRL) brings together senior religious leaders from Europe’s historical religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam together with Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs and Zoroastrians. ECRL has participatory status with the Council of Europe. ECRL is one of five regional Interreligious Councils with the Religions for Peace network. Religions for Peace – accredited to the United Nations – is the world’s largest and most representative multi-religious coalition advancing common action for peace since 1970.
Media Contact:
Thomas Flügge
Phone: +41.(0)79.6401902
Email: [email protected]
This type of shocking event reminds us of why as a Council we are committed to working closely together to help build respectful and harmonious societies where everyone can flourish and be respected for who they are and what they believe. We cannot allow these types of dreadful events to shape our attitudes and societies. The acts of kindness and sacrifice that were shown by the people of Manchester, and the way in which people from across the UK and Europe have come together to aid those in need and collectively grieve, are an example to us all.
Evidently at this time our thoughts and deepest prayers are with the victims and their families. As a Council this tragic event makes us even more determined to do our utmost to bring peace, love and understanding to our communities and societies.
]]>The European Council of Religious Leaders ECRL is looking forward to welcome its Council members to Turku, Finland from 16th to 19th may 2017. ECRL discussions will focus on the recommendation put forward by Prof. Simon Keyes in his report “ECRL – An agenda for Change”. ECRL is grateful to its host Bishop Kaarlo for his generosity, providing accomodation at Turku Christian Institute in Finland.
Changes have been affecting Europe’s social, cultural and religious spheres for some time. And in recent years they have become more acute as a result of the growing streams of migrants and refugees, who had to leave their homeland because of terrible wars.
But this movement of people has also been driven by the forces of economic globalisation, information technology and greater mobility. The persistent cleft between those regions blighted by poverty and hunger and the wealthier continents exacerbates the trend.
These changes have also introduced new forms of religious practice to many European countries – and for a lot of people this represents a challenge. There is certainly more talk and coverage of religion in the media. However, this heightened interest cuts both ways, as religion is not only perceived as a positive force.
The tragic and violent events of recent times unsettle many people who normally enjoy a positive relationship with their own tradition and the diverse range of belief systems.
The media also tend to view religion these days only as one of the causes of argument and violence. This was already observed and identified as a problem in the “Strategic plan 2014-2025” laid down by Religions for Peace International, which states: “Religion is increasingly being abused in support of violent conflict and terrorism – by extremists using it to incite violence and hatred, by unscrupulous politicians manipulating sectarian differences for their own ends…”.
As members of religious communities, we must be very aware of this danger and talk about it with one another. Representatives of religious communities cannot and must not be expected to assume responsibility for the wrongdoings of followers of their respective tradition. However, it goes without saying that the disconcerted public would find it helpful and important to hear clear
condemnation of such acts.
A good example of this is the joint statement issued by our Muslim ECRL members in spring 2016 in the wake of the terrorist attacks in Paris, in which they distanced themselves clearly and unequivocally from these acts and also sought to reassure Muslims in France.
But religion in Europe means much besides this burdensome and negative aspect.
For many people, it provides a source of strength, orientation, consolation, hope and encouragement. Religion is lived in an extremely wide range of ways. It offers a huge wealth of positive influences and inspiration for the culture of coexistence.
Having said that, in most European traditions – but Christianity in particular – people are increasingly choosing their own ways to practice their faith. Formal institutions no longer play the same pivotal role that they used to. But passing on a positive faith to the younger generation as a source of support in our lives is a challenge all religious communities face.
Perceptions are divided in Europe. On the one hand, culturally and politically active people increasingly recognise religion’s role as a stable guiding force in people’s lives. There is increasing reference to the contribution religion makes to peaceful coexistence and the common good.
Set against that is the tendency to criticise religious rituals and ban religious symbols from the public domain. Examples of this include debates about slaughter, circumcision and clothing. But there are also questions as to whether Christian symbols should still be allowed on public display around Christmas.
I believe that we should encourage calm and reasonable public debate in all these cases. Religion – with all its diverse traditions and manifestations – cannot and must not disappear from public view. It is part of human culture and its presence is an expression of religious freedom.
However, it must also be said that in a secular society sober discussion (for example about potentially banning the wearing of veils in public) does not in itself count as discrimination or defamation. Being open to debate is part of our open religious tradition.
Human rights include religious freedom: the right to have a religion, to live according to its principles and to pass this faith on. But this religious freedom is also embedded in a framework of other libertarian principles and basic rights. We can only enjoy freedom of religion as part of this wider context.
It must be set alongside people’s rights to freedom of thought, conscience and opinion, and to secure a living, etc.
I believe that standing up for human rights is a core duty that we should also be more acutely aware of in the ECRL RfP.
In many European countries and the wider western world, we long ascribed to the historical philosophical conviction that humans could only live together by developing common values and rights aimed at securing mutual understanding, tolerance and peace.
But nowadays, we are confronted with substantial evidence to the contrary. Neither human rights, nor understanding, nor peace can be taken for granted. And peace is not the natural state of all human relationships.
Politicians face major challenges in their efforts to ensure public safety and uphold the rule of law. This is no easy task in a society rocked by barbarian acts of violence and terror. These threats call for measures to protect public order and security, but which have to respect our society’s framework of laws and not restrict people’s freedom.
As a result of this, the politicians and security agencies in many European countries are clearly becoming more willing to engage with religious communities and their representatives.
I can illustrate this with an example from Switzerland. As part of Swiss security policy, a paper on “Preventive measures against radicalisation” includes the first formal recommendations for talking to religious communities.
I believe we should seek talks with the political authorities wherever we can. And I mean together; not from the angle of our individual traditions and interests. The ECRL/Religions for Peace would make an excellent mouthpiece for this task.
Above all, we need to show in this way that, in reality, religion does not lie at the root of this problem. Instead, it forms part of the creative and positive solutions that we can adopt to underpin peace and safety.
I call for the ECRL to make much greater use of the resources that make up our innermost substance and conviction: understanding, reconciliation and resistance to violence and abuse of our religions.
One practical example of the ECRL’s work is the “Interfaith, Cities and Government” project that we launched last year after talks in London and Berlin.
Representatives of the two cities’ multi-religious organisations, local authorities (and in London, also the police) have now convened twice. They have been addressing their social, societal and multi-religious circumstances and discussing existing collaborative projects – both fruitful and less successful examples.
These talks, which are hosted and chaired by the ECRL, are set to continue, and we plan to also invite representatives from Paris next time around.
The Guiding Principles of Religions for Peace International state that our religious communities should “act on deeply held and widely shared values”.
All over Europe, intensive debate has sprung up about the common values and standards that are necessary for living together as a society. This discussion is to be welcomed, even if it stirs up major controversy in parts.
What are these values? What values do we have in common? Are these secular values? Or secularised religious values?
I believe that the ECRL also needs to reaffirm soon what these “deeply held and widely shared values” are.
The question of guiding values also raises itself under current conditions in Europe.
Although the ECRL is not a political organisation, we are nonetheless the “European” Council of Religious Leaders, and this continent is our primary geographical focus.
At the same time, we are conscious of also being members of the greater world family and the global network of Religions for Peace on all five continents.
To mark the 60th anniversary of the European Union, in March of this year the European Commission published a “White Paper on the Future of Europe”.
It analyses developments over the past 60 years and outlines five potential scenarios for the future course of the European Union.
From the start, the EU-project meant much more than a convenient economic community. It arose in the wake of devastating wars throughout Europe with the imperative aim of founding a peaceful community based on shared values.
The White Paper therefore reiterates these common values that characterise Europe. I believe it would be sensible for the ECRL to address this vision for the future of the continent in which we live. If the ECRL were to contribute to the pan-European discussion proposed by the European Commission, this would surely be the only multi-religious declaration and would carry our organisation’s considerable weight.
I propose this in my capacity of moderator and as a citizen of a country that has its reasons for not joining the European Union, but works with it in close collaboration.
The Conference of European Churches – CEC, for example (which incorporates all Europe’s Christian Churches apart from the Catholic Church), recently published its own detailed contribution to the debate entitled “What future for Europe? Reaffirming the European project as building a community of values.
I would like to take this opportunity to remind us all that, under the leadership of our Secretary General, Dr William Vendley, Religions for Peace International has intensively scrutinised the key topics raised by the United Nations (UN).
RfP International drafted its own proposals and suggestions before the sustainable development goals (SDGs) were formally passed by the UN General Assembly in September 2015. We presented the body with an opinion paper by the international Executive Committee entitled “Shared Well-Being: Multi-Religious Values for Sustainable Development.”
One year prior to that, the Executive Committee had passed its “Multi-Religious Call for Action on Climate Change”, thus Religions for Peace also supported the UN’s efforts on this urgent issue.
I sincerely thank Dr Vendley, his team and all those involved for the hard work they invested on our behalf.
I would like the ECRL to adopt the concerns and recommendations regarding both issues and to consider how we can actively help drive them forward.
The ECRL, the General Secretariat led by Jehangir Sarosh – and for part of the year by Mark Owen, the Executive Committee and the moderator have tried their best to perform the day-to-day work and instigate new projects with the very limited resources at their disposal. You will hear more about this in the General Secretary’s report.
We are very grateful to have been able to embark upon intensive strategic and operative collaboration with the Winchester Centre of Religion, Reconciliation and Peace. The Council gave the go-ahead for this at the 2016 Annual Assembly in Brixen, South Tyrol, and the Executive Committee passed an agreement of collaboration to this effect.
Since then, General Secretary Jehangir Sarosh and I as the moderator have been able to rely on the competent and dedicated work of the Director of the Centre, Dr Mark Owen, as Vice General Secretary. We have been aided and supported by Rebecca Bellamy, their highly skilled officer manager, and Professor Simon Keyes, an experienced member of staff.
I wish to thank the outgoing General Secretary, Jehangir Sarosh, for his many years of service and great achievements for Religions for Peace and the ECRL. And I also thank Mark Owen for his willingness to assume the role of General Secretary with effect from this assembly.
As the moderator, I have been constantly involved in these processes. Last year, I had the opportunity to make various contacts in different European countries. This often occurred in the guise of my various concurrent roles.
I won’t name every such case, but will limit myself to just a couple of good examples:
The University of Münster in Westphalia organised a prestigious event on “Messages of peace from religions”. Alongside Grand Imam Shayh Ahmad al-Tayyeb, the Rector of the al-Azhar University in Cairo, and representatives of other religious communities, I spoke about “Religions’ responsibility for peace”.
In Frankfurt, I took part in a conference entitled “Justice and Faith against Nuclear Risks” and referenced the RfP’s handbook on “Inter-religious commitment to abolishing nuclear weapons.”
In December, the ECRL co-organised a symposium in Brussels on “Religion and Migration” hand-in-hand with the German federal state of Hesse. Expert contributors from the European Union, its member countries and the ECRL took part in this prestigious event.
The final example I am going to cite stemmed from last year’s Annual Assembly in Brixen with its headline of the “Refugee and migration situation in Europe – addressing potential for disharmony.” I believe that the closing statement of the Assembly, entitled “Mass Migration: A European Challenge”, is the only multi-religious declaration on this urgent subject in Europe to date.
The ECRL is currently at a critical juncture regarding its continuing existence and further development.
The situation is somewhat paradoxical. On the one hand, the ECRL’s vital work is gathering increasing esteem and recognition, not least by the European Union and the OSCE/ODHIR.
Our efforts, as the only multi-religious forum on this continent, to promote understanding and collaboration amongst the religious communities are considered extremely important.
We are also reaping success in forging new contacts with the political sphere and civil society.
On the other hand, we are very weak in terms of our organisational structure and resources. Looking forward, we can only fulfil expectations if more members of the Council actively support our work and we can raise the minimum requirement of financial resources.
For this reason, last year the Council and Executive Committee commissioned an examination of the ECRL’s current status, its mission and its potential for fulfilling this brief.
This also addresses the extremely urgent need to clarify the structure of the four virtually autonomous sections of Religions for Peace in Europe, as the current set-up continues to cause confusion.
We are grateful that this process has now already commenced with the assistance of Dr Vendley.
Professor Simon Keyes’ report entitled “The European Council of Religious Leaders – An Agenda for Chance” is extremely important for the decisions regarding the future of the ECRL, which need to be made at this 2017 Annual Assembly. It reflects many discussions with our members combined with careful research and will be distributed to the Council today by the Executive Committee along with concrete recommendations.
Turku, Finland, May 2017
ECRL Moderator Rev. Dr. h.c. Thomas Wipf
While offering our deepest condolences to those who have lost loved ones, our sympathies also go out to those who have been injured and their families and loved ones.
As members of different faiths in Europe, we members of the European Council of Religious Leaders will continue to work individually and collectively to address the discords and ignorance that cause the extremists to resort to violence. We pledge to draw on the wisdom and love of our respective religious traditions, and the common values and humanity we share, to find ways to peacefully transform the conflicting interests and ideologies into opportunities for dialogue and co-operation for the well-being of all humanity.
Our hearts and doors are open and we appeal to those who have grievances to work with us, to help us understand and resolve the issues leading to these terrible tragedies.
The European Council of Religious Leaders – Religions for Peace (ECRL) brings together senior religious leaders from Europe’s historical religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam together with Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs and Zoroastrians. ECRL has participatory status with the Council of Europe. ECRL is one of five regional Interreligious Councils with the Religions for Peace network. Religions for Peace – accredited to the United Nations – is the world’s largest and most representative multi-religious coalition advancing common action for peace since 1970.
]]>A first exchange was held in Berlin on October 2016 and the second exchange was held on the 30-31st of January 2017 in London. Discussions held in the January exchange included the growing fears and insecurities within communities following terrorist attacks, engagement with people and perspectives that are not familiar to interfaith circles and the structures of support between government and interfaith projects.
Participants discussed collaboration between key cities in Europe and linking events, and perhaps co-producing media to help address some of the issues discussed concerning rising sectarianism.
Interfaith leaders debated on the observation that it was easier for governments to engage with predominant religions, taking the advantage of their structures into account. However it was also recognised “that capacities of the young religions in Europe will grow in time and should be supported to do so”.
They emphasised the importance of teaching common values of all religions through schools and the importance of teaching children basic values. Interfaith communities are in need of creating spaces for communities to challenge each other safely and constructively, participants said: “We need to be able to pick up on changes and be brave in challenging destructive attitudes.” It was noted that certain media representatives contribute to the fear of communities: “Media have thrived upon anti-Islamic headlines and it has become more and more intense.”
London participants shared what they thought were some current, best-practise examples of interfaith projects in the City. Catriona Robertson shared the church-mosque twinning project, as well as a Christian-Muslim ‘disagreement group’. Jasvir Singh OBE shared Faiths Forum for London, Maurice Ostro talked about the establishment of Collaboration House, and Commander Mak Chishty shared his processes for consulting faith leaders on critical public statements. During the previous exchange, Berlin shared Kulturdialog, 1219 Religions Forum for Dialogue on Religion and the Long Night of Religions.
A report on the project is currently being drafted and will be available on the ECRL website very soon.
Participants have included Mrs. Feride Funda G.-Gençaslan (Head of Sufi-Zentrum Rabbaniyya ‘Der Wahre Mensch e.V.’) Commander Mak Chishty (Metropolitan Police London), Catriona Robertson (London Boroughs Faiths Network), Jasvir Singh OBE (Co-Chair Faiths Forum London), Hartmut Rhein (Senate Chancellary Berlin), Dr Thomas Schimmel (1219 Religions- and Kulturdialog Berlin), Pastor Peter Jorgensen (Community of Evangelical Free Churches Berlin), Rev Dr Thomas Wipf (ECRL Moderator ), Jehangir Sarosh OBE (ECRL General Secretary), Dr Mark Owen (ECRL Deputy General Secretary), Rebecca Bellamy (ECRL Secretariat Manager), Maurice Ostro (Chairman of the Fayre Share Foundation), Aya Bdaiwi (Faiths Forum for London), Mrs. Ranjit Kaur (Member of Sikh congregation Berlin), Paul Double (London City Remembrancer).
The European Council of Religious Leaders – Religions for Peace (ECRL) brings together senior religious leaders from Europe’s historical religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam together with Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs and Zoroastrians. ECRL has participatory status with the Council of Europe. ECRL is one of five regional Interreligious Councils within the Religions for Peace network. Religions for Peace – accredited to the United Nations – is the world’s largest and most representative multi-religious coalition advancing common action for peace since 1970.
Media Contact:
Thomas Flügge
Phone: +41.(0)79.6401902
Email: [email protected]
In an interview with the IVY Social University, Religions for Peace General Secretary Dr. William Vendley speaks about his visions for peace 2017.
]]>The RfP Interfaith Youth Prize for Innovative Approach will be awarded to the most creative and sustainable projects that encourage dialogue and strengthen collaboration among young people of diverse religious traditions to take concrete actions in three issue areas:
In 2016, four prizes were awarded for multi-religious youth projects that welcomed refugees in France and Lebanon, organized a workshop in Nigeria to counter violent religious extremism and tackled deforestation by allowing youth to acquire new environmentally friendly skill sets in Malawi.
Innovation in multi-religious collaboration can take many shapes. RfP is looking for ideas big and small that can result in tangible results. RfP will provide technical assistance to all the winners to implement their prize-winning project.
Eligibility Criteria
All RfP Global Interfaith Youth Network members are eligible to apply.
Submission Guidelines
Send in a brief one page concept that describes the project and how it is innovative, timeline of implementation, and expected outcome. This needs to be emailed to Ms. Elida Jbeili ([email protected]) or faxed (+1 212-983-0098) by Tuesday, February 28th, 2017.
The Summit participants took part in training sessions, and listened to lectures on issues such as: radicalism, extremism, dialogue, critical engagement with social media and religious scriptures, religious imperative of welcoming the other. Part of the training was led by Adam Deen – previously a senior member of an extremist religious organization, Al-Muhajiroun, who finally became disillusioned with his extremist beliefs, left the movement and dedicates his work now to countering extremism. Adam talked in details about his process of what “brought him back” to the non-extremist world: 1. personal experience of meeting somebody who was a victim of an extremist attack (9/11 attack). 2. studying philosophical text by famous philosophers, that taught him skills of critical and analytical thinking (that he lacked before. Adam studied with one professor who was a rebel member of the same organization and finally left). Equipped with critical thinking, he was no longer able to follow the extremist logic and saw all the videos he saw before and speeches in a different light, and left the movement.
]]>The Symposium “Religion and migration in Europe” brought together religious leaders, academics, practitioners and policy makers from across Europe to examine one of the most significant challenges faced by European countries and citizens today: the mass movement of migrants into Europe, and across European borders. It took place at the Representation of the State of Hessen (D) to the European Union in Brussels on Thursday, 8 December 2016.
The principle aim was to explore the ongoing role religious and multi-religious communities and leaders across Europe can play in facilitating the successful integration of migrants into host societies and communities, whilst simultaneously taking seriously the very real concerns many people in host communities have. A range of experts and stakeholders at European level from both religious and non-religious organisations contributed to the discussion, and several examples of good practice were showcased. A panel discussion debated on opportunities and risks of religious organisations and communities becoming more involved in integration processes. The discussion was introduced by Mark Weinmeister, Secretary of State for European Affairs of the State of Hessen.
“Religious communities have to take on common responsibility for an open and peaceful society, thus supporting civil society and those politically in charge”, underlined ECRL Moderator Rev. Dr Thomas Wipf.
“If we do not win the local population for integration, we will fail. We cannot claim to be able to do this from Brussels, it has to be done on a local and regional level”, thus Matthias Oel, Director of Migration and Security Funds, Director-General of Migration and Home Affairs, EU Commission.
Religious leaders play a “vital role in breaking down stereotypes and help host communities to meet migrants as people”, emphasised ECRL member Imam Yahye Pallavicini, Imam of the al-Wahid Mosque in Milan and vice president of the Islamic Community of Italy.
“When we look at indicators of integration such as education and access to the labour markets, the only area that difference still matters and continues to matter is religion. Religion will always stay a mark of difference”, said Prof. Dr Rainer Münz from the European Political Strategy Centre of the European Commission.
“Europe should be a place of repair, rebuilding and healing and that is where religious communities have a huge potential to contribute”, concluded Prof Simon Keyes of the Winchester Centre of Religions for Reconciliation and Peace of the University of Winchester.
Dr Majbritt Lyck-Bowen and Dr Mark Owen of the University of Winchester presented the interim results of a research project being carried by the University of Winchester in partnership with ECRL. The project brought existing academic integration models into engagement with several case studies, to examine the possible benefits a specifically ‘multi-faith’ approach to integration brings.
The Symposium was co-organised by the Minister for Federal and European Affairs of the State of Hessen Lucia Puttrich, the Moderator of the European Council of Religious Leaders – Religions for Peace, Dr theol. h.c. Thomas Wipf and the Director of the Winchester Centre of Religions for Reconciliation and Peace of the University of Winchester Dr Mark Owen.
The European Council of Religious Leaders – Religions for Peace (ECRL) brings together senior religious leaders from Europe’s historical religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam together with Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs and Zoroastrians. ECRL has participatory status with the Council of Europe. ECRL is one of five regional Interreligious Councils with the Religions for Peace network. Religions for Peace – accredited to the United Nations – is the world’s largest and most representative multi-religious coalition advancing common action for peace since 1970.
Media Contact:
Thomas Flügge
Phone: +41.(0)79.6401902
Email: [email protected]