Interreligious Leadership Conference
November 10-14, 2017
Seoul, Korea
Interreligious Association for Peace and Development
Resolution
As participants in the Interreligious Leadership Conference sponsored by the Universal Peace Federation and the American Clergy Leadership Conference on November 10-14, 2017, focused on the theme “Addressing the Critical Challenges of Our Time: The Role and Responsibility of Religious Leaders and Faith-Based Organizations,” we affirm the unique and essential role that religions are called to play in bringing about a world of lasting peace, a world in which people of all nationalities, ethnicities, races, cultures, and worldviews live together in mutual respect, harmony and cooperation, as one family under God.
Throughout the ages religion has served as a guide to humanity, leading us from darkness to the light, establishing the foundations of morality, and providing a vision of the good society. The teachings and scriptures of the great religious traditions are humanity’s greatest treasures. We dishonor them at our peril.
We also recognize that persons within each of our religions have fallen short and failed to embody those universal ideals that are espoused within our traditions. Religion, too often, has given rise to conflict.
We resolve to overcome the divisive tendencies that may emerge within religion, and to work to promote dialogue, mutual respect and cooperation so that we may more effectively work to solve the critical challenges of our time, including poverty, hunger, injustice, environmental degradation, family breakdown, corruption, conflict and violence.
Not only should religions cooperate with one another—Christian, Muslim, Jew, Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Jain, and others—they should also work together with the leaders of governments and civil society and the private sector, as partners, for the sake of building the world envisioned by our founders, our ancestors, and, indeed, all people.
We applaud the leadership of Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, and her late husband, Rev. Sun Myung Moon, for their vision and work over many decades to create one family under God.
On this day, November 13, 2017, we endorse the proposal to establish a new interreligious association, known provisionally as the Interreligious Association for Peace and Development.