wfn.org | WSC-AR Participates in WCC International Interfaith Conference

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

WSC-AR Participates in WCC International Interfaith Conference in 
Switzerland; Gathering Calls for Deeper Dialogue in Common Action

(Photos available upon request)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 12, 2005

Contact: Dr. Tarunjit Singh, Secretary General, WSC-AR, 614-210-0591, 
contact@worldsikhcouncil.org

The World Sikh Council - America Region (WSC-AR) participated in a landmark 
international interfaith conference "Critical Moment in Interreligious 
Dialogue" held June 7 - 9 at the World Council of Churches' Ecumenical 
Centre in Geneva, Switzerland. Representatives of virtually all the major 
world faith communities explored the connections between dialogue and 
action during the conference.

Dr. Tarunjit Singh, Secretary General and Chair of Interfaith Committee of 
WSC-AR, attended the conference and reflected, "This conference was not an 
opportunity for people of faith to come together to share once again our 
common humanity - we have done that too many times before. This conference 
was an opportunity for those engaged in interreligious dialogue to assess 
it's achievements of the past, reflect on the relevance and effectiveness 
of it today, and plan a vision for the future in which dialogue and action 
will be interlinked."

Dr. Singh added, "This conference was a call to move beyond formal dialogue 
to being able to work with people of faith across religious boundaries in 
common action so as to reconcile and heal an imperfect and fragile world. 
Without justice, our world will not know peace."

The conference opened on June 7 with a Sikh spiritual reflection led by 
Mrs. Charanjit Singh (England), Mr. Ajit Singh (England), Dr. Brijinder 
Singh (India), and Dr. Tarunjit Singh (USA). The first day of the 
conference stressed the call for credible dialogue with common action.

The need for religions to undertake a "critical and realistic self 
assessment" while making "overcoming violence in all its forms" an "urgent 
priority" was stressed by the World Council of Churches (WCC) central 
committee moderator, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I. In a keynote speech, 
he emphasized that in the midst of the "moral vacuum" of today's globalized 
world, this common action must be grounded in common values. "Values, not 
interests, must be the guiding principles of interreligious collaboration", 
Aram I said.

The need for common action was also stressed by WCC General Secretary Rev. 
Dr. Samuel Kobia in welcoming the 130 invited conference participants from 
ten world religions. After almost 35 years of involvement in dialogue, the 
WCC has "come to realize the interreligious truth of an old ecumenical 
principle: that which we can do together we should not do separately," he
said.

The second day of the conference was devoted to exploring the relationship 
between dialogue and action. A session on action - dialogue and discussion 
was moderated by Dr. Tarunjit Singh. The panelists were Rabbi Naamah Kelman 
(Jewish - Israel), Dr. Vinu Aram (Hindu - India), Dr. Parichart Suwanbubbha 
(Buddhist - Thailand), Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer (Muslim - India), Swami 
Agnivesh (Arya Samaj - India), and Rev. Valson Thampu (Christian - India).

On the last day of the conference, religious leaders from across the world 
focused on the growing global Christian - Muslim tensions. Discussions were 
held on the future of interreligious dialogue and initial steps were taken 
to develop a non-sectarian common declaration that may guide interfaith 
dialogue in action. The conference participants agreed that "recasting 
interreligious dialogue as a practice of humility and hope offers a way of 
building greater trust... Together may we seize this critical moment and 
help transform its perils into a pilgrimage of faith that will guide us to 
a more just, compassionate and peaceful future."

About 130 participants of diverse faiths and traditions, including 
academics, religious scholars, humanitarian workers, activists and 
journalists attended the event. The conference program included a series of 
presentations and dialogue sessions on the themes of "thinking together", 
"assessing the present", and "imagining the future". More information about 
the conference can be accessed at www.oikoumene.org/interreligious.html.

The World Council of Churches is a fellowship of churches, now 347, in more 
than 120 countries in all continents from virtually all Christian 
traditions. The Roman Catholic Church is not a member church but works 
cooperatively with the WCC.

The WSC-AR is a representative and elected body of Sikh Gurdwaras and 
institutions in the United States. Its members include 37 Gurdwaras (Sikh 
places of worship) and other Sikh institutions across the nation.

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The following photos in jpeg format, suitable for publication, can be 
obtained by e-mailing <contact@worldsikhcouncil.org>:

Caption: Rabbi Awraham Soetendrop, President of World Union for Progressive 
Judaism - European Union, receives Parshaad from Dr. Tarunjit Singh and Dr. 
Brijinder Singh at the conference's opening Sikh spiritual reflection. 
(Photo courtesy of Peter Williams of WCC)

Caption: Dr. Tarunjit Singh moderates a session on dialogue and action. 
(Photo courtesy of Peter Williams of WCC)

Caption: About 130 persons representing ten major religions of the world 
attend the June 7-9, 2005 conference in Geneva, Switzerland. (Photo 
courtesy of Peter Williams of WCC)

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Member Gurdwaras of WSC-AR:
1. Gurdwara Sahib Fremont, Fremont, CA
2. Guru Nanak Sikh Mission, Livingston, CA
3. Sikh Gurdwara of LA, North Hollywood, CA
4. Sikh Gurdwara Riverside, Riverside, CA
5. Colorado Singh Sabha, Denver, CO
6. Guru Singh Sabha of Augusta, Augusta, GA
7. Sikh Study Circle of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA
8. Sikh Religious Society of Chicago, Palatine, IL
9. Sikh Society of South, New Orleans, LA
10. Sikh Gurdwara of Michigan, Rochester Hills, MI
11. Sikh Society of Michigan, Madison Heights, MI
12. Guru Nanak Foundation of Jackson, MS
13. Sikh Gurdwara of North Carolina, Durham, NC
14. Garden State Sikh Association, Bridgewater, NJ
15. Guru Nanak Sikh Society of Delaware Valley, Sewell, NJ
16. Siri Guru Singh Sabha, Glenrock, NJ
17. Sikh Sabha of New Jersey, Lawrenceville, NJ
18. Sikh Cultural Society Inc., Richmond Hills, NY
19. Sikh Cultural & Edu. Society of Western NY, Buffalo, NY
20. Sikh Religious Society of Dayton, Dayton, OH
21. Guru Nanak Found. of Greater Cleveland, Richfield, OH
22. Guru Gobind Singh Sikh Society, Bedford, OH
23. Guru Nanak Religious Soc. of Central Ohio, Columbus, OH
24. Tristate Sikh Cultural Society, Monroeville, PA
25. Mid South Sikh Sabha, Memphis, TN
26. Sikh Center of Gulf Coast, Houston, TX
27. Siri Guru Singh Sabha, Richardson, TX
28. Sikh Gurdwara of North Texas, Garland, TX
29. Singh Sabha Gurdwara, Fairfax, VA
30. Sikh Association of Central Virginia, VA
31. Sikh Religious Society of Wisconsin, Brookfield, WI

Other Sikh Institution Members of WSC-AR:
1. Siri Guru Granth Sahib Found., Anaheim, CA
2. Sikhs Serving America, Topeka, KS
3. Sikh Youth Federation of North America, White Plains, NY
4. Sikh Educational & Religious Foundation, Dublin, OH
5. Sikh Youth Federation of USA, Toledo, OH
6. Academy of Guru Granth Studies, Arlington, TX

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World Sikh Council - America Region (WSC-AR)
P.O. Box 3635, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA
Phone: 614-210-0591, Fax: 419-535-6794
E-mail: contact@worldsikhcouncil.org
Website: www.worldsikhcouncil.org

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