Mennonite Central Committee Hosts Dialogue between Iranian President and 100 Religious Leaders
September 26, 2007
NEW YORK ? More than 100 religious leaders today participated in an nearly two hour interfaith encounter with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at the Church Center for the United Nations. The gathering was organized by the Mennonite Central Committee and endorsed by the American Friends Service Committee, the Friends Committee on National Legislation, Mennonite Church USA, Mennonite Church Canada and the Church of the Brethren General Board. Other endorsers included Sojourners/Call to Renewal, Pax Christi USA, the World Council of Churches Commission of Churches on International Affairs and the World Conference of Religions for Peace.
This is the third in a series of interfaith conversations focused on establishing a dialogue between people of faith in the United States and the people and government of Iran. The discussions began with the Iranian President's visit to the U.N. in September of last year when 43 U.S. religious leaders met with him at his hotel. In February, 13 American religious leaders visited Iran where they met with a variety of governmental, academic and religious leaders.
This ongoing dialogue emerges out of the concerns of religious leaders in the United States that the escalating political and economic confrontation between the U.S. and Iran could lead to war. They have called on the governments of Iran and the United States to establish direct, face-to-face diplomatic negotiations as one part of an effort to create a path to peace. Known as "peace churches" for their historic witness to nonviolence, Mennonites and Quakers have long been at the forefront of international movements for peace and reconciliation.
"You make peace with those with whom you disagree, not your allies," said Mary Ellen McNish, General Secretary of the American Friends Service Committee who traveled to Iran with the February delegation. "Dialogue is not a reward or validation; it is a means to begin the process of reconciliation and pave the way for future constructive relationships."
Joe Volk, Executive Secretary of the Friends Committee on National Legislation, added: "When other venues have been closed, leaders of faith communities serve by demonstrating that alternatives to heated rhetoric and political isolation exist and may prevent war."
After President Ahmadinejad made his opening remarks, five panelists took part in a question and answer time. Panelists included people from Quaker, Catholic and Evangelical groups. Following this, President Ahmadinejad also responded to a few questions submitted by the invited guests. The gathering closed with comments by Ahmadinejad and Bert Lobe, Interim Executive Director of Mennonite Central Committee, who moderated the gathering.
Lobe summarized the meeting saying, "We spoke out of our narratives, out of our traditions, and we acknowledged the particularity that is essential to dialogue with the other." He went on to say, "This conversation occurred in sacred space, the Interfaith Tillman Chapel at the United Nations; we believe that it is conversation like this, conversation emanating from religious space and out of our particular Christian tradition that carries the voice and call to dialogue."
Mennonite Central Committee is the relief, development and peace organization of Mennonites, Brethren in Christ and Amish groups in the United States and Canada. MCC has been working in Iran for more than 15 years. You can learn more about MCC's work in Iran by going to www.mcc.org/.