wfn.org | WCC NEWS: In Tehran, a Christian-Muslim symposium affirms dialogue, criticizes media

["WCC Media" <Media@wcc-coe.org>]

World Council of Churches - News Release

Contact: +41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363 media@wcc-coe.org

>For immediate release - 17/12/2008 15:31:17

IN TEHRAN, A CHRISTIAN-MUSLIM SYMPOSIUM AFFIRMS DIALOGUE,
CRITICIZES MEDIA

Equal participation and shared responsibility in society are at
the basis of a peaceful coexistence between Christians and
Muslims, stated participants at an inter-religious symposium in
Tehran, Iran last week. They highlighted the value of learning
from each other's faith and criticized "irresponsible media". 

The 13-14 December symposium on "Religion and peaceful
coexistence" was jointly convened by the Tehran-based Centre for
Inter-religious Dialogue of the Islamic Culture and Relations
Organization and the World Council of Churches (WCC). 

A joint communiqué summarizing eight points of agreement
highlighted the co-existence between Christians and Muslims in
Iran, as well as the value of dialogue, which "should not be
confined to scholars and spiritual leaders," and of "learning
about each other's faith". 

The joint communiqué states: "Peaceful coexistence between
Christians and Muslims should be based on their equal
participation and shared responsibility towards society and each
other. This includes recognizing and respecting one another's
religious and civil rights, and taking a common stand whenever
the rights of religious communities are violated and whenever
irresponsible media try to present a distorted image of any
particular religion, offending its symbols and followers."

The fifth of a series started in 1995, the symposium brought
together six Christian representatives (see participants list
below) and some 15 Muslim scholars and spiritual leaders. Its
opening session, broadcast by an Iranian TV channel, was attended
by nearly 80 guests, including Iranian clergy and lay leaders, as
well as scholars and university students. 

For the first time, the symposium saw the participation of
representatives from Iranian churches. A parallel programme
provided an opportunity for the Christians from abroad to worship
and maintain extensive contacts with local Christian communities.

>Full text of the joint communiqué:
>http://www.oikoumene.org/?id=6527

>WCC member churches in Iran:
>http://www.oikoumene.org/?id=4745

>Christian participants at the symposium:

Leader of the WCC delegation: 

Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian, primate of the Diocese of Tehran,
Armenian Apostolic Church, Holy See of Cilicia

Representatives of churches in Iran: 

Archbishop Ramzi Garmou, Chaldean Catholic Church in Iran
(observer) 
Rev. Matavos (Sergey) Shaverdian, moderator of the Synod of the
Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Iran

Members of the WCC delegation: 

Rev. Dr Jean-Claude Basset, University of Lausanne, Switzerland

Prof. Heidi Hadsell, president of Hartford Seminary, USA 
Prof. Jorgen Nielsen, director of the project on Islam in
Europe, Copenhagen University, Denmark 
Mr Samer Laham, Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All
the East, Syria 
Dr Gary Vachicourras, Institute of Postgraduate Studies in
Orthodox Theology at the Orthodox Centre of the Ecumenical
Patriarchate, Chambésy, Geneva, Switzerland

WCC staff: 

Ms Rima Barsoum, programme executive for Christian-Muslim
relations. 

Additional information:Juan Michel,+41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507
6363media@wcc-coe.org

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith,
witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical
fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings
together 349 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches
representing more than 560 million Christians in over 110
countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic
Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, from
the Methodist Church in Kenya. Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.