calendar December 20, 2010 in Bishop

Religious Leaders support freedom and understanding

 

Living a Vision of Religious Freedom and Understanding

October 2010

We, the members of the Religious Leaders Council of Greater Philadelphia, gathered on October 11, 2010 to reflect on our relationships with one another and on values that we share:

We live in a Commonwealth that was established on the vision of religious freedom and are committed to striving to actualize that vision. Together, we repudiate discrimination against the followers of any religion and reject violence of any sort.

We re-commit ourselves to advance mutual trust, knowledge, justice, and cooperation in order to work together for the common good of all people of all faiths. We will continue to seek opportunities to promote understanding, dialogue and peace; to build bridges among our faith traditions and honor the dignity of every human being.

We turn to God and to the teachings of our traditions for wisdom and guidance, for comfort and courage.

The purpose of the Religious Leaders Council is to build relationships of mutual support, and offer a moral and spiritual voice in our region. The Council will identify issues and concerns for dialogue and action.

Co-Conveners:

• Bishop Claire Schenot Burkat – Southeastern PA Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church of America
• Imam Anwar Muhaimin – Quba Masjid
• Cardinal Justin Rigali – Archdiocese of Philadelphia
• Rabbi David Straus – Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Greater Phila.

Members:

• Bishop Charles Bennison – Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania
• Bishop Audrey Bronson – Black Clergy of Philadelphia & Vicinity
• Reverend Luis A. Cortés, Jr.. – Hispanic Clergy of Philadelphia & Vicinity
• Al DerMovsesian – Presbytery of Philadelphia, Presbyterian Church USA
• Rabbi Sue Levi Elwell – Delaware Valley Association of Reform Rabbis
• Bijan Etemad, M.D. – Philadelphia Baha’i Community
• Reverend Dr. W. Wilson Goode, Sr. – Philadelphia Leadership Foundation
• Rabbi Richard Hirsh – Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association
• Bishop Peter Hwang – Council of Korean Churches of Greater Philadelphia
• Rabbi Alan Iser – Rabbinical Assembly, Philadelphia Region
• Bishop Peggy Johnson – Eastern Pennsylvania Conference, United Methodist Church
• Arthur M. Larrabee – Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends
• Reverend Steven B. Lawrence – Metropolitan Christian Council of Philadelphia
• Rev. Dr. Charles H. Lett Sr.- African Methodist Episcopal Church
• Imam Muhammad Abdur-Razzaq Miller – Mosque of Shaikh M.R. Bawa Muhaiyaddeen
• Reverend Dr. F. Russell Mitman – PA Southeast Conference, United Church of Christ
• Father Emmanuel Pratsinakis – Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Jersey
• Imam Asim Abdur-Rashid – Majlis Ash-Shura of Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley
• Imam Mohamed Shehata – Al-Aqsa Islamic Society
• Elder Robert B. Smith – The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints
• Archbishop Stefan Soroka – Archeparchy of Philadelphia
• Rabbi Jay Stein – Philadelphia Board of Rabbis

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