CRLMC © 2008
STATEMENT OF THE COUNCIL OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS OF METROPOLITAN CHICAGO 0N WORLD INTERFAITH HARMONY WEEK
December 15, 2010
On October 20, 2010, the General Assembly of the United Nations unanimously adopted a resolution designating the first week in February to be an annual World Interfaith Harmony Week. The General Assembly called for dialogue among different religions to enhance interfaith harmony and cooperation globally and locally.
Specifically, they encouraged all member nations to support, on a voluntary basis, spreading the message of interfaith harmony and goodwill in the world's churches, mosques, synagogues, temples and other places of worship during the World Interfaith Harmony Week. They acknowledged the importance of “the Love of God and Love of One's Neighbor,” which is an integral conviction in each major religion.
For over twenty-five years, the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago has endeavored to build harmonious interfaith relationships. Harmony isn’t simple or easy. We believe our interfaith harmony has grown and matured—learning about the religious heritage of one another, trusting and caring for one another as persons and as committed believers in particular faith tradition, discovering our mutual concerns about the multiple social justice issues of our times, and confronting together these issues with a common advocacy and engagement.
Experiencing these interfaith dynamics together has developed bonds of trust, fellowship, and cooperative witness. Our relationships in this Council have enhanced and deepened our individual faith. The Council currently consists of leaders of over five million believers in eight world religions—Baha’i, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Sikhism, and Zoroastrianism. This Council is a living example that interfaith harmony is achievable.
On December 9, 2010, the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago enthusiastically endorsed the United Nations Resolution creating the first week of February as an annual “World Interfaith Harmony Week.” This Council encourages the leaders and members in our eight faith traditions and the Chicago theological schools to recognize and celebrate the World Interfaith Harmony Week.
During the first World Week of Interfaith Harmony in February, 2011, the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago encourages local faith communities to engage and enable interfaith harmony by prayer, messages and teaching about the world faith traditions, interfaith dialogue, and interfaith advocacy and service for the suffering and marginalized.