Religious Leaders Adopt An Interfaith Plan Of Action

October 28, 2002

JOHANNESBURG – A week-long historic inter-faith peace summit ended in Benoni near Johannesburg on October 21, with the adoption of a plan of action authorising the establishment of a Continuation Committee and a call on religious leaders to take "immediate" actions in regard to areas of conflict such as "Sudan, Cote d'Ivoire, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Inter-Faith Action for Peace in Africa, adopted at the end of the meeting called for the convening of a series of regional summits across Africa to be held within the next 18 months in order to continue the drive for peace on the continent. An all-Africa Summit is planned in three years' time, with the aim of assessing and following up the outcomes of the plan. The plan is based on a declaration adopted by consensus on October 17.

An extensive plan of action will be carried back to the nations of Africa and adapted to meet the specific needs of each region. Inter-faith groups in Africa have been charged with taking up issues ranging from small arms proliferation to health and environmental issues that hinder the peaceful development of the continent.

In a special closing ceremony at the Kopanong Conference Centre, a copy of the Plan of Action and the Johannesburg Inter-Faith Peace Declaration, adopted arlier in the week, were handed over to guest speakers, the Mayor of Ekurhuleni, Mr. Duma Nkosi and Dr Barney Pityana, principal of the University of South Africa.

In his closing remarks, Rev. Dr. Ishmael Noko, General Secretary of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) described the declaration as a landmark because it "marks how far we have come in the pursuit of peace." The plan of action, he said, laid the foundation for a different chapter into our inter-faith encounters, and in the history of Africa." The week-long meeting, bringing together religious representatives from 21 African countries was organised by the LWF and hosted by the National Religious Leaders Forum of South Africa (NRLFSA).

Ambassador Ilari Rantakari, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Finland, welcomed the plan of action underlining that it included a meaningful programme envisaging implementation on local, national, sub-regional and regional levels.

On behalf of the NRLFSA, Bishop Mvume Dandala, Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa and President of the South African Council of Churches said they felt honoured to host the historic conference. The major task now is to convince our various communities as to the significance and value of this inter-faith dialogue and fellowship exercise, he added.

All Africa News Agency
Reported by Pauline Mumia – LWF