By Jim Coggins

IF 90 percent of the world’s population profess belief in some sort of religious faith, and those religions all got together to promote positive change, would the world’s political leaders listen? Maybe.

The 2010 World Religions Summit for Interfaith Leaders met June 21 – 23 in Winnipeg. Eighty leaders of eight religions from more than 20 countries issued a joint declaration entitled ‘A Time for Inspired Leadership and Action.’

The declaration called for united international efforts to end poverty, care for the earth and invest in peace.

The summit’s first goal was to influence the leaders of the G8/G20 nations meeting later in the week in Ontario. Leaders of the religious summit had asked to meet with the political leaders.

Instead, the declaration was given to Stephen Fletcher, Canadian Minister of State for Democratic Reform, who promised to deliver it immediately to Prime Minister Harper.

Second, the summit made efforts to involve members of the various religious communities in discussing these issues.

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This was important because, in the words of summit communications officer Dan Dyck, poverty, climate change and peace are “not on the radar screen for many people, especially in developed countries.”

Third, the summit aimed to deepen relationships between the religious leaders so that their communities can work together on key issues in future.

What influence the religious summit had on world leaders is unclear.

However, summit leaders pointed out that the issues religious leaders have been stressing were on the agenda for the G8/G20 meetings.

“The great gift that faith communities bring to the process” is a long-term perspective, Karen Hamilton, chair of the religious summit, told BCCN.

She added: “Faith communities go back millennia, and know what long-term commitment is.”

Info: faithchallengeg8.com.

July 2010