Working for peace

ECUMENICAL NEWS INTERNATIONAL

Johannesburg
Representatives from seven major religions and 21 African countries have adopted a declaration, committing themselves to working for peace on the African continent.
      Among the delegates to the Inter-Faith Peace Summit were South Africa’s Chief Rabbi Cyril Harris and Benin’s High Priest of Voodoo, and Ismael Noko, general secretary to of the Lutheran World Federayion.
      Delegates represented African traditional religion, the Baha’i faith, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and various ecumenical and peace bodies.
      Delegates called on religious leaders to take immediate action in areas of conflict such as Sudan, Cote d’Ivoire, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
      Among the other South African religious leaders attending the conference were Bishop Mvume Dandala, presiding bishop of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa and president of the South African Council of Churches; Bishop Antonious Markos of the Coptic Orthodox Church; Cardinal Wilfrid Napier from the Roman Catholic Church; and Ntate Kgalushi Koka, representing African traditional religion