After four days of meeting at the Ecumenical Center, the Christian and Muslim leaders issued a statement Thursday announcing their intention to form a joint anti-crisis response working group.The working group will be mobilized "whenever a crisis threatens to arise in which Christians and Muslims find themselves in conflict," read the statement that came out of the international consultation on "Transforming Communities: Christian and Muslims Building a Common Future" that was held in Geneva, Switzerland.
Besides calling for the formation of the anti-crisis working group, the joint statement also calls on Christians and Muslims to work together to counter discrimination based on religious identity, affirms the importance of relevant and balanced education about religion of 'the other' at all levels and in appropriate formats, and calls on those who fund and manage universities and colleges of religious training to support programs in major religions that encourages positive interreligious relations, among other recommendations.
It also encourages organizers of the consultation - the World Council of Churches, the World Islamic Call Society, the Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute and the Consortium of A Common Word - to establish a joint project to promote and share experiences and best practices "of living together constructively in plural societies" and build a "culture of dialogue and inter-religious cooperation," as well as work together on social and environmental issues.
In total, 64 Christian and Muslim leaders, scholars and activists from around the world gathered in Geneva, Switzerland from Nov. 1 to 4, for the consultation to develop ways of build a common future together that is based on equality, co-citizenship, and mutual respect. The three main areas of focused were: beyond majority and minority, from conflict to compassionate justice, and education for understanding and shared citizenship.
The consultation was unique in that it was jointly prepared and sponsored by Christians and Muslims.
