LWF President calls for Inter-Faith Understanding

An inter-faith gathering for peace and non-violence was convened by the National Council of Churches of El Salvador, and the Communion of Lutheran Churches in Central America. The gathering took place at the Episcopal San Juan Evangelistica Church in San Salvador on 11th September. Leading Lutheran leader Rev. Mark S. Hanson called on Christians and leaders from other faiths to work together for peace and justice and build a bridge of understanding among all people.

"We should be united to give a message of reconciliation, healing and hope and to construct a society where there is peace and justice," said the President of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF).

Delegates representating the Lutheran, Episcopal, Calvinist Reform Churches, the Emmanuel Baptist Church and the Jewish, Islami and Baha'i faiths came together and prayed for peace, tolerance and understanding. They read texts from the Bible, the Korean, the Baha'i writings and the Torah.

Rev. Hanson urged Christians and those from other faiths to respond to the violence and endeavour to ensure peace and justice in this world. He emphasised the importance of dialogue and inter-religious cooperation. He regretted the use of Bible texts which were used to justify the violence and hatred against the Jews and recalled that the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) rejected the anti-Semitic writing of the Protestant Reformer Martin Luther.

"We must keep hatred from expanding among the different sectors of our society for religious or other reasons."






Jenny Lee
Ecumenical Press