“Has not one God created us?”
The Religious Contribution to Peace,
Justice and Integrity of Creation
Iftar Dinner
New York, NY
September 25, 2008
Welcome and opening greeting:
Arli Klassen, Executive Director,
Mennonite Central Committee
Opening remarks:
H.E. Miguel D’Escoto Brockmann,
President of the 63rd General Assembly
of the United Nations
Opening prayers:
Religious leaders from the following faith traditions:
- Roman Catholicism
- Islam
- Zoroastrianism
Dinner
Excerpt from “Talking to Iran” (2007) – PBS
Recitations from the Qur’an: Dr. Rahmani
Welcome and Greetings:
On behalf of the Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran – H.E. Ambassador Mohammed Khazaee
Panel Discussion
What does my faith tradition bring to the struggle to eliminate poverty, injustice, global warming and war?
Moderated by the Honorable Dr. John Brademas; former U.S. House of Representatives Majority Whip and Representative, Indiana (3rd District); President Emeritus, New York University
An Anabaptist Mennonite Christian Response:
The Rev. Dr. Patricia Shelly, Professor of Bible & Religion, Bethel College (Kansas)
A Jewish Response:
Delivered by a Jewish religious leader
A Muslim Response:
Mr. Nihad Awad, Executive Director,
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
A Lutheran Protestant Response:
H.E. the Rev. Kjell-Magne Bondevik, former Prime
Minister of Norway; President, Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights
An Iranian Response:
H.E. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President, the Islamic
Republic of Iran
Questions and Discussion
“Peace Prayer”:
Dr. Vinu Aram, Director, Shanti Ashram
(Coimbatore, India); Vice Moderator, Religions for
Peace
Summation:
The Rev. Chris Ferguson, Representative to the United Nations; Commission of the Churches on International Affairs, World Council of Churches
Thank You and Closing:
Mary Ellen McNish, General Secretary, American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)
Co-sponsored by:
- American Friends Service Committee
- Mennonite Central Committee
- Quaker United Nations Office
- Religious for Peace
- World Council of Churches,
Commission of the Churches on International Affairs
In co-operation with the Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations
