Interfaith Leaders Rally for Peace at Welcoming Fellowship Dinner in Davao City

In a heartening display of interfaith unity and commitment towards global peace, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recently hosted the Welcoming Fellowship Dinner for the Asian Conference of Religions for Peace (ACRP) on May 23 in Davao City, Philippines. This event featured prominent religious and community leaders who emphasized the importance of interfaith cooperation to tackle the world's most pressing issues.

The event began with inspiring opening remarks from Elder Steven R. Bangerter, Philippines Area President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Prof. Desmond Cahill, the moderator of the ACRP.

"I love the title in those three words, Religions for Peace,” declared Elder Bangerter. “In my view, these three words embody the heart and soul of sincere religiosity. They embody the mission statement of religions for peace: to lead an effective multireligious response to the world’s pressing issues." He further emphasized the importance of finding common ground through shared aspects of humanity, including music, friends, families, and love of God, as a way to strengthen interfaith ties and promote peace.

Prof. Cahill, defining ACRP's role as a multireligious organization, stated, "We encompass 53% of humanity. 53%, of course, we are about peace and social cohesion – global, regional, national, and local peace and the social cohesion that goes with that.” He elucidated the organization's commitment to Human Fraternity and outlined the 8 pillars of Positive Peace, including a well-functioning government, sound business environment, equitable resource distribution, acceptance of others' rights, good neighborly relations, free flow of information, high levels of human capital, and low levels of corruption.

Following these opening speeches, Councilor Temujin Ocampo, representing Mayor Sebastian Duterte, delivered a keynote message reinforcing the city government's support for ACRP's mission. He expressed, “We [City Government of Davao] commend the Executive Council of ACRP for spearheading this platform for interreligious dialogue to further promote cooperation and harmony thus strengthening our shared pursuit for peace.”

Rev. Yoshinori Shinohara, Secretary-General of ACRP, concluded the event with a profound message highlighting ACRP's crucial role in the current global context plagued by violence. He stated, “I strongly believe ACRP has a special role to play in these situations and I believe that we must be a ray of hope for people in this contemporary context."

A captivating performance by the Madayaw Cultural Ensemble, showcasing local folk and traditional Muslim dances, added a dash of cultural vibrancy to the evening, embodying the diverse heritage of the community.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints expressed their deep gratitude to all attendees, guests, and organizers who contributed to the success of the event. This gathering served as a potent reminder that unity, understanding, and mutual respect can indeed bridge divides, fostering a more harmonious global community.