RELIGIONS FOR PEACE Gathers in Germany
The Gifts of Interfaith
by Tarunjit Singh Butalia
On August 20-23, 2019 I was on a week-long, exciting, and inspirational visit to Lindau, Germany to participate in the 10th World Assembly of Religions for Peace. I was one of a five-member delegation from Religions for Peace USA who joined more than 900 religious representatives from more than 125 countries to participate in the World Assembly. It was held on the beautiful German island of Lindau on Lake Constance. I had attended two previous assemblies, in Kyoto (2006) and Vienna (2013).
This 10th Assembly theme was Caring for Our Common Future: Advancing Shared Well-Being and focused on five commissions:
Advancing positive peace,
Preventing and transforming conflict,
Promoting just and harmonious societies,
Working for sustainable and integral human development, and
Protecting the earth.
Three experiences took my breath away – memories that still make my heart melt.
Photo: Tarunjit Singh Butalia
One evening, the local Catholic and Protestant churches – located on the same street across from each other – hosted the Long Table Dinner for Assembly attendees as well as Lindau residents and visitors. Long tables were arranged in one row in the middle of the street between the two churches, and on it were placed homemade dishes from the congregants of both churches – yes, all the food served was homemade, not one dish catered. We sat on benches with translators who helped us converse with our dinner hosts. As I sat down, I was touched because it reminded me of my own faith’s tradition of Langar – this was indeed the Langar of the Lindau community. A German newspaper captured some of the beautiful moments that night.
At the dinner banquet, the US delegation met with representatives of RFP Pakistan for fellowship. Sitting at our dinner table was a young lady who didn’t seem to be from the US or South Asia. She introduced herself, said she is from Malta, and shared that she works for the Jesuit Refugee Service. She relates to refugee families who come to Malta on their way to other parts of Europe. She interviews them and publishes their stories to advocate for refugee families. I asked her how she deals with the pain and suffering shared by the families. Her answer was simple – “My faith sustains me in this work.” I was in awe of her commitment and work. I came away from the Assembly with a deep sense of gratitude for her faith-based activity in a field promoting the least among us. Of all I met at the Assembly, this young woman from Malta left an everlasting impression on me.
On the last evening of the Assembly we went on a boat cruise of Lake Constance. On the top deck of the boat, Cardinal Onaiyekan from Nigeria happened to walk by. I asked him what we should do if this boat begins to sink. His response was: “We should not pray, but let us all sink together. Because we will go straight to heaven, and once there we can together continue working for peace and justice.” That is our calling – working together for peace and justice in the world!
Header Photo: Religions for Peace