Religions for Peace

25-27 January 2010
Jakarta, Indonesia

Borobudur Hotel

Religions for Peace has partnered with the U.S. Department of State to facilitate the U.S.-Indonesia Interfaith Forum to be held in Jakarta, Indonesia, during 25–27 January 2010. The Department of Foreign Ministry of the Republic of Indonesia has graciously agreed to host this bi-lateral dialogue with regional import.

The program engages religious leaders and civil society representatives from the U.S. and Indonesia, as well as key religious leaders from other South-East Asia countries, in a dialogue aimed at producing shared actions in four key areas of development: poverty, education, climate change, and good governance.

This event represents the first major effort for follow-up action on the model of religious cooperation upheld in U.S. President Barack Obama’s historic speech in Cairo. Further, the Jakarta dialogue is connected to the overall work envisioned by the Inter-religious Cooperation Task Force of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, on which the Religions for Peace Secretary General, Dr. William F. Vendley, serves. 

In this project, Religions for Peace will convene twenty senior-level religious leaders from the U.S., twenty senior-level religious leaders from Indonesia, and ten senior-level religious leaders from South-East Asia countries. The goal is to build collaborative  partnerships across and between faith communities, NGOs, and governments.  The aim is to facilitate a culture of open dialogue with the end goals of generating shared actions and mobilizing religious communities that foster tolerance, build social cohesion, and advance peaceful co-existence.

Religions for Peace will utilize its proven methodologies for multi-religious cooperation to assist participants in correlating their communities’ capacities for action with those of other communities. When the method is applied, it discloses large, often hidden or under-utilized capacities for action that lie within the reach of religious communities. Importantly, it also identifies the unique advantages of multi-religious cooperation and the kinds of capacity building which are needed for effective multi-religious action. 

The main tasks Religions for Peace will carry out are to: develop the agenda; identify participants; coordinate program logistics; administer travel arrangements; facilitate the development of a joint statement and action plan; and record, publish and disseminate program outcomes.

Following the forum, if deemed appropriate and conditions permit, Religions for Peace staff will engage with Indonesian religious leaders to support further confidence-building and review post-meeting plans of action with goal of strengthening local capacities. Religions for Peace will draw on its expertise in facilitating multi-religious events and engage the Indonesian members of Religions for Peace in the process.

View photos from the event here.

Jakarta One-Page Summary
Jakarta Closing Press Release (01-28-10) 
Jakarta Statement with Signatories (01-28-10)
Jakarta Agenda
Jakarta-Ari Alexander-Final Remarks (01-27-10)
Jakarta Dialogue Participants List
Jakarta Dialogue Participant Biographies
Jakarta Dialogue Press Release Draft (01-21-10)
Jakarta Selected Press Summary