For the first time, Baha’is were among more than 80 representatives of the world’s major faith traditions participating in the World Religions Summit held this week at the University of Winnipeg, just ahead of the G8 and G20 summits in Toronto.

Kenneth E. Bowers, Secretary-General of the National Spiritual Assembly
of the Baha’is of the United States (center),
was among the Baha’i delegates to the World Religions Summit,
the first G8-related interfaith summit in which Baha'is have participated.
Photograph by Louis Brunet. Courtesy of Baha’i World News Service.

The faith leaders convened from more than 20 countries—including the G8 countries of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States—to draft a joint statement urging political leaders to “consider first the vulnerable among us, particularly our children, and to work together to address the dehumanizing scourge of poverty and injustice, and practice and promote care for our common environment, the Earth.”

Representatives from Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States comprised the Baha’i delegation.

“It is significant that religious leaders from so many countries and traditions were able to gather and issue a common moral call for governments to honor the commitments they have made under the U.N. Millennium Development Goals--particularly in the areas of poverty, environment and peace,” said Kenneth E. Bowers, Secretary-General of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United States, who attended the summit.

“We also see that it is not enough to express lofty ideals,” Bowers continued, “but that to put these ideals into practice will be a long and difficult process that will require commitment, humility, and a learning attitude from all partners -- including governments, civil society, and faith communities.”

Learn more about Baha’i involvement in interfaith relations, or read the related Baha’i World News Service article.