Greetings! We are growing! In the past several months, we have:
• added over a dozen new religious member communities;
• started a few active programs/projects;
• developed several other programs/projects in prototype in accordance with our areas of focus;
• and added a few new interns, staff, and volunteers.

People are saying that now, more than ever, it is time for religions to work together to bring about peace. We need your support to enable our growth as outlined above and to bring about the vision of Religions for Peace-USA.

This e-newsletter is free. Pass it along to others and read it at your pleasure. If you like what you see in our organization, we ask that you consider making a donation. There are many ways to participate, but we are ultimately dependent upon generosity of foundations, religious communities, and individuals to make our work happen. Please consider donating today.

The North American Interfaith Network and the National Association of Ecumenical and Interreligious Staff are hosting their annual meetings jointly this year in New York City under the title: “Connecting Partners, Enlarging the Circle.” For more information please visit www.nain.org or contact Jan Leng at telephone 253-759-0141 or naeisjan@aol.com (for NAEIS members/prospects) or Christy Lohr at telephone 212-702-0944 or nain2004@cs.com (for NAIN members/prospects). Register now to make the early registration fee.

Responding to the mid-March clashes in Kosovo that resulted in 19 people killed, several thousand displaced from their homes, and religious sites vandalized and destroyed, a delegation from the European Council of Religious Leaders/Religions for Peace traveled to Belgrade and Pristina in April to meet with senior religious leaders and help reduce tensions between Serbian and Albanian communities. A multi-religious body comprised of senior religious leaders, the ECRL/Religions for Peace condemned the recent violence, the worst episode since the official end of the conflict in 1999, offered support to leaders from Muslim, Orthodox and Catholic communities. The pan-European body called on all citizens to reject violence and stand in solidarity to build a sustainable peace. During the April 27 - 29 visit, Angela Oliver and Emily Coffman Krunic of our Conflict Transformation Unit and Dr. William Vendley joined the high-level delegation, which was led by His Grace Gunnar Stalsett, Bishop of Oslo and Co-Chair of the ECRL, and Metropolitan Emmanuel of France.

The delegation traveled to Kosovo where they met with His Grace Artemije, Bishop of Raska-Prizren, Kosovo and Metoxija, Mufti Ternava, Head of Islamic Community of Kosovo and His Grace Marko Sopi, Catholic Bishop of Prizren. Despite the danger and difficulties that prevent these leaders from meeting together at this time, the demonstration of solidarity from the senior European religious leaders helped strengthen their resolve to remain engaged in the multi-religious process. Each expressed his commitment to a multi-ethnic, multi-religious future for Kosovo.

During the visit, the delegation also conferred with the United Nations mission in Kosovo and the Organization on Security and Conflict in Europe voicing concerns that places of worship were attacked in areas under UN protection. Moreover, we urged representatives of these bodies to include religious leaders in building the necessary institutions and ensuring implementation of the right of return so that a process for determining the political status of Kosovo can move forward.

Given the delicate state of the peace process in Kosovo, the Executive Committee of ECRL/Religions for Peace proposed to make it the main focus of the next meeting of the full body in Brussels in November 2004. The religious leaders from Kosovo have accepted the ECRL’s invitation to attend the meeting and Religions for Peace is committed to facilitating their participation.

The Union for Reform Judaism is the largest Jewish movement in North America. Approximately 1.5 million Jews belong to Reform synagogues. It was established in 1873 by Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise with 34 congregations in 28 cities. It was known as the Union of American Hebrew Congregations until 2003. Today there are more than 920 Reform Jewish congregations in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean.

Reform Judaism affirms the central tenets of Judaism – God, Torah and Israel – even as it acknowledges the diversity of Jewish beliefs and practices. They believe that all human beings are created in the image of God and that we are God’s partners in improving the world. Tikkun Olam, repairing the world, is a hallmark of Reform Judaism. Social action, working to bring peace, freedom and justice to all people is central to its beliefs and programs.

Forgiveness has found an unlikely political footing in places such as South Africa, South Korea, Northern Ireland, and the former Yugoslavia, according to case studies in the book, Forgiveness in International Politics: An Alternative Road to Peace. Monumental acts of forgiveness have helped offset the myriad forces of un-forgiveness, which include cycles of revenge and distorted memories, and have pointed the way to a “politics of forgiveness,”

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