Through the opening session of a convention on African regulation and faith held in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Elder Jörg Klebingat testified that “God is watching over the nations of Africa.”
“God is our Father, and He aches after we endure. The Lord has His hand over Africa,” mentioned Elder Klebingat, Normal Authority Seventy and first counselor within the Africa West Space presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The tenth annual convention of the African Consortium for Legislation and Faith Research in Abidjan on Could 14 introduced collectively 151 leaders from authorities, faith, regulation and academia to debate spiritual freedom, tolerance and reconciliation throughout the varied continent, in accordance with a launch on the Church’s Africa Newsroom.
Elder Klebingat taught that three issues are important for social concord to prevail — first, respect for spiritual freedom of all faiths; second, all faiths should be at liberty from concern of persecution; and third, freedom of worship and spiritual expression ought to be inspired each in public and within the residence.
Participation within the African Consortium for Legislation and Faith Research is one in every of some ways Church leaders and members are selling spiritual freedom worldwide. Under are six newer tales.
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Elder Matthew L. Carpenter, Normal Authority Seventy and president of the Africa Central Space, spoke on a panel on spiritual liberty on the World Convention on Interfaith Concord held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Feb. 28 to March 1.
The convention passed off on the headquarters of the African Union, a continental group with 55 members, and introduced collectively lots of of presidency, nongovernmental group and spiritual leaders from a number of African nations. Among the many primary themes mentioned had been the position of non secular communities in Africa, the promotion of peace, human dignity, environmental preservation, sustainable improvement and freedom of faith.
In a panel dialogue on spiritual freedom, Elder Carpenter mentioned “all religions ought to work collectively for the betterment of their individuals.” He defined that the Church is working with the federal government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to alter marriage legal guidelines concerning dowry. “We encourage our younger individuals to marry legally, however a lot of them are unable to bear the bills of paying the dowry. Reducing these charges might bless lives,” he mentioned.
Learn extra in regards to the World Convention on Interfaith Concord on the Church’s DR Congo Newsroom (in French).
Cotonou, Benin
On April 22, the Benin Cotonou Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints hosted the Selling Spiritual Freedom Convention on the stake middle. The convention introduced collectively many non secular, civic and tribal leaders and media. The target was to assist promote spiritual tolerance and to work collectively in an atmosphere of peace.
His Majesty King Kpotozounme shared his gratitude that the Church had introduced the difficulty of non secular freedom again to the nationwide stage. “I anticipate that Beninese can assume in another way and that every one religions can come collectively and communicate for a similar trigger, which is peace,” he mentioned.
Learn extra in regards to the Church-sponsored spiritual freedom convention on Africa Newsroom.
Sydney, Australia
In February, Elder Peter F. Meurs , Normal Authority Seventy and first counselor within the Pacific Space presidency, attended a spiritual freedom convention on the College of Notre Dame Australia in Sydney.
A nine-minute video printed on the Church’s Pacific Newsroom options an interview with Elder Meurs about his expertise on the convention. He talks in regards to the significance of non secular freedom, the position of youth in selling it and the necessity for inclusivity. He additionally discusses the worth of faith-based faculties and the challenges they face within the present local weather.
Lisbon, Portugal
Alongside policymakers, authorized specialists and spiritual leaders, many Latter-day Saints participated in a spiritual freedom convention in Lisbon, Portugal, Feb 7-8. It was organized by the Worldwide Affiliation for the Protection of Spiritual Liberty.
Joaquim Jorge Oliveira Moreira, a former Space Seventy who represents the Church on the Interreligious Dialogue Activity Drive in Portugal, mentioned in the course of the convention: “Research present that there’s a robust correlation between defending the variety of non secular experiences and larger civil and political freedom, larger freedom of media and larger financial freedom, fewer armed conflicts, higher well being outcomes, larger earnings ranges, higher instructional alternatives for ladies, and better general human improvement. Briefly, spiritual pluralism frees up area to dwell one’s life.”
Learn extra in regards to the spiritual freedom convention on the Church’s Belgium Newsroom (in French).
Bucaramanga, Colombia
In an effort to lift voices in protection of non secular freedom, Héctor Elías Ariza Velasco — a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — organized an interfaith choir within the Colombian metropolis of Bucaramanga. The undertaking introduced collectively some 40 individuals from varied religions.
“It’s the first time that we’ve got ventured into this new initiative of an interreligious nature, which permits us to unfold the message of the gospel by tradition and musical expertise,” Velasco mentioned.
Learn extra in regards to the interfaith choir on the Church’s Spanish Newsroom (in Spanish).
Lima, Peru
The Lima, Peru, chapter of Brigham Younger College’s J. Reuben Clark Legislation Society held a digital convention titled “Spiritual Freedom: Progress and Challenges in Latin American International locations” on Could 5.
The occasion was broadcast on Fb Dwell and featured a presentation from 4 people discussing the state of non secular freedom in every of their respective nations — Hugo De La Fuente Virues in Bolivia; Luis Prieto Castañeda in Colombia; Karina Murillo de Aspiazu in Ecuador; and Patricia Díaz Gamonal in Peru.
Watch the convention on Fb in Spanish and learn extra on the Church’s Spanish Newsroom.
