Promoting Peace: Highlights from the Church of Jesus Christ’s Chicago Interfaith Symposium

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in downtown Chicago hosted more than 100 leaders from a variety of religious traditions for an interfaith symposium on Wednesday, September 25, 2024.

The theme was “Peacemakers Needed!” The group discussed how to promote peace in a world filled with conflict. The symposium included talks from representatives of seven faiths and two moderated discussions that invited audience participation.

One of the featured speakers was Steven T. Collis, a professor at the University of Texas at Austin School of Law. He identified traits he has found in peacemakers and offered ways to elevate conversations with others.

Collis said that because the American system of government requires that people talk with each other about difficult topics to get anything done, citizens must have certain moral qualities for peace to exist. For example, we must be open to change, spend time getting to know others instead of engaging in toxic dialogue and assume that people mean well.

Other speakers explored topics such as spiritual unity among religions, the value of listening, and educating both mind and spirit to connect with others. Many also stressed that we must do more than talk about peace.

Devesh Pandit, a Hindu community leader in the suburbs outside Chicago, attended the symposium because living peacefully is a key principle of his faith. He also said sharing words about peace must turn into something more.

“I could feel the same feeling that everyone has, that we need to put words into action,” Pandit said after the program.

Imam Hassan Mostafa Aly, director of MedGlobal’s Humanitarian Faith Initiative, cited the Quran’s teaching for believers to be peacemakers. “Being a peacemaker means reaching out to those who are different from us, who are worshiping in a different form, looking different, speaking in a different way,” Aly said.

He then offered ideas for action. “It means more than advocating for peace. It means actively working to restore justice, to uplift the oppressed and to promote understanding between people.”

Rabbi Shoshanah Conover of Temple Sholom of Chicago urged listeners to work toward peace even when another person has wronged you.

“You should be the pursuer of peace rather than wait for the other person to reconcile first,” she said.

Several members of the audience spoke during two separate discussion periods. One man called for more understanding of cultural differences and practices.

Father Larry Dowling, who led a Catholic parish on Chicago’s West Side, said peacemakers must possess a willingness to engage more peacefully in conversations. He said such vulnerability is a strength. He used the Savior as the greatest example of being vulnerable.

“Jesus Christ lived that as he taught, and his vulnerability attracted people to him,” Father Dowling said.

Collis also emphasized intellectual humility. Peacemakers recognize that they “know almost nothing about most of the things people argue about,” he said.

“Reminding myself how little I know about the one field that I am an expert in always makes me want to learn more from the people I talk to,” Collis said.

Elder Corbin Coombs, an Area Seventy in the Church of Jesus Christ, thanked the leaders for coming and “locking arms with us.”

“You are all included in our prayers,” Elder Coombs said. “We are so grateful for you.”

During lunch, the cultural hall hummed with conversation as members of Jewish, Muslim, Baha’i, Buddhist, Hindu, Catholic, Baptist, Zoroastrian, Latter-day Saint and other religious traditions mingled and made new friends.

Wilford Wagner, who served as the Church’s Area Communication Director during the planning of the symposium, said one goal was to bring spiritual leaders together to teach one another.

“Each participant brought a special spirit to the event,” Wagner said. “It demonstrated we have way more similarities than differences. Love for our fellow beings was expressed by all.”