'Typo' turns interfaith focus to peace

When they were putting together their news release for this week's Interfaith Week, members of the Salt Lake Interfaith Roundtable kept coming up with the same typo. Instead of "call for prayer," which is the focus of this year's event, "we kept typing 'call for peace,'" says Roundtable chairwoman Elaine Emmi.

"Look at the mistake we made — this is great," they agreed, according to Emmi. "The mistake became the focus."

Indeed, peace was on the minds of many Roundtable members Monday morning during a press conference to kick off this week's schedule of interfaith events. Members from 20 faith and community groups attended, representing backgrounds as diverse as Baha'i, Islam, LDS, Native American and Gnostic.

"It's becoming increasingly clear, looking around the globe, that governments can't do it, politicians can't do it, nations can't do it," said Rev. Steve Goodier, of Christ United Methodist Church, regarding the struggle for peace. "So we have to do it."

We need to talk about peace in our churches, our mosques and our synagogues, he said. "As people talk about peace, demand peace, it's going to happen."

"We need all the voices we can get to speak for peace and harmony," added Ghulam Hasnain, of the Alrasool Islamic Center. But, he cautioned, "Words will not suffice. We need to do something of consequence."

Getting together to share their beliefs and learn from each other is one way, the Roundtable members said. Or as Rev. Tom Goldsmith, of First Unitarian Church, put it, "the Interfaith Roundtable has become an interfaith schmooze table."

The members also outlined the ways their groups have been working to foster interfaith dialogue, including the Salt Lake Theological Seminary's "Grounded" program to teach Protestant teens how to speak respectfully about their religious beliefs, and listen respectfully to the beliefs of others.

This week's events will include:

• "Achieving Peace in our Community Through Politics and Religion: Is Non-Violence Possible?" a public forum on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at Westminster College Gore Concert Hall, presented by Community of Peace. The panel will include Rev. France Davis, Attorney General Mark Shurtleff, and a member of the Islamic Society of Greater Salt Lake. The opening address will be given by Arvil Looking Horse, a Lakota spiritual leader.