Holy Land: Christian, Jewish, Muslim clergy join forces to protect the planet

Christian, Jewish, and Muslim clergy and seminary students will convene around a shared vision of environmental stewardship at the Faith and Ecology Conference in Jerusalem this Wednesday, 22 October. Current and emerging faith leaders and teachers can serve as a unique and powerful vehicle to influence society to address environmental challenges. In the Holy Land, members of the three Abrahamic traditions all share the importance of being stewards of Creation. The conference will instruct over 100 seminary students and clergy on integration of environmental education into faith-based teachings.

This conference is part of the United Planet Faith and Science Initiative, which brings figures in faith and science together to educate for ecological sustainability. It is part of a series of events in late 2014 on three continents-- in Peru, New York, and Jerusalem. The events coincide with UN climate talks and aim to generate tractable environmental change within faith-based communities.

Participants will take part in a panel presentation by local religious leaders and scientists such as Bishop William Shomali (Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem), Rabbi Yuval Cherlow (Rosh Yeshiva, Yeshivat Hesder Petach Tikva) and Dr Nurit Hashimony Yaffe (Academic College of Tel Aviv Yaffo); interactive workshops, an outdoor session, and a video session featuring senior religious leaders like His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks.

The Faith & Ecology Conference will take place at the Mishkenot Sha’ananim Conference Center, Yemin Moshe neighbourhood, Jerusalem, on 22 October 22nd from 9:30am - 5:30 pm

The Conference is being co-organized by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and the Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development, and involves the participation of students from the Salesian Pontifical University and other institutions.

Participation is free. For more details and registration information, go to: www.interfaithsustain.com. Inquiries can also be directed to 054-723-4973 orinfo@interfaithsustain.com