On Monday, March 22nd the Religious Leaders Council of Greater Philadelphia celebrated its fourth year as a Council. Members gathered to share their wisdom as they face common challenges. They also decided to launch 'Zones of Peace', an interfaith, grassroots initiative will bring together congregations and schools throughout the region to address the root causes of violence and work for peace.

The Council includes 26 Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Baha'i religious leaders dedicated to "building relationships of mutual support, serving as a moral and spiritual voice, and taking action on issues of critical concern in our region." A focus on violence prevention became their first priority. With a public call for peace, read and celebrated in an Interfaith Inaugural Service for Mayor-Elect Michael Nutter, held on January 3, 2008, the Council announced its commitment "to promote peace in our homes and communities, to eliminate causes of hatred and to honor the dignity of all people. and to make our homes and neighborhoods zones of peace."

The Council's semi-annual meeting on March 22nd was hosted by Arthur Larrabee, General Secretary of the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends, at Friends Center in Center City, Philadelphia.

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Contact
Meredith Wilson
Communications Specialist
215-587-3747