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As Christian leaders from the United States, we
traveled to the Islamic Republic of Iran at this time of increased tension
believing that it is possible to build bridges of understanding between our two
countries. We believe military action is not the answer, and that God calls us
to just and peaceful relationships within the global community.
Meeting with Iran's religious
leaders
We are a
diverse group of Christian leaders from United Methodist, Episcopal, Baptist,
Catholic, Evangelical, Quaker, and Mennonite traditions. The Mennonites have 17
years of on the ground experience in Iran. We were warmly welcomed by the
Iranian people, and our time in Iran convinced us that religious leaders from
both countries can help pave the way for mutual respect and peaceful relations
between our nations.
During our visit we met with Muslim and Christian
leaders, government officials, and other Iranian people.
Our final day
included a meeting with former President Khatami and current President
Ahmadinejad. The meeting with President Ahmadinejad was the first time an
American delegation had met in Iran with an Iranian president since the Islamic
revolution in 1979. The meeting lasted two-and-a-half hours and covered a range
of topics, including the role of religion in transforming conflict, Iraq,
nuclear proliferation, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
 Meeting with Iranian
President
What the delegation found most encouraging from the
meeting with President Ahmadinejad was a clear declaration from him that Iran
has no intention to acquire or use nuclear weapons, as well as a statement that
the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can only be solved through political, not
military means. He said, "I have no reservation about conducting talks with
American officials if we see some goodwill."
We believe it is possible
for further dialogue and that there can be a new day in U.S. - Iranian
relations. The Iranian government has already built a bridge toward the American
people by inviting our delegation to come to Iran. We ask the U.S. government to
welcome a similar delegation of Iranian religious leaders to the United States.
As additional steps in building
bridges between our nations, we call upon both the U.S. and Iranian governments
to:
- immediately engage in direct,
face-to-face talks;
- cease using language that defines the
other using "enemy" images; and
- promote more people-to-people
exchanges, including religious leaders, members of Parliament/Congress, and
civil society.
As people of faith, we are committed to
working toward these and other confidence building measures, which we hope will
move our two nations from the precipice of war to a more just and peaceful
relationship.
J. Daryl Byler
Director of Mennonite Central
Committee's Washington Office
Jeff Carr
Chief Operating Officer for
Sojourners/Call to Renewal
Ron Flaming
Director of International
Programs for the Mennonite Central Committee.
Edward Martin
Director of Mennonite Central Committee's Central and Southern Asia Program
Jonathan Evans
Special Representative for Iran at the American
Friends Service Committee (Quakers).
Mary Ellen McNish
General
Secretary, American Friends Service Committee (Quakers)
Shanta
Premawardhana
Associate General Secretary of the National Council of Churches
USA for Interfaith Relations and Director of the NCC Interfaith Relations
Commission.
Maureen Shea
Director of Government Relations, The
Episcopal Church.
Patricia Shelly
Executive Board of Mennonite
Church USA.
Geraldine Sicola
Associate General Secretary for
International Programs,
American Friends Service Committee
(Quakers)
David Robinson
Executive Director of Pax Christi
USA
Joe Volk
Executive Secretary, Friends Committee on National
Legislation (FCNL)
James Winkler
General Secretary of the General
Board of Church & Society (GBCS)
The United Methodist Church
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