Council of Religions
Swiss council of Religions SCR
The religious landscape of Switzerland has changed over the last few decades; it has become diverse. How can people who regard quite different things as true and right live together? This question concerns many people in Switzerland. Moreover in the international context at present there is a danger that religion will be misused as a basis for claims to power and the legitimation of violence and war.It was against this background that the Swiss Council of Religions (SCR) was founded on 15 May 2006. This platform was initiated by Pastor Thomas Wipf, President of the FSPC Council and first President of the SCR. The declared aim of the Council is to talk more with one another rather than about one another.
The Council is composed of leading figures from the three national churches, the Jewish community and Islamic organizations, each of whom has received a mandate from their governing bodies. The aims of this dialogue platform include contributing to the preservation of religious peace in Switzerland and promoting understanding and trust between the leaders of faith communities. The SCR is also meant to be a conversation partner for the federal authorities.
Members of the Council
- Dozent Dr Farhad Afshar, President of the Co-ordination of Swiss Islamic Organizations (KIOS);
- Bischof Norbert Brunner, President of the Conference of Swiss Bishops (CSB);
- Dr Hisham Maizar, President of the Federation of Islamic Umbrella Organizations in Switzerland (FIDS);
- Bishop Makarios of Lampsakos, Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, Metropolis of Switzerland;
- Gudula Metzel, lic. theol., Biel, responsible person of the diocese region St. Verena and member of the advisory committee of the bishop of the diocese Basel;
- Bishop Harald Rein, Old Catholic Church of Switzerland;
- Dr. phil. Esther Starobinski Safran, Geneva, lecturer for Jewish philosophy and member in the dialogue commissions of the Federation of Swiss Jewish Communities (FSIC), with the Conference of Swiss Bishops (CSB) and the Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches (FSPC);
- Dr Herbert Winter, President of the Federation of Swiss Jewish Communities (SIG);
- Rev. Thomas Wipf, President of the Council of the Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches (FSPC), first President of the SCR;
Documents & links
Press Release: Religious symbols in public: first exchange in the Council of ReligionsMandate PDF 37.56 kByte
Contact
Pfr. Dr. theol. Martin HirzelSecretary of the Swiss Council of Religions
c/o Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches
Sulgenaugweg 26
3000 Berne 23
Tel: + 41 31 370 25 64
martin.hirzel@sek.ch
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