La Paz, Bolivia—On September 21, 2018, the Bolivian chapter of the Interreligious Association for Peace and Development (IAPD) was inaugurated in La Paz, the country’s capital.
About 120 guests, who included 21 leaders from the Catholic, evangelical Christian, Muslim, Hare Krishna, and Mormon faiths; representatives of the Andean Cosmovision; the president of the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP)-Bolivia, Mrs. Yovana Jordan, and four parliamentarians; and Ambassadors for Peace, attended the event.
The opening remarks were given by Rev. Yun Moon Lee, who thanked everyone for participating in the inaugural assembly.
A discussion on the "The Role and Responsibility of Religious Leaders and Civil Society Organizations to Face the Critical Challenges of this Time" followed. The speakers were Sheikh Yusuf Andrade of the Islamic Community of Bolivia; Prabhu Omar Muñoz of the International Society for the Conscience of Krishna; Dr. Erika Aldunate, director of the Center for the Promotion of the Laity of the Catholic Church; Mr. Gustavo Mejía, representing the School of Parents of the Catholic Church; and Pastor Guillermo Paz, representing the Unification Church.
Afterwards an Interfaith Water Ceremony and the signing of the resolution inaugurating the IAPD in Bolivia took place.
The president of the IAPP-Bolivia, deputy Yovanna Jordán, spoke and expressed her gratitude to the religious leaders and their willingness to carry out projects with different religious leaders to promote laws that strengthen the moral values of the family.
Next, an Interreligious Peace Blessing ceremony was held. Deputy María Eugenia Calcina Rivero and her husband; the indigenous priest Calixto Quispe and his wife; and the president of Bolivia Spirituality, Dr. Gabriel Valdivia, and his wife participated in it.