|PIC1|Interfaith leaders from the United States and West Africa met in Liberia this week for a special conference aimed at taking the first steps towards reconstructing the war-shattered country and bringing it to permanent peace.

The gathering marked the end of a three-day international conference in the capital of Liberia, Monrovia, held to raise awareness of the peace efforts being undertaken by the religious community to build peace as well as to consolidate those peace efforts throughout post-conflict Liberia as well as other countries in the Mano River Union.

The gathering was attended by Liberia’s newly inaugurated Vice President, Dr. Joseph N. Boakai, and was the first international conference held in the country since the election of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf as the first female head of state in Africa.

The special conference was also attended by members of the diplomatic community, civil society, and non-governmental organisations.

The executive director of the Christian humanitarian agency Church World Service, the Rev. John McCullough, said: “It is time for creative strategies that will take us to the next level.”

African and supporting U.S. interfaith leaders laid out a strategy for constructing justice and long-lasting peace through country-specific action programmes for the Mano River Union countries Liberia, Guinea-Conakry, and Sierra Leone, as well as through large-scale programmes to cover the entire Mano River region.

|TOP|Rev. McCullough said grassroots campaigns would follow the leadership of inter-religious councils in each region as part of community outreach designed to foster a stronger voice for the citizen in the peace-building efforts.

The councils will work in partnership with national reconciliation groups also working on the reconstruction of communities amid the scars left over from years of devastating and debilitating conflict.

It was also agreed at the conference that the consolidation of peace in the region would require a focus on youth and women.

According to CWS, the conference challenged participants to work across denominational lines and to confront pressing issues “with impunity” as the country revives its hopes for the future following Sirleaf-Johnson’s election.

McCullough said that in addition to addressing issues of good governance and regional cooperation, the faith community must deal with "the lingering hurts and pains of a people who have suffered too long."

Vice President of Liberia Boakai also expressed hope for the country in his keynote address at the conference.

|QUOTE|Vice President Boakai pledged his “overwhelming support” for peace consolidation efforts but also warned that those who feel “left out of the political process” must see improvements in their lives in order for lasting peace to come.

CWS, which is already present in the Mano Region through its Africa Initiative, will collaborate with the Fellowship of Christian Councils and Churches in West Africa (FECCIWA) in monitoring the peace-building efforts in the overall West Africa region.

The secretary general of FECCIWA, Baffour Dokyi Amoa, led a conference discussion on the role that inter-religious councils will play in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea in peace-keeping and conflict management.

He praised the decision for councils to follow up with work in their respective countries.

"I was very excited that people from different organizations and backgrounds could share ideas and recommendations and finally commit to carrying out these concepts and specific actions at national levels," he said.

Rev. William Dyer, executive director of the Washington, D.C.- based Africa Faith and Justice Network, said: "The sense of unity and common purpose was inspiring.”

|AD|He added that “the openness and acceptance of each other and the willingness to walk together is very encouraging” for the prospect of lasting peace in West Africa.

Moses Ole Sakuda, the associate director of CWS’ Mission Relationships and Witness programme, said: “You cannot consolidate peace without talking about reconciliation. The fact that all these people were in one room talking is an important step toward reconciliation, which will lead to consolidation."

European Union Representative Godfrey Rudd urged closer adherence to the principles of both the Bible and the Koran.

Participants at the conference also agreed that the inter-religious council in each country would hold a biennial forum for the faith community and civil community to determine whether their legislative and judicial officials are acting in a way that promotes peace. The decision is an effort to confront the neglect and corruption by public officials.

"Civil societies and faith bodies aren't going to sit on the fence," declared Amoa. "They're going to take their roles and civil responsibilities very seriously," by speaking out if they determine that the government is not acting in the best interests of the people.

The conference was hosted by the Liberian Council of Churches and co-sponsored by Church World Service and the U.S. Catholic Mission Association under the banner of the Continuing Committee on Common Witness formed by the two groups as a forum for ecumenical dialogue on mission issues.

Signatories to a final conference document urging "religious and traditional leaders to continue playing their role of being proactive on social issues" included: Liberian Council of Churches, Church World Service, United States Catholic Mission Association, Fellowship of Christian Councils and Churches in West Africa, All-Africa Conference of Churches, Africa Faith and Justice Network, National Muslim Council of Liberia, Inter-Religious Council of Sierra Leone, Christian Council of Guinea, Federation of Liberian Youth, Christian Council of Gambia, West Africa Network for Peace Building, Association of Evangelicals of Liberia, Stella Maris Polytechnic, World Conference on Religions for Peace, Catholic Relief Services, National Muslim Council, Inter-Religious Council of Liberia, Council of Churches in Sierra Leone, Ecumenical Women Organization of Liberia, Eminent Persons Ecumenical Program for Peace in Africa, Press Union of Liberia, University of Liberia, and Foundation for International Dignity.