Interfaith Dialogue and Kazakhstan at the Intersections

On Friday, June 12, Intersections hosted Kazakhstan Ambassador to
the U.S. Erlin Idrissov, who briefed a five-member delegation that will
travel to Astana, Kazakhstan, in July for the Third Congress on World
and Traditional Religions.

The high level delegation, brought together by Intersections at the
request of the Kazakhstan Embassy, represents U.S. Muslims, Jews, and
Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant Christians. The delegates hope that
the Congress is the beginning of sustained dialogue among the world's
religions to enhance global peace and security. Intersections staffers
Sara Reef and Eduardo Vargas are accompanying the delegation to lay the
groundwork for working groups, especially among women, youth and
environmentalists.

Kazakhstan is uniquely situated on the world stage. In 2010, the
Central Asian nation will chair the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) -- a 56-nation association that includes
the U.S. and Canada. In 2011, Kazakhstan will chair the Organization of
Islamic Conference (OIC), comprised of 57 Muslim majority countries
spread over four continents. Kazakhstan is promoting these efforts to
work across faith-based lines for the common good. Kazakhstani
President Nursultant Nazarbayev has proclaimed publicly that
interreligious dialogue is an important element in combating political
extremism in Central Asia and across the globe.

The U.S. delegation includes: Ms. Debbie Almontaser, a consultant on
cultural/religious diversity issues for the NYC Mayor's Office of
Immigrant Affairs, NYPD and City Council; Rabbi J. Rolando Matalon, of
New York's Congregation B'nai Jeshurun; the Rev. Dennis D. McManus,
Professor of Theology at Georgetown University and Interreligious
Affairs Consultant for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops; and the
Rev. Dr. Bernice Powell Jackson, North American President of the World
Council of Churches and member of the WCC Central Committee since 1998.

Intersections Founding Director Robert Chase is serving on the planning committee of the Fourth Congress, slated for 2012.