International Day of Peace Brings Together Diverse Faiths

In the knowledge that communication fosters understanding, a coalition of many Tampa Bay area faith traditions celebrated International Peace Day with an interfaith program at the Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization  

The Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization in Clearwater, Florida, marked International Day of Peace September 21 with an Interfaith Peace Day event in the ballroom of the Fort Harrison religious retreat. More than 100 people representing many Pinellas County religious traditions participated in the program.

Prayers for peace were presented by:

 

• Father Bob Swick, Chairman and CEO of Tampa Bay Veterans Alliance and Senior Chaplain for the Clearwater Police Department;
• Rev. Dr. Manuel Sykes, pastor of Bethel Community Baptist Church and a founder of Faiths in Action Standing Together (FAST), an interfaith group for Pinellas County active in social issues;
• Dr. Larry Muhammad, former National Director of Education for the Muhammad University of Islam;
• Mr. David Ring, lay minister for the Christian Science church in Clearwater;
• Laurie Jessup read a Jewish prayer for peace.

Rev. Pat Harney, Public Relations Director for the Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization, spoke of the value of religions in society and how religious freedom relates to peace. “Religious freedom is an expression of peace,” she said, “for when we allow others to worship as they feel compelled, then we are allowing them to be.”

The Church of Scientology choir sang songs of peace featuring quotes from the works of Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard, and the JGTO Praise Team performed a selection of Gospel songs.

Pat Harney announced plans to host future interfaith coalition events at the Fort Harrison, to be scheduled in coordination with the many participating religious organizations.

International Day of Peace, observed each year on September 21, was established in 1981 by United Nations resolution. The General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to “commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace both within and among all nations and peoples.”

The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights was established in recognition that “the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.”

  “On the day when we can fully trust each other
there will be peace on Earth.”  

Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard wrote, “On the day when we can fully trust each other there will be peace on Earth.”

The Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization is the international religious retreat for Scientologists all over the world. The Church makes the facilities of the historic Fort Harrison available free of charge to nonprofit organizations for community events.