The Pursuit of Goodwill & Inter-Religious Peacemaking in Uzbekistan
The 2025 United Nation’s International Day of Tolerance was extended to a Week of Tolerance in Uzbekistan and marked by a special one-day conference on November 15, planned with warm intentionality by the Republic’s Committee on Religious Affairs. Though Evangelical Christians comprise less that 1% of Uzbek population the conference welcomed leaders from the Center of Evangelical and Protestant Churches of Uzbekistan, the United Bible Societies, and the World Evangelical Alliance’s (WEA) Peace and Reconciliation Network (PRN).
Ruslan Davletov, representative of Uzbek President Shavkat Meriyoyev, pointed out that in Uzbekistan, “Religious people should be leading to peace and prosperity.” The responsibility religious leaders have in developing communities where people of faith are people of peace for the good of all was highlighted throughout the conference. This theme was emphasized in numerous addresses given by Muslim, Jewish, Baha’i, Buddhist, and Christian speakers (including Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, and Evangelical). Every country is a “salad” of peoples and religions and there is a global need to embrace Uzbekistan’s desire to pursue a society of “goodwill.”
Christian presence along the Silk Road, and in particular what is contemporary Uzbekistan, dates to the second and third centuries and so it was a joy for followers of Jesus Christ to continue that thread of witness and reconciling presence in the present-day dialogues of the peoples who share the pursuit of goodwill in the region today.
Through the presentations of Bishop Ephraim Tendero (WEA Global Ambassador), Dirk Gevers (General Secretary, United Bible Societies), and the presence of Uzbek Evangelical leaders and Phil Wagler (PRN Global Director), the beauty of the teachings, miracles, engagement with the “other” (like the Samaritan woman in John 4), death and resurrection of Jesus were declared as hope, beckoning all peoples to walk in the way of forgiveness, justice, humility, and mercy.
As wars and rumours of wars dominate global headlines and local communities are shaken by earthquakes of difference, conflict and uncertainty, the words of the prophet Micah echo loudly. Nations are clamouring for answers. Peoples are wondering how to beat swords into plowshares, and everyone is seeking shade where they can thrive without fear (Micah 4:1-5). This cry resounded in Uzbekistan. Those who follow Jesus as Lord have the joyful responsibility to stand in solidarity with people of peace. Christians should enter with humility into the rich dialogue of the nations, as was experienced in Tashkent, pointing in expectation to the One who is the way, the truth and the life.
Rev. Phil Wagler, PRN Global Director