Inter-Faith Council of Leaders (IFCL)

1. INTERFAITH COUNCIL OF LEADERS (IFCL)- This initiative has for its general goal the harnessing of Muslim and Christian leadership from different sectors in the community for the promotion of dialogue and peace, with the following objectives:
   
   - To provide a venue for Muslim, Christian and other faiths leaders to reflect, express and share their views on certain issues that affect inter-faith relationships.
   - To identify relevant social issues and problems, generate ideas and possible solutions, and contribute to their implementation for the common good.
   - To become dialogue and peace movers who are able to influence the community through their life and action.

1. INTER-FAITH DIALOGUE FOR YOUNG GRADUATES Every summer, the IFCL’s Committee on Education selects some Muslim and Christian honor students graduating from selected elementary schools in the city and invites them to a special seminar on inter-faith dialogue. This is an effort to expose our young incoming high school students to a life of dialogue by faith, even young as they are. The objectives of the seminar are:

- To broaden the young graduates’ mind and heart to the richness and goodness of each other’s faith tradition and practices thus becoming future instruments of dialogue and peace in their families and communities.
- To provide exposure experience to some religious places in the city.
- To experience the healing process of one’s woundedness
- To develop the virtue of cooperation and working together in the spirit of friendship among participants.
- To develop the virtue of appreciation and respect of each other’s diverse religion and practices

2. GATHERING FOR CHRISTIAN CATECHISTS AND MADARIS GURUS – The IFCL Education Committee conducts gatherings of Muslim Madaris gurus and Christian catechists as religious educators The objective of the gathering is to establish friendship among them in the spirit of dialogue and peace and be able to share the same in teaching the students.

3. SYMPOSIA AND FORA - The IFCL sponsors gatherings on relevant issues on dialogue and peace and have published proceedings of such conferences for public circulation.

4. PUBLICATION – IFCL has also published and made available to the general public articles and materials that are relevant for Muslim- Christian relationships, the latest being the Open Letter and Call from 138 Muslim Religious Leaders to Pope Benedict XVI and other Christian religious leaders of the world entitled “A Common Word Between Us and You” dated October 13, 2007.

5. TULAY 5 INITIATIVE – The IFCL has also responded to some emergency situations like fire and natural calamities by raising funds. This project hopes to raise funds from Muslim and Christian local contribution for the five (5) initiatives or bridges of friendship in preparation for the 25th Anniversary of the Movement in May 9, 2009.

1. Help build a simple Muslim prayer house in Harmony Village.
2. Help build a simple Christian prayer house in Harmony Village.
3. Assist poor Muslim and Christian orphans who have lost one or both parents in situations of violence.
4. Help repair or assist in building houses for poor Muslim families.
5. Help repair or assist in building houses for poor Christian families.