On Monday, May 28, 2007,Jonathan Evans, Special Representative for Iran for the American Friends Service Committee, came to Berkeley Friends Church where he shared his experiences and slides from a February 2007 trip of U.S. religious leaders to Iran.
In an effort to prevent the outbreak of war, ease tensions and build people-to-people relationships between the U.S. and the Islamic Republic of Iran, the group met with religious and political leaders including several influential Ayatollahs, former President Mohammed Khatami, and current President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The delegation was co-led by the AFSC and the Mennonite Central Committee, and included representatives from the Friends Committee on National Legislation, the Mennonite Church, the Episcopal Church, the National Council of Churches, Pax Christi, Sojourners/Call to Renewal, and the United Methodist Church.
The delegation went to Iran with the belief that people of faith in both countries can pave the way to reconciliation and peace through respectful listening and sharing. Since their return the delegates have met with members of Congress, representatives of the State Department, and individuals and groups across the country to share what they heard and learned in Iran.
The trip was featured in an episode of the PBS series Now. http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/312/index.html
Continuing news of the delegation can be found at www.irandelegation.org.