LYNC’s efforts to promote “covenantal pluralism,” -a three-pronged approach consisting of multi-faith relationship building, religious literacy, and all-inclusive dialogue inspired collaborations among participants.
Pencils, paper, water bottles, and translation headsets covered the white tablecloths where participants sat. A large white sheet of paper sat in the middle of the table with three Sharpie markers intended to collectively record new ideas on how they might engage with cultural, social, and ethnic divides.
Interest and trust levels varied. Some listened with arms folded: others leaned forward with curiosity.
The discussions were constructive exercises in which those differing in cultural and religious views held a heartfelt commitment to their fellow citizens considered how they might work together toward common goals.
Seven imams and nine Christian leaders from Astana, Almaty, Oskemen, Shymkent, and Turkistan attended the retreat. In addition, Yerzhan Nukezhanov, Chair of the Religious Affairs Committee, and Ambassador Bulat Sarsenbayev, Chairman of the Board of the N. Nazarbayev Center for Development of Interfaith and Inter-Civilization Dialogue, which runs the Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, were honored guests.
Dr. Yuliya Kharkova from Caspian University observed. She attended the training as the contact LYNC-Caspian MOU to provide feedback for future course development for the Cross-Cultural Religious Literacy (CCRL) program, ensuring program growth and improvement.
Three observers from the United States learned about Kazakh culture in Kazakhstan’s most culturally rich city. “Over the course of three days, I saw important relationships grow between the participants,” Pastor Lee Cordell said. “These connections have the potential to create lasting positive change in the Kazakhstan’ communities and beyond. In a display of multi-faith understanding and respect, I was invited to visit the local mosque along with my new friend, Dr. Imam Talib Shareef of The Nation’s Mosque in Washington, DC. This experience further emphasized the importance of openness and dialogue in fostering mutual understanding.”
Through careful listening, learning, and adjusting, LYNC’s partnership with Kazakhstan is gradually advancing religious freedom and strengthening social cohesion in Central Asia.
A collaboration with MFNN and regional partners, the Turkistan multi-faith retreat addressed challenges and strengthened relationships among religious leaders and officials. LYNC’s commitment to engaging with leaders in Central Asia reflects opportunities to promote multi-faith, multi-sectoral, and cross-national understanding and collaboration.
LYNC continues to address the enabling conditions for covenantal pluralism—religious freedom, religious literacy, and character development—by investing in targeted training and fostering personal relationships to contribute to a more cohesive and morally-just pluralistic society.
Recognizing the impact and potential of such gatherings, the next step is to bring pastors and imams from Kazakhstan to the United States for a multi-faith retreat focused on training for trainers. This initiative will further cultivate multi-faith understanding and equip leaders with the necessary tools to promote religious literacy and foster inclusive dialogue in their respective communities.
The conversations solidified the benefit of recurring retreats that connect clergy and build a sense of unity and shared values, including inviting church leadership from the controversial video to participate. Both Christians and Muslims agreed that the retreat model is a great platform to resolve such future issues.
Nevertheless, as a Grand Mufti advisor acknowledged, the event presented a valuable opportunity to forge personal connections with prominent Christian community leaders, such as those from the Kazakhstan Evangelical Alliance and Seventh-day Adventist Church, whom he had not previously met.
Over the past decade, LYNC has advanced Central Asian religious freedom, despite challenges. LYNC’s engagement framework measured religious freedom by government restrictions and social hostility. After reviewing the past year, LYNC has decided to focus on religious freedom, religious literacy, and character development.
LYNC will train more multi-faith trainers and equip government and religious community leaders to run roundtables and attend international network events to continue onward. Kazakhstan’s religious groups, civil society, and government leaders will own and use covenantal pluralism through these efforts.
Turkistan’s first LYNC training made an impact on the local government, which requested more involvement. The retreat’s relaxed and friendly atmosphere impressed Turkistan Vice Mayor Yerlan Kuzembaev. “It felt almost like a family gathering,” he said, urging LYNC to continue in Turkistan. LYNC president Wade Kusack, Micah Fries, Dr. Imam Talib M. Shareef, and experts from MFNN led the retreat.