UN 60th anniversary - service in St Paul’s Cathedral, London

I represented the Baha’i community at this afternoon’s service in St Paul’s Cathedral to mark the 60th anniversary of the United Nations.

The service, which took place in the presence of HMQ and Prince Phillip, was billed as “A Service of Thanksgiving and Rededication to Celebrate the Sixtieth Anniversary of the United Nations Organization”. It was stirring stuff: fanfares, hymns with tunes arranged by Vaughan Williams (and others), an excellent sermon by the Bishop of London, lessons read by Prince Phillip and the Prime Minister, personal reflections by Lord (Paddy) Ashdown, and reaffirmation of the values that inspired the founders of the UN.

In a time when it would be all too easy to be sceptical about the UN, it is important to retain a vision of how the world may be a better place, with unity and justice rather than conflict and injustice as its ruling themes. Paddy Ashdown referred to the vision of the UN founders as being to build a new world order. This phrase has a rather different vibe for me as a Baha’i. Baha’u'llah’s vision of a new world order does not stop with a talking shop for nation states, but goes way beyond that to a global civilization (not to be conflated with the economic globalization that is currently so much an object of criticism and objection).

The UN has been a hugely important step on the way and could continue to help us towards the vision of a united world, but it has to be reformed. The Baha’i International Community has put out an excellent statement for the 60th anniversary of the UN, The Search for Values in an Age of Transition. Well worth reading.

In his sermon, Richard Chartres made a very interesting statement that resonates with the Universal House of Justice’s Message to the World’s Religious Leaders (April 2002):

I believe that religious leaders in particular have not with honourable exceptions risen to the challenge of our time with sufficient passion or urgency. In contrast to the efforts of scientists and many business interests world wide the global religious network is fragmented and underdeveloped. The initiative of the previous Pope in summoning a gathering of leaders of the world?s faith communities to Assisi to pray for world peace shows what can be done with determined leadership. It is an example which we need to follow since mere appeals to ethical fraternity without the energy of faith do not seem to generate the dynamic for change which is required.

Spot on!

I’m going to allow the Bishop of London the final word in this entry:

Soon we are going to bind ourselves afresh to some of the ideals which animated the architects of the UN in an act of dedication and commitment to the future. Please God we shall do so in a serious, joyful and hopeful spirit which all in this Cathedral can share. In the words of Paul, ?Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.? Amen. Amen.

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