On July 16–17, Washington hosted the forum America 250: Building on the Presence and the Promise of Religious Freedom — a two-day event organized by the International Religious Freedom (IRF) Secretariat in partnership with the Alliance of Virtue, Good Faith Partnership, and Love Your Neighbor Community. The event brought together members of the U.S. Congress, representatives of the U.S. State Department, diplomats, international experts, and leaders of civil society and religious communities from dozens of countries.
The first day took place at the Museum of the Bible, where participants explored the history of religious freedom and discussed proven models for advancing it. On the second day, the forum continued in the U.S. Senate buildings, focusing on the next steps in civic cooperation to advance religious freedom and human flourishing. In addition, on July 17, the Eurasia Panel was officially launched. The initiative was co-organized by Ambassador Robert Rehak (Czech Republic), Love Your Neighbor Community, Wade Kusack, Chris Seiple, and Greg Mitchell. The Panel brought together representatives from post-Soviet countries to exchange experience, monitor regional developments, and share best practices.
Opening one of the forum's panel discussions, Lord Russell Rook emphasized the importance of strong social relationships, stating: "Good governance is built on relationships, and transformation grows out of them." Former British Member of Parliament David Burrowes continued this reflection on the practical significance of religious freedom, emphasizing: "Religious freedom is an investment in lasting peace."
Ukraine's experience was presented by Tetiana Kalenychenko, Director of Dialogue in Action, and Ivan Rusyn, Rector of the Ukrainian Evangelical Theological Seminary (Pushcha-Vodytsia). During the Eurasian Panel, Dialogue in Action shared practical approaches to building dialogue among religious communities. The discussion highlighted dialogue as a space of safety, where religious communities that would otherwise rarely engage with one another are able to meet and build relationships.
In his remarks, Ivan Rusyn noted: "In Ukraine, God is sometimes not only an answer but also a question. And we ourselves must ask whether we are ready to hear 'no' from God in response to our prayers."
The establishment of the Eurasia Panel marks the beginning of a new framework for long-term cooperation among representatives of post-Soviet countries on issues of religious freedom, social cohesion, and peacebuilding. The day after the Washington forum, the Panel's founders held a strategic session to discuss its mandate, operating principles, governance model, and the next steps in its institutional development. The Panel's institutional structure is expected to be finalized before the Ministerial Meeting in Prague on November 11, 2026.
We thank Love Your Neighbor Community for coordinating logistics, facilitating speaking opportunities, and providing ongoing support.
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Cover photo taken by: Love Your Neighbor Community
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