Faith leaders unite on founding values

WASHINGTON, Oct. 14 (UPI) -- A group of faith leaders has begun working across denominational lines to promote the values and principles underpinning America's founding.

More than 200 pastors and community leaders gathered in Washington for the Inaugural National Faith Leaders Summit.

Asked if the United States was a Christian nation, Ruth Graham, daughter of evangelist Billy Graham, told the meeting, "No, we are a republic based on Judeo-Christian values."

She added that America was in trouble because it was neglecting those values.

The Rev. Robert Schuller, chairman of the summit, said, "American history has underscored the essential involvement of faith in public life."

Moon Hyun-jin, chairman of Global Peace Festival Foundation which convened the event, urged participants to look beyond their own church boundaries and craft a message for the wider society. Former U.S. Senate chaplain Barry Black added, "We have to stop playing the game of exclusion."

The group plans to establish a national interfaith coalition to promote understanding of the United States' founding principles.

Moon is chairman of News World Communications Inc., which owns UPI.