Last Friday, Pastor Marvin Jonasen and Reverend Gary Dalenius of Kenmore were among representatives from faith communities nationwide who met with Reverend Joshua DuBois, director of the White House Office of Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, to voice concern about the conflict in Sudan. Members of the Interfaith Sudan Working Group delivered a letter to President Obama, signed by 1,410 Christian, Jewish and Muslim clergy.

The letter emphasized the decades of war, famine and marginalization inflicted upon the Sudanese, and urged the Obama Administration to:

• Continue efforts to enforce the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) between North and South Sudan

• Work with the international community to bring lasting and sustainable peace to Darfur

• Ensure that the 2006 agreement in Eastern Sudan is upheld

The letter concluded with a message underscoring the group’s diverse religious background, unity around Sudan and Darfur, and support for President Obama’s international leadership on the issue.