International Association for Religious Freedom

Serving liberal religious communities and individuals since 1900

In Memoriam: Rev. Dr. Richard Boeke

The Rev. Dr. Richard "Dick" Boeke (March 2, 1931 – May 25, 2025), a tireless advocate for interfaith cooperation and religious freedom, passed away on May 25th. His legacy in the Unitarian Universalist tradition and the International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF) reflects a rare combination of theological depth, institutional leadership, and joyful service.

Born into a Southern Baptist family, Dick's spiritual journey led him through study and reflection to the Unitarian faith while in seminary. He often remarked that study liberates—a theme that ran through his ministry and international engagement. As a minister in the UUA, he brought a passion for global understanding that extended far beyond his pulpit.

In the IARF, he found a spiritual home where his commitments to pluralism, dialogue, and peace could flourish. Inspired by the teachings of Shin'ichirō Imaoka, Dick became a leading voice for Free Religion—a vision of spirituality unbound by dogma, rooted instead in a reverence for truth, openness, and moral responsibility. He advocated for serious study of others' religions as an act of mutual respect.

Among his many achievements was helping to establish the Albert Schweitzer Award within IARF, which honored figures who embodied service to humanity in the spirit of liberal religion. The first recipient was Founder Nikkyo Niwano of Rissho Koseikai, a model of Buddhist leadership for peace. Richard's personal humility was evident in his constant lifting up of others whose lives inspired hope and courage.

Another example of his international bridge-building was his collaboration with Chief Priest Yukitaka Yamamoto to create Tsubaki America, the first Shinto shrine for interfaith worship in the continental U.S. His work helped translate Japanese spiritual values into a global context—offering Americans a way to engage with Shinto practice and nature-based reverence.

Richard's writings and teachings emphasized faith not as rigid belief, but as trust—in others, in life, and in the transformative power of service. His generous spirit, like his enduring smile, touched lives around the world.

May his memory continue to be a light—illuminating paths of wisdom, compassion, and unshakable hope.

— Prof. George Williams, President, IARF

EME Conference 2025 — Register Now

September 12-14, 2025 | Frankfurt, Germany | Theme: "Limits of Religious Freedom and Tolerance"

Keynote Speaker: Seyran Ateş Prominent author, women's rights activist, and founder of the liberal Ibn-Rushd-Goethe Mosque, speaking on "Limits of Tolerance and Liberal Religion".

Join us for this hybrid conference — attend in person or online. Don't miss engaging sessions, networking opportunities, and a special Jazz & Blues concert.

2025 Courses in the Free Religion Institute

Other June Sessions

Explore upcoming courses by Prof. George Williams, Rev. Andrew Brown, Rev. Michinori Maruta, Rev. Pascal Schilling and others.

IARF Vision and Identity Statement

We are pleased to present the IARF Vision and Identity Statement, a foundational document recently adopted by our International Council. This statement is the result of thoughtful collaboration, inspired by discussions at our 2023 Congress and developed by a dedicated working group. It was formally adopted by the International Council at its March meeting this year.

This Vision and Identity Statement clarifies our shared purpose and direction as we move forward. It outlines our aspiration to be a vital global network, connecting liberal religious communities and individuals across diverse faiths and cultures. Crucially, it reaffirms our core mission: to advance free and liberal religion, protect religious minorities, and promote human rights.

As IARF marks its 125th anniversary, this vision serves as both a reflection on our rich legacy and a compass for our future work. It helps us articulate what "free and liberal religion" means in today's complex world and how we intend to pursue our advocacy, education, and community-building efforts.

The full document is currently available in English, Japanese, and Hungarian, and we extend our sincere thanks to the members who dedicated their time and skill to these translations. We plan to make it available in more languages in the future.

We encourage all our members and friends to read the full Vision and Identity Statement. Your reflections and feedback are welcome as we continue to live into this shared understanding.

Study Tour to Japan — Spring 2026

One of the great assets of IARF is the possibility for members from different countries, religions and cultures to meet and inspire each other. IARF is now working on a tour to Japan in the spring of 2026 to study religious and spiritual traditions of Japan, with a focus on those of our member organisations. Meeting various groups belonging to our members and member organisations will be part of the programme, as well as commemorating the end of World War II and the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Courses of IARF's online Free Religion Institute, as the one announced in this newsletter, will be one of the ways to prepare for the study tour. Plans are still in an early stage, but if you are interested, please send an email to [email protected]. This also applies if you have concrete wishes or suggestions for the tour (for instance a particular theme) and/or if you wish to be a part of the preparatory committee. We will keep you informed in further newsletters.

— Peter le Poole

New IARF Events Calendar

We are pleased to announce the launch of our new IARF Events Calendar, now accessible at iarf.net/events. This comprehensive calendar contains all events organised by the IARF and the Free Religion Institute, and we encourage chapters and member groups to submit their events as well.

The calendar handles different time zones effectively, allowing users to view event times in the local time zone, in UTC, or in their own time zone for convenience. This makes it easier than ever to stay connected with IARF activities worldwide and plan your participation accordingly.

We welcome your feedback as we continue to improve this new resource for our global community.

IALRW Conference 2025 — "Power of Dialogue and Partnership"

The International Association of Liberal Religious Women (IALRW) will host its 2025 Conference from June 11-16 in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. The conference will be held in a hybrid format, allowing both in-person and online participation. Under the theme "Power of Dialogue and Partnership," participants will explore indigenous perspectives, interfaith dialogue, and women's leadership in addressing global challenges.

Featured Speakers

Rev. Dr. Esther R. Suter IALRW President & IARF Main Representative to the UN Opening: "115 Years of IARLW: Historical Foundations & Future Directions"

Prof. Dr. Kamar Oniah Kamaruzaman Advisor & Former IALRW President Keynote: "Reactivating Humanity and Humanness through Religions"

The five-day program combines academic presentations, interactive workshops, cultural experiences, and networking opportunities. The conference features interfaith dialogues with Buddhist and indigenous perspectives, with special attention to traditions of living in harmony with nature.