Commentary: In Philly, a history of religious liberty

Summer is here, and the warm weather has flooded historic Philadelphia with thousands of tourists - everyone from American schoolchildren to international guests. Some locals might scoff at this influx of curious visitors, but not me. Their presence reminds me that I live in a special city.

The cobblestone streets that I walk every day were the cornerstones of our nation. And because faith was so important to our nation's founders, it is impossible to explore the City of Brotherly Love without noting the centrality of religious institutions.

In fact, some might be surprised to learn just how diverse Philadelphia's faith community is today.

When William Penn founded the colony that would be known as Pennsylvania, his "Holy Experiment" sought to create a community that would welcome people of many different faiths. Regarding his vision of a colony characterized by religious diversity, Penn wrote, "We must give the liberty we seek."

His vision became a reality in Philadelphia.

Philadelphia's Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church is one of the oldest A.M.E. churches in existence. The City of Brotherly Love is also home to the oldest continuous Jewish congregation in America. And visitors can attend a service in historic Christ Church, the same church where the likes of George Washington and Betsy Ross once worshiped, or visit the baptismal font of William Penn, which was sent to Philadelphia in 1697 from All Hallows-by-the-Tower in London.

But Philadelphia's importance as a hub of religious activity is far from a thing of the past. Increasingly, Philadelphia is becoming a destination for faith-centric organizations and events.

In the fall of 2015, Philadelphia welcomed Pope Francis and thousands of Catholics from around the world for the World Meeting of Families.

Last month, Philadelphia hosted delegates from 200 countries for the United Bible Societies World Assembly. More than 500 leaders from 150 Bible societies came together to create a blueprint for the future of the Bible cause.

American Bible Society, the host of this year's World Assembly, relocated its headquarters to Philadelphia last summer. In May, we had the joy of celebrating our 200th anniversary in our new hometown. And next month, Philadelphia will be the site of another bicentennial celebration as the African Methodist Episcopal Church gathers for its 50th Quadrennial Session of the General Conference.

While large-scale Christian happenings are making news in Philadelphia, smaller, community-centric faith events are also having an influence on the area. During February's Black History Month, American Bible Society brought together a diverse group of Christians to discuss how the Bible can help heal the wounds of racial conflict. The first "Under My Skin" event was so successful that additional sessions are in the works in Philadelphia and three other American cities.

Penn's vision of religious freedom has extended well beyond the Judeo-Christian groups of his own day. The Muslim community has been steadily growing in Philadelphia and now numbers 150,000 to 200,000 people - about 10 to 15 percent of the city's population. The Mormon community is also preparing for growth. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will soon be opening a new temple in Philadelphia.

Philadelphia's embodiment of religious liberty is, of course, imperfect. Like other American cities, we are not immune to religious prejudice. As diversity in the city continues to grow, Philadelphians must hold fast to a commitment to mutual respect. We must remain true to our namesake, embodying brotherly love and sisterly affection - especially for those who worship differently from us.

Thankfully, the historic foundation of religious liberty in Philadelphia has created an atmosphere where intolerance is the exception rather than the rule. As Philadelphians continue to welcome thousands of global visitors into our community, let us pray that Penn's Holy Experiment will inspire new cradles of religious liberty where we are free to share Christ's love and his word around the world.

Roy Peterson is the president and CEO of American Bible Society. president@americanbible.org