Ex-U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair and Pastor Rick Warren Talk Globalization, 9/11 and Faith

Churches must play a large role in promoting peace, freedom and health around the world, former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair and Saddleback Church Pastor Rick Warren agreed during a wide-ranging discussion for an audience of thousands Sunday night.

The retired British leader came to the Lake Forest to take part in Saddleback's Civil Forum, a speaker series that sees Warren—the founder of one of the largest megachurches in the world—tackling issues of public policy. Past participants have included , and then-Sen. Barack Obama with John McCain in 2008.

The topic for Saturday’s discussion was “Peace in a Globalized Society,” and touched on conflict in the Middle East, the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the importance of interfaith dialogue, and ways to fight poverty and disease worldwide. Throughout, both Blair and Warren stressed religion’s role as a force for positive change.

“Faith teaches you to understand there is something more important than yourself,” Blair said. “That is a very important principle, I think, in creating a better world.”

The Tony Blair Faith Foundation, established after Blair left office in 2007 following 10 years as prime minister, studies and encourages interaction between divergent faiths worldwide, Blair said.

“If faith doesn't have a major role, then the risk is a process of globalization without values, without beliefs, without conviction,” Blair said.

The crowd seated in the auditorium, which was filled to its capacity of about 3,000, rose for a standing ovation when Warren thanked Blair for supporting the U.S.'s war efforts following 9/11.

“In the face of evil, bystanders are no better than perpetrators,” Warren said. “I want to say on behalf of America, thank you to the people of the United Kingdom and thank you for your leadership.”

Blair explained what Sept. 11 meant to him.

“For me, 9/11 was not simply an attack on America,” Blair said. “It was an attack on a belief system, which we share. People would say, ‘Why were you so much with America?’ I used to say, ‘Look, it wasn't for America, it was for our own country.’ If we weren't going to stand with you at that time, then we weren't showing conviction in our values, because that was what was being attacked.”

Warren ran through the five components of the global Saddleback PEACE Iniative—promote reconciliation, equip servant leaders, assist the poor, care for the sick, and educate the next generation—to get Blair's take on each.

At the end of the talk, Warren presented Blair with the International Medal of PEACE to recognize his work as the envoy for the European Union, United States, and Russia in Middle East peace negotiations. Previously, the same honor had been given to President George W. Bush for his work to fight AIDS in Africa, and President Paul Kagame of Rwanda for his work on reconciliation following the genocide in his country.

On the topic of reconciliation, Blair spoke about the Northern Ireland peace process that was completed during his time as prime minister. He said that contrary to what some people said, religion played a central role in the Irish conflict, as it does today in the Middle East. The exchange of ideas between people with different religions can help bridge divides that lead to bloodshed and economic hardship, he and Warren said.

“Interfaith dialogue doesn’t mean compromising your faith; it means understanding somebody else’s,” Warren said. “You’re not watering it down, you’re just saying, ‘This is what I believe, tell me what you believe so we can understand each other.’ ”

Blair said that one of the greatest tests of his leadership came during the peace negotiations in Northern Ireland, when he had to sit down with “people who had done terrible things.”

“What would happen is you’d meet the victims of what those people had done,” Blair said. “And their families would say, ‘How can you do that? … I saw you sit in the same room as someone who killed my son.’ I found that very, very emotionally difficult. You have to say, or try to say, ‘I’m doing it because I don't want that ever to happen to someone else.’ But you were aware that, for them, that was not an adequate explanation.”

The two men also discussed lessons they had learned about leadership. Blair pointed out that being a leader means understanding that you go through the same emotions as the people you’re leading.

“Leadership is not about not being a normal human being—you are,” Blair said. “As that mantle of responsibility floats by, it’s despite your fear and despite your self doubt and everything that you know could go wrong, you take the mantle and put it on.”

Warren echoed that sentiment.

“Every major decision that I’ve had to make in the 30 years at Saddleback Church I was scared to death to do,” he said. “But I happen to believe you don’t let fear dominate your life.”

Attendees filed out into the drizzly night after the talk concluded, with many lining up to buy copies of Blair’s memoir, A Journey.

“It was great,” Saddleback congregant Sam Hadimata said of seeing Blair speak. “I learned that he [Blair] has the same vision we do.”

Saddleback plans to post a video of the event online. Be sure to check out of photos taken at the forum by contributor Jeff Antenore.