Ecumenical & Interfaith
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Interfaith Relations

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Interfaith relations in the councils of churches | in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) |

| A model statement of interfaith commitment |

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Letter from Jews for Jesus founder posted after his death

A letter from Moishe Rosen has been posted on the Jews for Jesus web site on the occasion of his death on May 19. Rosen founded Jews for Jesus in 1973 and was its head for 23 years. In his letter, he writes, "I never thought I would live to see the day when those who know the Lord and are born again were supporting the efforts of rabbis. ... I would urge you to think very seriously before you support any 'ministry' that involves Jewish people and doesn't actually bring the gospel to the Jews." Jewishness never saved anyone, he says. "[T]here is no salvation because Christ has no place within Judaism."

German ecumenical event expands to include dialogue with other faiths

Germany's vast international youth-oriented church festival, the Kirchentag, in 2010 takes place in Munich on May 12-16. This year marks the second time a Kirchentag is "ecumenical," including both Protestants and Catholics as happened first in Berlin in 2003. On this occasion the theme is "That they may have hope," with an intent to face the social responsibility that goes with faith. Eckhard Nagel, the Protestant co-president of the event, told journalists interreligious dialogue would have a special place. "Iinterreligious contact does not mean inevitable tension or even a smouldering fire of perpetual conflict," he said. Rather it is, "an opportunity to learn from each other, and to seek solutions together for issues that are not always straightforward."  (ENI #10-0319)

U.S. military to train its chaplains together

Priests, rabbis, imams, and ministers will be trained together at the new multifaith Armed Forces Chaplaincy Center dedicated in early May. A second barrier will also be eliminated: chaplains of the various services will be trained in this one center, though they will wear the uniforms of the Army, the Navy, or the Air Force. The three services expect to graduate just under 2,800 chaplains and chaplain assistants this year.

Religious communicators put strong emphasis on interfaith dimensions

After Judy Trautman, the communications chair for the North American Interfaith Network (NAIN), attended the once-a-decade Religious Communications Congress in 2010, she reported that "interfaith has certainly arrived in the consciousness of religious communicators." "Both attendance and programming reflected an acceptance of the reality of religious pluralism," she said. See her full report, which includes brief synopses of speeches, plenary sessions, and workshops.

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"America has become the most religiously diverse nation in human history, and we're the most religiously devout nation in the West at a time of global religious conflict. So the groups who are at each other's throat somewhere else in the world live here cheek by jowl, oftentimes. And we have a decision to make. Are we going to fall prey to the same patterns of conflict which define so many interfaith relations elsewhere — in Baghdad, in Belfast, in Bombay — or are we going to create a new model of how people from different religious backgrounds interact right here in America?" — Eboo Patel, on a NPR "Talk of the Nation" broadcast

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General

A Charter for Compassion is expanding its circle of influence 

A Charter for Compassion, written through an interactive process, is now available on a web site where readers are invited to add their names to the statement, contribute their stories, share the Charter's message, and listen to leaders speaking about compassion. Its preparation was based on an assumption that compassion can build common ground. Using input from all around the globe, the final Charter was crafted by a council that included Joan Brown Campbell, Joan Chittester, and Desmond Tutu. Partners in the project included the National Council of Churches, the United Religions Initiative, the North American Interfaith Network, Union Theological Seminary, and Religions for Peace. The impetus for the charter came from Karen Armstrong (pictured). Now the Compassionate Action Network (CAN) is beginning a "10 Year Campaign for Compassionate Cities." Its first goal is completion of a Seattle campaign by mid-March by gathering at least 1,000 signatures proposing that the mayor and city council jointly sign the Charter of Compassion and declare Seattle a City of Compassion. A Seattle entity, Northwest Interfaith Community Outreach (NICO), helps guide and lead CAN.

White House Faith-based Partnership advisors make recommendations

The 25 members of the President's Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships have release their full report in which they recommend reform of the office, National Council of Churches (NCC) president Peg Chemberlin (pictured right) is a member of the council. She has written a blog posting on a recommendation related to poverty alleviation. See a short PBS video in which members of the advisory council speak about their recommendations and their desire to continue working. Read a summary of the recommendations.

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The Obama White House program is intended to provide a means for the government to "connect with real change agents in communities, people who are bringing change by engaging in real grass roots work, recognizing that interfaith service builds houses and meets needs, and can also prohibit conflict." Joshua DuBois (pictured left), who heads the office, says it isn't just about money.

Religion in foreign policy is the subject of a new report

A Chicago Council on Global Affairs task force has issued a report on "Engaging Religious Communities Abroad: A New Imperative for U.S. Foreign Policy." In issuing the report, it says, "Religious communities are central players in the counterinsurgency war in Afghanistan, development assistance, the promotion of human rights, stewardship of the environment, and the pursuit of peace in troubled parts of the world. The success of American diplomacy in the next decade will be measured in no small part by its ability to connect with the hundreds of millions of people throughout the world whose identity is defined by religion." Task force co-chairs are Scott Appleby of the University of Notre Dame and Richard Cizik, (pictured) formerly of the National Association of Evangelicals and now president of the New Evangelical Partnership for the Common Good. See the full report and the executive summary.

Pew Study says many Americans mix multiple faiths

In a study that has implications for Americans' views about "interfaith relations," the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life documents that the religious beliefs and practices of Americans "do not fit neatly into conventional categories." Even a sizable proportion of those who attend religious services weekly also go to services outside their own faith. A significant number profess Eastern or New Age beliefs. The picture for persons in religiously mixed marriages is complex, with a high percentage religiously less committed. Other reports illuminate the general picture. A Pew study released in mid-February finds that the Millennial generation is considerably less religious than older generations, with one in four notaffiliated with any particular faith. An earlier Pew study had produced a view of diverse, fluid religious affiliation in which Americans are both devoted and tolerant. See survey-related materials. A survey donein follow-up charted more specific views of American Christians. A separate study on Religious Switching Among American Jews documented patterns within the Jewish community.

Boston University professor of religion Stephen Prothero (pictured above) has commented on the Pew surveys. He sees more commercialization than education happening in the "spiritual marketplace" and worries about melting at the "sharp edges of the world's religions." 

Initiative for a UN Decade on Interreligious/ Intercultural Dialogue meets

Jewish leader warns against "off limits" words in political discussion

James Rudin, a long-time respected leader in Jewish-Christian relations, has warned against the terms " Holocaust," "Hitler," and "Auschwitz" being hurled as hateful political weapons in discourse within the U.S. Rudin points to the teaching of Krister Stendahl, the Christian bishop and theologian, who said that Nazi victims are trivialized and demeaned when the words are employed for other purposes. See Rudin's essay and also a letter to House Republicans from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). See a Huffington Post reference to the use of the words.

Archbishop of Canterbury speaks about finality of Christ

In a recent speech the Archbishop of Canterbury attempted to reconcile the claims of the Bible about Jesus and Christianity with the multifaith societies in which Christians around the world must live. Speaking at Guildford Cathedral in England, he urged confidence in one's beliefs and the importance of the belief in the finality of Jesus Christ. But he spoke as well against a bullying insensitivity to other faiths. Read the entire speech.

Pope's synagogue visit affirms church's respect for Jewish community

On a January 17 visit to Rome's main synagogue, Pope Benedict XVI (pictured) affirmed the Catholic's church's respect and commitment to improving relations with Jews. Benedict told his audience that, while Christians and Jews pray to the same God, "they often remain unknown to each other. It is our duty, in response to God's call, to strive to keep open the space for dialogue." He made no attempt, however, to break new theological ground but rather seemed to be seeking an ethical basis for  alliances in the social sphere. Benedict also responded to the new tension caused by the Vatican announcement of the pope's approval of a decree moving Pius XII further along the road toward sainthood. See a translation of the speech.

Anglican Network for Inter Faith Concerns offers Generous Love document

The Anglican Communion's Network for Inter Faith Concerns (NIFCON) has made available an Anglican theology of interfaith relations, Generous Love: the truth of the gospel and the call to dialogue, for study and reflection. The document asks, If we proclaim and serve a generous God can we be any less generous in our dealings with neighbors of other faiths? How do we affirm dialogue without  compromising our own allegiance? Lucinda Mosher has been the NIFCON North America representative.  

Catholic-Muslim dialogues are regional

Roman Catholics have organized their dialogue with Muslims into regional groupings. The West Coast dialogue has been exploring scriptural narratives in comparative perspective, using each's traditions of interpretation to disclose common themes and teachings. The Midwest dialogue has been looking at religion in the public square and each's engagement in civic life.

"Code on Holy Sites" is being prepared

Mid-summer in 2009 the Oslo Centre for Peace and Human Rights hosted Jewish, Muslim, and Christian religious leaders, academics, international organizations, and politicians from Europe and the Middle East for discussion of the role of holy sites in conflicts. The 2009 conference was intended to be an important second step in the creation of a "code on holy sites."  See the intentions worked out in a first conference a year earlier.

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Academic institutions

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Interfaith relations and councils of churches

The World Council of Churches

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Interreligious relations now has priority status in the WCC, under the staff direction of Shanta Premawardhana (pictured below), and focuses on:

• Accompanying churches in conflict situations. The WCC attempts to express solidarity with Christians while being concerned about how situations affect other faith groups. Recognizing that many conflicts today have some basis in religion, the project brings together advocacy and interreligious dialogue. When requested, the program will prepare churches in two countries to deal with conflict. An aide memoire lays out some of the issues.

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• Deepening mutual trust through interreligious dialogue and cooperation. The WCC issued a commentary on the Muslim letter, A Common Word Between Us and You, in March 2008 that it was hoped would be a helpful to churches in their dialogue with the Muslim community. Retiring general secretary Samuel Kobia and incoming general secretary Olav Fykse Tveit both spoke at a September 30-October 1 conference at a conference in Geneva organized by the Muslim World League, highlighting the importance of honesty in dialogue as a basis for meaningful encounters.

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See a Minute on mutual respect, responsibility and dialogue with people of other faiths adopted by the Ninth Assembly of the WCC.

Listen to segments of an interview with young American Muslim Sarah Abdullah, born in New York and raised for several years in Cairo, Egypt. She introduces herself, tells why interfaith relations are important in her part of the U.S., then speaks about the what she learned through attendance at a three-week course at the WCC's Ecumenical Institute in Bossey, Switzerland. The course, "Building an Interfaith Community," was held in the summer of 2009 and was attended by young Christians, Jews, and Muslims from around the world.

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The National Council of Churches

NCC interfaith work is based upon a policy statement adopted in 1999. In cooperation with people of other faiths, an Interfaith Relations Commission works to articulate a theology of interfaith relations, provide resources for the churches, engage in interfaith formation of Christian leadership, and create ecumenical opportunities with communities of other faiths. See its handbook, its brochure, and its listing of available resources. The commission is presently chaired by Diana Eck with Peter Makari as co-chair. Its PC(USA) members are David Leslie, Damayanthi Niles (pictured), Jay Rock, and Nanette Sawyer. Antonios Kireopoulos is the NCC senior program director responsible for interfaith work.

With the NCC as the key Christian convenor, a Jewish-Christian Leaders' Dialogue Table expects to meet two or three times a year. The group brings together staff persons or others with comparable functions. One of its major foci is Middle East issues. A much more recently organized National Muslim-Christian Initiative in North America is made up of seven national Muslim organizations and six Christian entities committed to the initiative, including the NCC as one of the co-sponsors. Together they have fought hateful rhetoric and discussed theology, including topics raised by the Muslim letter, "A Common Word Between Us and You."

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On this web site:

A Model Statement of Interfaith Commitment: a locally-prepared statement

What's Happening Where We Live: local and regional news

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