INTERFAITH
Christians always have lived as Christians in a pluralistic world. At the
beginning of the 21st century, pluralism has come home. Cities and towns
have sizable immigrant communities representing a broad spectrum of the
world's religions, as well as locally born neighbors who have converted to,
or married into, families of other faiths. Schools and workplaces are
increasingly religiously diverse. Global events have created new frictions
and fears, as well as new opportunities for interfaith relationships.
As followers of Jesus Christ, Christians are committed to reconciliation
among all of God’s children, and to building reconciling relationships with
people of other faiths, both locally and globally. The resources presented
here are designed to help Christians explore how their faith shapes
relationships with those of other religions; to learn about the beliefs and
practices other faiths; to engage in dialogue, to worship together; and to
pray and work for peace together.
Inaugural Celebration of the
Grand New Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center
The Inaugural celebration was held on June 26th and marks the completion of Phase 1 of the 68,000 square foot Islamic cultural center, perhaps the largest on the entire east coast of America.
Boston is one of the cultural capitals of America, the home of much of America's historical, religious, and academic legacy and it is entirely fitting that this nationally unique cultural landmark be added here, in this city of landmarks.
Rev. Jack Johnson gave the closing remarks at the inaugural celebration.
Attending the event (L-R) Mr. Bilal Kaleem, director of the Islamic Center; Rev. David Michael, Interfaith officer for the Archdiocese of Boston; Rev. Dr. John Stendahl, past president of the MCC; Dr. William Graham, Dean of Harvard Divinity School; Very Rev. John Streit, Dean of St. Paul's Cathedral; Bishop M. Thomas Shaw, bishop the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts.
The Massachusetts Council of Churches hosted with the American Jewish Committee and the office of Interfaith Relations of the Archdiocese of Boston, an Evening with Rabbi David Rosen.
(L-R) Rabbi David Rosen, Mr. Robert Sarly, member MCC Board of Directors;
Rev. Joel Anderle, vice-president of MCC Board of Directors; Dr. Robert
Leikind, director, American Jewish Committee; and Rev. Dr. Edward O'Flaherty,
Ecumenical Officer for the Archdiocese of Boston and MCC Board Member
Rabbi Rosen, Director of the American Jewish Committee's Department of Interreligious Affairs is a distinguished international interfaith leader. The Rabbi is a member of the Israeli Chief Rabbinates' Delegation for Interreligious Dialogue with the Holy See and is a founder of the Interreligious Coordinating Council in Israel that embraces some seventy organizations in Israel involved in interfaith relations.
Attending the event (L-R) Rev. Theodore Asta, assistant to
Bishop Margaret Payne, New England Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church
in America and Dr. Martin Pion, ecumenical officer of the Roman Catholic
Diocese of Springfield.
Pictures below (L-R) are Rev. Joel Anderle, Rabbi Rosen, Fr. Demetrios Tonias, representing the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Boston, and Rev. Dr. Edward O'Flaherty.
INTERFAITH GATHERINGS
Over one thousand United Methodist from the New England Conference gathered on June 18th for their Annual Conference at Gordon College.
Pictured are representatives who serve with the Council. (L-R) Bishop
Peter Weaver, New England Conference, United Methodist Church; Ms. Marla
Marcum, member of the MCC Environmental Task Force; Ms. June Carter, member
MCC Board of Directors representing the New England Conference; and Rev.
James McPhee, assistant to the Bishop of the New England Conference, United
Methodist Church, and member of the MCC Board of Directors representing the
Conference.
In collaboration with the Jewish Community Relations Council, the Rev.
Hurmon Hamilton, Co-chair of the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization and
Rabbi Eric Gurvis, past president of the Massachusetts Board of Rabbis,
Christian leadership engaged in a week long learning seminar in Israel in
early July.
(L-R) First row: The Revs. Robert Miranda, Skip Windsor, Hurmon Hamilton. Second row: David Vincent-Lamarre, The Rev. Arlene Hall, The Rev. Dr. Marilyn Weeks, The Rev. Caroline Edge, The Rev. Sylvia Johnson. Back row: The Rev. Fr. Demetrios Tonias, The Rev. Liz Walker, The Rev. Joel Anderle, The Rev. Dr. John Buehrens, The Rev. Gerald Bell, Alex Kern, The Very Rev. Jep Streit, The Rev. Dr. Ray Hammond.
The Council of Churches of Greater Springfield gathered in May for the 71st Annual Meeting dinner celebration at Trinity United Methodist Church. Pictured (L-R) The Rev. Paula Alexander, Executive Director, Council of Churches of Greater Springfield; Presiding Elder Herbert Eddy, A.M.E. Church, New England Conference; The Rev. Everette Frye, President of the Council of Churches of Greater Springfield. (Photo by K.C. Bailey, NECVS, AME Press.)
Dr. Antonios Kireopolus, Senior Program Director for Faith and Order of the National Council of Churches was the keynote speaker at the 2009 Plenary Meeting of the MCC's Commission on Christian Unity. Pictured with Dr. Kireopolus is the Rev. John Castricum, Commission chair, and Ms. Laura E. Everett, Associate Director of the MCC
DIALOGUE:
The Massachusetts
Council of Churches has been engaged in Jewish/Christian dialogue for more
than 25 years, and in Muslim/Christian dialogue for more than ten years.
With our dialogue partners, the American Jewish Committee, and The Islamic
Council of New England, we have come to recognize the things that make for
in-depth sharing. Genuine dialogue deepens and enriches the faith of
all who participate, and foster reconciliation among God's people.
The dialogue guidelines used by our groups are shared
here, along with other resources for dialogue. Our hope is that local
congregations and interfaith organizations will use thee guidelines to
begin, or enrich, dialogues in their own communities.
- Massachusetts Council of Churches dialogue guidelines
- “The Dialogue Decalogue” (Swidler) Journal of Ecumenical Studies, Winter, 1983, reprinted with permission
- WCC dialogue guidelines
-
WCC "Ecumenical
Considerations For Dialogue and Relations with People of Other
Religions"
Massachusetts Council of Churches dialogue partners:
The Islamic Council of New England
The American
Jewish Committee
Office for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, Archdiocese of Boston
JEWISH/CHRISTIAN GATHERING
On March 25, the Archdiocese of Boston hosted the re-dedication of the Yom Hashoah Menorah, which honors the victims of the Holocaust, it was first presented to the Archdiocese by Jewish leaders in September 2002. The occasion was one of affirmation of the important interfaith relationship between Christian and Jews. Cardinal Kasper, President of the Pontifical Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews was a special guest on this occasion, addressing critical issues facing Jewish Christian relationships.
(from L-R) The Most Rev. Archbishop Cyril Salim Bustros, Eparch of Newton,
Melkite Eparchy of Newton; His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios, Greek
Orthodox Diocese of Boston; Rev. Jack Johnson, Executive Director, Mass.
Council of Churches; His Eminence Walter Cardinal Kasper, President of the
Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, and President, Pontifical
Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews; His Eminence Cardinal Sean
P. O'Malley, Archdiocese of Boston; Rev. Dr. Edward M. O'Flaherty, Director,
Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, Archdiocese of Boston; Ms.
Nancy Kaufman, Executive Director, Jewish Community Relations Council.
(Photo by George Martell, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston)
INTERFAITH MIDDLE EAST PEACE VIGIL ON BOSTON COMMON
Rev. Jack Johnson, executive director of the MCC attend an
Interfaith Peace Vigil on Boston Common.
AN INTERFAITH DECLARATION FOR PEACE
There has been a growing community concern about the Gaza crisis that calls for an end to the violence with expressing our anguish for both the Israeli and Palestinian peoples.
Boston-area Muslim, Christian, and Jewish leaders, including leadership from the Massachusetts Council of Churches have jointly written this statement calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and expressing our desire to demonstrate that during these most difficult of times we are prepared to stretch our hands out to each other.
View the statement and add your name.
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Interfaith prayers
INTERFAITH WORSHIP:
Description of the "Guidelines for Interfaith Celebration" by Patrice Brodeu from the Journal of Ecumenical Studies, 34:4, Fall 1997
“Parameters for Interreligious Prayer: Some Considerations”
(Pratt) Current Dialogue #31, World Council of Churches
Interfaith worship resources from the
Presbyterian
Church, USA
The following are samples of interfaith services:
An
Interfaith Service of Prayer Sponsored by the Greater Lowell Interfaith
Alliance
Community
Interfaith Service of Prayers
for Peace
The
Evangelical Congregational Church, Westborough
ECUMENICAL AND INTERFAITH DEBATE:
"Councils of Churches and the Ecumenical Vision", Diane Kessler and
Michael Kinnamon, Risk Book Series No. 90, 2000, WCC Publications, Geneva,
Switzerland
INTERFAITH RELATIONS BIBLIOGRAPHY AND LINKS:
National Council of
Churches Interfaith Commission
Resources for the U.S. context gathered by members of the NCC
Interfaith Commission. Note especially:
“Interfaith
Relations and the Churches,” a policy statement of the National Council
of Churches and “Interfaith
Relations and
Christian Living,” a study guide for church groups
accompanying the policy statement. The policy statement and study help
Christians think through the difficult question of how we maintain with
integrity both our belief in Jesus Christ as Savior, and our relationships
with those of other faiths. Order at (212) 870-2560 or 1-800-524-2612.
The monthly newsletter of The National Council of Churches Interfaith
Commission is at http://www.ncccusa.org/pdfs/Shanta%20PDF2.pdf
, and the blog of its Director, The Rev. Dr. Shanta Premawardhana, is at
http://www.nccinterfaith.blogspot.com/ .
World Council of Churches Interreligious Relations and Dialogue: In addition to a large selection of resources, the site contains numerous links to sites with information about other faiths in a global context. Note especially: “My Neighbor’s Faith and Mine: Theological Discoveries Through Interreligious Dialogue,” A study guide for Christian groups produced by the World Council of Churches. It addresses living as a Christian in a pluralistic world.
Boston College Center for
Jewish-Christian Learning.
Access to a wealth of research and resources on Jewish-Christian relations.
Graymoor Ecumenical
and Interreligious Institute
Familiar for providing resources for the Week of Prayer for Christian
Unity, this organization also has resources for interfaith relations.
Hartford Institute for Religion
Research, "Meet Your Neighbors: Interfaith FACTS", (Hartford Seminary,
2003).
Statistical background on numbers, locations and other information about
various faith groups, along with on-line study guide. Web site also has
links to the home pages of over 200 religious bodies.
Heim, Mark,"Is Christ the Only Way?" (Judson, 1985); "Salvations: Truth
and Difference in Religion", (Orbis, 1995); "The Depth of the Riches: A
Trinitarian Theology of Religious Ends", (Eerdmans, 2001).
Together, the three books above reflect on Christian perspectives on
relations with other faiths. Two sequential articles in The Christian
Century, January 2001, give a summary of the latter two books.
"Interfaith Education Initiative: A Manual on Interfaith Dialogue" compiled and edited by Sonia P. Omulepu, Interfaith Education Coordinator, Episcopal Church Center, New York, NY. Copies ($5.00 plus postage) can be ordered from the Episcopal Parish Services at 800-903-5544, publication number 60-0416.
Institute for Ecumenical and Cultural Research,
"Living Faithfully in the United States Today", (IECR, 2001).
A summary of a series of dialogues among inter-religious leaders on what it
means to live faithfully in the United States today. Includes suggested
guidelines for dialogue, as well as strategies for addressing common
concerns.
The Islam Project: This site is based on the recent PBS documentary, "Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet", and includes educational resources on Islam.
Jewish-Christian Relations. Groups, resources, statements, bibliographies, as well as inter-religious links.
The Journal of Ecumenical Studies. In addition to links to journal articles on inter-religious matters, this web page includes many additional interfaith links.
The Lexington Center for Jewish-Christian-Muslim Understanding: provides educational programs and opportunities for interfaith dialogue in Eastern Massachusetts
Matlins, Stuart M. and Arthur J. Magida, "How to be a Perfect Stranger: The
Essential Religious Etiquette Handbook", (Skylight Paths, 2003).
Guidelines for dress and behavior when attending worship, or other special
occasions in various religious communities.
"Nostra Aetate", October 28, 1965. Declaration by His Holiness Pope Paul VI on the relation of the Church to non-Christian religions.
The Pluralism Project: Harvard University's on-line resource for religions represented in the United States, including a listing of Boston area groups.
WALKING GOD'S PATHS, a six part video series prepared by the Center for Christian-Jewish Learning at Boston College, for the National Council of Synagogues and the Bishops' Committee on Educational and Interreligious Affairs. The series is intended for use by church and synagogue congregations. Each segment is approximately 15 minutes in length and is accompanied by a detailed online Users' Guide containing questions for discussion and additional resources. Order at http://www.bc.edu/cjlearning
United Church of Christ: Study resource on interreligious relations
Denominational offices for Interreligious affairs:
Episcopal Church
United Church of
Christ
United Methodist Church
copyright © 2003. Massachusetts Council of Churches.