September 8, 2004

The Presiding Bishop's Deputy for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations, Bishop Christopher Epting, addressed the 41st Annual Convention of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) during their September 3-6, 2004 meeting in Chicago, held in collaboration with the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (CIOGC).

ISNA is the preeminent Islamic organization in North America and CIOGC is a federation of more than 40 organizations, including mosques, Islamic schools, community service and civil rights organizations, and professional associations serving more than 400,000 Muslims in the Greater Chicago area.

Epting brought greetings from Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold and Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams to the inaugural session. He also spoke at the Interfaith Banquet on Friday night, where he was asked to share something of the Episcopal Church's accomplishments through its Interfaith Education Initiative and the upcoming conference at the Washington National Cathedral, September 30-October 2, 2004.

"The Islamic Society's Convention is not unlike our General Convention featuring worship, educational, inspirational, social and commercial aspects," said Epting. "The only thing they don't do that we do is legislation!"

More than 35,000 Muslims participated in events, most of which were held at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center near Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. Muslim prayer times were strictly observed five times each day as the chanted call to prayer rang out in the Convention Center, and participants took breaks from the numerous workshops and from browsing in the Bazaar and Trade Fair to pray. The commitment of the North American Muslim community to youth was evidenced by the presence of hundreds of young people of the Muslim youth networks participating in their own parallel events.

"For more than 20 years," Epting told participants, "our General Convention has passed resolutions with language like this: 'Whereas the Church today recognizes the vitality and often impressive resurgence of the communities of the faithful of Islam, both in foreign nations and among peoples of our own nation; and acknowledges the impact of the Islamic community on the religious, cultural and sociological aspects of the lives of many people...that this 73rd General Convention endorse substantive dialogue between Christians and Muslim communities, dialogue that maintains the theological integrity of both faith communities and commitment to genuine human rights and religious freedom..."

"However, truth be told," Epting went on, "it has only been since the horrifying events of September 11, 2001 that we have begun to live up to those noble ideals. And that has often been because of the courageous invitations of local imams and mosques which have opened their doors to neighboring Episcopal Christians and invited us in, for hospitality and enlightenment. In my work over the last several years, I have discovered the variety and richness of local partnerships which are beginning to spring up all across our land and I rejoice in that."

Episcopal News Service