|
||||||||
| United Methodists Should Promote Dialogue with Muslims: Pickens | |||
|
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Encouraging communication between Christians and Muslims is an urgent task of the United Methodist Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns. Speaking during the commission's Sept. 22-24 organizing meeting, the Rev. Larry Pickens noted with alarm the portrayal by some of all Muslims as enemies. The commission, he said, "must work to develop and support communities and churches that are committed to establishing open channels of communication between Christians and Muslims in order to foster learning, community building and cooperation." "In a post 9-11 world, I believe that United Methodists must play a significant leadership role in promoting clarity and creating avenues through which Christian-Muslim dialogue must happen. It is critical that as we affirm our Judeo-Christian heritage we must also work hard to counter the impression that is created by terrorists, that Jews and Christians are working together to destroy Islam." The commission's efforts will include . Building relationships with Christian communions currently engaged in Christian-Muslim dialogue. . Developing resources and relationships through the National Council of Churches. . Developing and expanding the pool of Arab and Islamic groups as dialogue partners. . Offering models for dialogue for the denomination's annual and central conferences. Pickens said he hopes that resources developed for local churches will provide "some guidance and thoughts as to how they might grapple with these realities in their own settings." |
|
||
 |
 |