wfn.org | U.S. Christians Urged to Get Involved With Other Faiths

[George Conklin <gconklin@wfn.org>]

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA
Office of News Services
Email: news@ncccusa.org
Web: www.ncccusa.org
Contact: NCC News, 212-870-2227
	50th Anniversary Newsroom - Nov. 8-12, 1999 call 216-696-8490

NCC11/11/99					FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

U.S. CHRISTIANS URGED TO GET INVOLVED WITH OTHER FAITHS

Nov. 10, 1999, CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Church members were challenged to think 
about how to be true to their faith while reaching out to work on 
humanity's common problems with their neighbors of other faiths.  The call 
came at the 50th anniversary celebration of the National Council of 
Churches meeting here.

NCC leaders, meeting in General Assembly, the Council's highest legislative 
body, on Wednesday  approved a major policy document, "Interfaith Relations 
and the Churches," aimed at involving church members in the building of a 
better society.   Earlier in the week, much the same message was offered 
during a 50th anniversary forum on "Living Faithfully in America: A 
Multifaith Conversation."

Christians are urged to intensify understanding of their own faith and 
religious roots when they undertake inter-religious dialogue.  The paper 
suggests, "One must come to the table ready to exchange concepts and 
doctrines as we seek common ground for action."

The document recommends that the NCC continue relations with national 
religious bodies, undertake new conversations with religious communities 
such as the Hindu and Sikh, continue inter-religious activities to promote 
global peace and justice, and increase activities with other religious 
groups on refugee resettlement, overseas programs, prevention of family 
violence and other social concerns.

Perhaps the NCC should follow the example of other faiths and link its 
interfaith work with work in social justice," suggested Dr. Jay Rock, 
Co-Director of the NCC Interfaith Relations Commission. Rock sees a flicker 
of " bright lights" in the growing interest among churches in 
inter-religious work.

Progress has been made in interfaith activities on the local level.  The 
Rev. Jessie Glick, Colchester, Conn., noted that many local Council of 
Churches activities now take place under interfaith umbrellas. "Our annual 
hunger walk and food drive and other activities are now jointly sponsored," 
he noted.

The NCC statement uses strong language to denounce "all forms of religious 
and racial bias."  It says, "As Churches we must uproot all that might 
contribute to such prejudice in our teaching, life and ministries."

The next century is projected to bring a new cadre of religiously committed 
people; these people must be engaged in inter-religious work, participants 
agreed, adding that funding for inter-religious work has not been 
proportionate to the needs and opportunities. Too many national 
organizations and local congregations cannot provide sufficient time and 
expertise for interfaith work because they are under pressure to keep up 
with institutional needs such as education, worship, theological education 
and fund-raising, they said.  Some major foundations are beginning to look 
at providing grants for inter-religious work, it was reported.

The Rev. Bert Breiner, co-director of the NCC Interfaith Commission, 
addressed the importance of teaching one's own faith.  "One must come to 
the table ready to exchange," said the Rev. Breiner. "We must learn to live 
faithfully in a multi-faith society and to live in relationship to God, 
humanity and the Bible."

Professor Peter Junger, representing the Cleveland Shin Buddhist community, 
said," We must learn to improve in loving our neighbors and ourselves."

Closing thoughts were provided by Imam Fawaz Damra of the Islamic Center of 
Cleveland.  He said that despite personal links to other lands and people 
"we are all God-conscious people before we are American. We must not only 
act together but influence American foreign policy not to have a secular 
approach but to ground policy in the teachings of all faiths."

-end-