wfn.org | [ENS] Episcopal interfaith officer addresses Muslim convention

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

Tuesday, September 7, 2004

Episcopal interfaith officer addresses Muslim convention

ENS 070904-1

[ENS] 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."