wfn.org | Kireopoulos to join Yale 'Common Word' Dialogue

["Philip Jenks" <pjenks@ncccusa.org>]

>NCC's Antonios Kireopoulos joining
>Christian-Muslim dialogue at Yale

New York, July 24, 2008 - The National Council of Churches will be part  of the dialogue July 28-31 when more than 150 Christian and Muslim  leaders gather at Yale University to promote understanding between the  two faiths.

"Christians and Muslims have gone through periods of good relations and  bad relations over the centuries," said Dr. Antonios Kireopoulos, the  NCC's Senior Program Director for Faith and Order and Interfaith  Relations. "Recent history has reinforced ill will between the two  communities, so this interfaith initiative can make  progress toward  mutual understanding."

The conference is the first of several worldwide interfaith events  planned over the next two years to respond to the call for dialogue, A  Common Word Between Us and You, issued by major Islamic leaders.

The conference has been organized by Dr. Miroslav Volf, director of Yale  Divinity School's Center for Faith and Culture, and by Joseph Cumming,  director of the center's Reconciliation Program.

The interfaith gathering was endorsed by former British Prime Minister  Tony Blair, who will be teaching a course on faith and globalization  this fall at Yale with Volf.

"I was ... hugely encouraged when A Common Word was published," Blair  said. "I warmly welcome the fact that one of the world's premier  academic institutions ... is seeking to carry the debate and the  dialogue further and deeper."

In addition to Kireopoulos, leaders expected at the conference include  Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad of Jordan; former Prime Minister Sadiq  al-Mahdi of Sudan; top Evangelical leaders Leith Anderson and Geoff  Tunnicliffe; prominent Ayatollahs from Iran; Sheikh Tayseer Tamimi of  Palestine, Grand Muftis of several Middle Eastern countries; and John  Esposito of Georgetown University. Senator John Kerry as well as other  senior U.S. government officials also are expected to attend.

U.S. churches have chosen to respond ecumenically to A Common Word.  After a year-long study, they will issue their response this fall.

The NCC is the ecumenical voice of America's Orthodox, Protestant,  Anglican, historic African American and traditional peace churches.  These 35 communions have 45 million faithful members in 100,000  congregations in all 50 states.

>Press Contact: Dorie Baker, 203-432-8553.

See also: http://www.ncccusa.org and http://www.ncccusa.org/interfaith/

NCC News contact:  Philip E. Jenks, 212-870-2228, NCCnews@ncccusa.org