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July/August 2005 |
Jewish and Christian dialogue shows signs of maturity
NEW YORK - A dialogue begun a year ago between staff and representatives of several Christian denominations and mainstream Jewish organizations is showing signs of maturity, says the National Council of Churches USA executive who coordinates the Christian partners in the dialogue.
"The dialogue, which sometimes experienced intense negotiations and often felt tenuous, has held," Shanta Premawardhana, NCC Associate General Secretary for Interfaith Relations, said in mid-May.
"There was hardly a 'tea and sympathy' phase in this dialogue," he said, citing a phrase attributed to Rabbi Leon Klenicki. "The stakes for peace in the Middle East were too high."
At its most recent meeting May 13, the table members agreed on plans for a Jewish-Christian trip to the Middle East September 18-23, and reached a consensus on a set of principles about how the groups speak to one another and to the media.
In planning for a scheduled Jewish-Christian trip to the Middle East, Premawardhana said, "each side agreed to put themselves in the others' hands for two days so that each could hear and experience the other's narrative, that is, their distinctive way of viewing the situation." "This demonstrates a remarkable level of trust that has developed around the table," said Jay Rock of the Presbyterian Church (USA).
"Although we cannot predict what, if any, impact this trip will have towards peace in the Middle East," said Brian Grieves of the Episcopal Church, USA, "we do know and fully expect that the trip will change those of us around the table. Even though some in the group make regular trips to the Middle East and have previously heard those whom we might meet, the difference this time is that we will hear those same stories in the presence of and through the ears of the other."
Participants in this continuing dialogue represent the following Christian communions and Jewish organizations: American Jewish Committee, Anti-Defamation League, Episcopal Church, USA, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, Jewish Council for Public Affairs, National Council of Churches USA, Presbyterian Church (USA), Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism United Church of Christ/Disciples of Christ, United Methodist Church and United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism.
Last updated on 25 Apr 2008