Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns
http://www.gbgm-umc.org/interrelig

CCUIC  Ecumenical / Interreligious

Jesus prayed "that they may all be one . . . so that the world may believe." (John 17:21)
  ALERT   N E W S 
Coming Events Calendar
Northern IL Conference
 ecumenical_and_interfaith page
CCUIC of NIC - about
2008 GENERAL CONFERENCE
General Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns
21st Century Ecumenical Overview  Larry Pickens
GCCUIC survey of bi-laterals
INTERFAITH RESOURCE  PACKET
Books - CCUIC recommends
Presbyterian Interfaith Tool Kit
BOOKS

Interreligious Links
Methodist Links
 Pan Methodists Links
 World Methodist Council link
Peace and Justice
Church-State / Religious Right / Christian Zionism
Israel/Palestine   /Divestments
Living in a Multifaith World
-  Conversion - Pluralism/Secularism
Creating Interfaith Community UMW resource
NICUMC - CIOGC
United Methodist - Muslim  Dinners
Photos, PPT of Talk, Post-it Ideas
 Declaration of Relationship
Definition "Ecumenical"
Ecumenical Studies
Unity/Diversity Debate
BEM - Baptism Eucharist Ministry document
Anglican  Lambeth  Commission:  Sexuality and Schism Windsor Report
WCC on Theological Anthropology
UM and ELCA approve FULL COMMUNION

Starting a UMC-ELCA grassroots conversation

10th year Joint Declaration Doctrine Justification

World Methodist affirmation of JDDJ
2004  General Conf. study
Theology of Communion
This Holy Mystery
NCCC Faith & Order - Oberlin 2007 reports
50th anniversary of The Nature of the Unity we Seek
Ecumenical Formation of Youth  YOUTH TOOL KIT
Archive Articles
UMCOR  emergencies
Same God - ELH blog

Welcome to the Ecumenical / Interreligious page of Northern Illinois Conference.

        "We have inherited a big house, a great "world house"[oikoumene] in which we have to live together - black and white, Easterners and Westerners, Gentiles and Jews, Catholics and Protestants, Moslem and Hindu, a family unduly separated in ideas, culture, and interests who, because we can never again live without each other, must learn, somehow, in this one big world, to live with each other.
       This means that more and more our loyalties must become ecumenical [oikoumene] rather than sectional. We must now give an overriding loyalty to mankind as a whole in order to preserve the best in our individual societies.
      This call for a worldwide fellowship that lifts neighborly concern beyond one's tribe, race, class, and nation is in reality a call for an all-embracing and unconditional love for all men."
                                -     Dr. Martin Luther King Jr - Nobel Peace Prize Lecture - Dec. 11, 1964


CONTACT US
NIC CCUIC Chairperson:
Rev. Amos  Oladipo  773-561-6422     oladipoamos@yahoo.com    
Epworth UMC 5253 N. Kenmore, 60640 & Chicago African Community UMC  4754 N. Leavitt, Chicago, 60625
NIC Ecumenical/Interreligious Office Liaison:
Rev. Charles Emery  630-337-3183  charlese@ameritech.net
http://www.ncccusa.org/ecmin/licc/prelude_may07.html#quote                                                                                                
The Menu at the left takes you to various aspects of  building ecumenical and interreligious bridges.
White links to Calendar, news and late breaking
Yellow links  to Conference and UM agencies that will work with you
        - e.g. the Northern Illinois CCUIC and its mission purpose and portfolio.
 Orange links include your basic resources, and examples of ministries locally and in ecumenical news.
Teal links are to the web sites of Christian  and Interfaith bodies locally and worldwide.
Blue links focus on difficult issues of interfaith relationships as impacting
and being impacted by world problems.
Pink links specifically focus on the Muslim Methodist relations in Northern Illinois Conference
Green links highlight recent documents in the ecumenical movements related to United Methodists.
Brown links to archive resources and history, to UM mission 
in the oikos context, and to blog.
HINT - This web site is long -  use Ctrl-F to "find" search what you want

SOME ECUMENICAL ETYMOLOGY    The root of the word "ecumenical" is oikos, a Greek word in the Bible meaning "house."  We find oikos in words like "economy" and "ecology."  Therefore "ecumenical" has to do with the "household" of God - and oikoumene  is a "world house"  (see MLK above).  I interpret various scriptures about the God's plan/telos/end as being that All (panta) people are to realize they are brothers and sisters in God's  household.  More
     Another Greek word tells us how to participate in God's goal -- that is, to turn strangers into com-panions around the table of dialogue.  Xenos means "stranger," as in xenophobia "fear of strangers (we see that as an overriding social/political pathology).  Paradoxically, the Greek word for "hospitality" is xenia which means a "stranger turned into a guest." 
     While the word "ecumenical" has traditionally described the movement for unity within the Christian house, as against the words "interreligious" or "interfaith" meaning relationships to religions outside Christianity, I believe "ecumenical" can be correctly used to in relation to other faiths.  (Again MLK)  As such it connotes, not a movement to co-opt into unity, but a recognition of the Holy Spirit working amid the whole household toward the telos/end of a world family reconciled in a just peace.  Interfaithing is a imperative verb for this whole household.  You can draw some ecumenical views from Ephesians 1:10; John 17:21; Acts 2;  Acts 9:10f; Acts 15:12f; Luke 4:24f; Mark 7:24-36. More
ELH




MY HERETICS AND YOURS

Nearly every time friends get divorced, I have noticed, it is hard to preserve your relationship with both of them. This strikes me as sad, unfortunate, but probably almost inevitable, human nature being what it is, otherwise known as sin. One of the greatest challenges in ecumenical and interfaith work is navigating the treacherous waters that surround every denomination or faith community that has undergone any sort of split or schism - and haven’t we all? Should you invite those who have just broken away from the Catholic or Episcopal or Lutheran Church to your local clergy association? Should you invite a Mormon to an ecumenical Christian group? An interfaith one?

. . .  So how should we relate to those who have broken away from another faith community?   :MORE  /www.ncccusa.org/Quote                                                                           
The Rev. Thomas W. Goodhue
Executive Director    Long Island Council of Churches
Quotable nuggets
     "What if the approach to the "other" -- (even in NW Pakistan) was not force, but respectfully being with and enabling aspirations--education, health, reverence for the best in each one's faith?"  from book: Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace  by Greg Mortenson 3 Cups   Central  Asia Institute CAI   

"Remember the rights of the savage, as we call him. Remember that the happiness of his humble home, remember that the sanctity of life in the hill villages of Afghanistan among the winter snows, are as sacred in the eye of Almighty God as are your own. Remember that He who has united you together as human beings in the same flesh and blood, has bound you by the law of mutual love, that that mutual love is not limited by the shores of this island, is not limited by the boundaries of Christian civilisation, that it passes over the whole surface of the earth, and embraces the meanest along with the greatest in its wide scope. "    - William E. Gladstone 1879

     "We are who we are not because we are separate from the others who are next to us, but because we are both separate and connected, both distinct and related; the boundaries that mark our identities are both barriers and bridges." from book:  Exclusion & Embrace: a Theological Exploration of Identity, Otherness, and Reconciliation by Miroslav Volf.  Miroslav Volf interview - Exclusion & Embrace
       
           l'll be a better Catholic, not if I can refute every shade of Protestantism, but if I can affirm the truth in it and still go further. So, too, with the Muslims, the Hindus, the Buddhists, etc. This does not mean syncretism, indifferentism, the vapid and careless friendliness that accepts everything by thinking of nothing. There is much that one cannot "affirm" and "accept," but first one must say "yes" where one really can.  If I affirm myself as a Catholic merely by denying all that is Muslim, Jewish, Protestant, Hindu, Buddhist, etc., in the end I will find that there is not much left for me to affirm as a Catholic: and certainly no breath of the Spirit with which to affirm it.  - Thomas Merton

       "For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus -- and nonbelievers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.   Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested, we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back, nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations. - President Barack Obama Inaugural  January 20, 2009

Bishop  Hee-Soo Jung at National Workshop on Christian Unity  "Unity" sermon  video


CALENDAR OPPORTUNITIES
2012  Christian 2012; Jewish 5770-71; Muslim 1432
To check holidays of various religions in 2011 Online Calendar
  Order Interfaith calendars    Chicago Center for Cultural Connections          Festival Shop UK Poster Calendar  


May 20-21,   NATO  coming to Chicago.
June 3  Christian Unity Prayer and Reception at St. Hedwig, Chicago, sponsored by Ecumenism Metro Chicago (UMC a member)
June 6-9   Northern Illinois Annual Conference at Pheasant Run
2014 Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions CPWR in Brussels  More

2010 - 2020  Decade - 2nd % of the 3rd millennium (The Ecumenical Millennium) - 
2011 to 2020 United Nations Decade of Interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace Decade of Interreligious

CALENDAR DETAIL BELOW

. Christian Unity Prayer and Reception
sponsored by Ecumenism Metro Chicago (EMC)
Sunday, June 3 
At Saint Hedwig Catholic Parish 
2226 North Hoyne Chicago, IL 60647 http://www.sthedwigbucktown.org/
 4 to 6;  the reception  before worship
Preacher will be Rt. Rev. Bishop Demetrios, Greek Orthodox Church

The liturgy follows the themes in the 2012 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity which was observed in January.  Leaders of the diverse communions in the Chicago area participate.  The reception will highlight with displays, music, films, and hand-on opportunities, the ecumenical activites taking place regularly in many churches across the metropolitan area. The United Methodist Church is a member of  EMC. .Facebook.com/pages/Ecumenism-Metro-Chicago/

http://www.oikoumene.org/fWOP2012eng.pdf
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

ac2012

                                                                     Annual Conference 2012  June 6-9
                                                                "Celebrate God's Amazing Work"

                                                               Pheasant Run Resort, St. Charles, IL
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About NIC's Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns (CCUIC)
What is the missional portfolio?
    The United Methodist Church is committed to the ecumenical movement which seeks unity among the churches in Jesus Christ, and interreligious dialogue and cooperation which promotes understanding and shalom among all peoples and cultures. The United Methodist Church is a connectional church. This connectional dimension is part and parcel of the gift of diversity and unity expressed in Christian koinonia and the interreligious linkage.-- a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth Ephesians 1:10.
MAKE the missional portfolio LOCAL  - United Methodist clergy and laity need to continue being the sparkplugs in local communities for thriving ministerial associations, clusters, and community and dialogue events,  Often it will be your initiative in recognizing a need and urging others by telephone calls, that can ground the  "household" - "ecumene" in your parish (Wesley said something about that.)  And let laity share that vision in mission, social action, hospitality and worship.

As the United Methodist denomination, the missional portfolio is enabled by the
General Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns   Phone 800-653-8936 
UMEIT - United Methodist Ecumenical Interreligious Training being offered by GCCUIC  http://www.gccuic-umc.org pdf publication
UMEIT resources local CCUIC mission
Contribute $ Support ecumenical and interfaith ministry of The United Methodist Church.- Bridges of Unity - Ecumenical and Interfaith Endowment Fund
  GCCUIC Powerpoints:   Conciliar Ecumenism, Pan Methodists, Neighbors/Witnesses,   Interfaith images, Muslim dialogues order CD by email  

What is the missional portfolio of CCUIC in NIC conference?    
The Discipline of the United Methodist Church describes the functions of both the General Commission and the Conference Commission in  Pars. 1901-1903 and Par. 641. 2004 UM Discipline   NIC CCUIC Mission Statement
Current Agenda Work by CCUIC - ICC, EMC, CIOGC, AJC, CUIC, Niagara, district training, interfaith bus, ecumenical award, NWCU, WPCU
Reporter article on CCUIC  activities NIC Reporter Ecumenical Feature
  NIC CCUIC's ministry- PPT    This PowerPoint is temporarily un-downloadable -Please order CD by email 
Other churches such as Roman Catholic have similar job descriptions Ecumenical Directory

 CCUIC Chairperson: Rev. Amos Oladipo
773-561-6422 oladipoamos@yahoo.com    
NIC Ecumenical/Interreligious Office Liaison: Rev. Charles Emery
 630-337-3183  charlese@ameritech.net
NIC Staff assigned to CCUIC - Rev. Chris Pierson, Rev. Michael Mann
847-931-0710  cpierson@umcnic.org   Chris Pierson Blog  http://chrispierson.eponym.com/
Web pages Editor   Rev. Edgar L. Hiestand Jr  Phone/Fax 708-660-9168, email ehiest@mc.net   1124 S.Clinton Ave., Oak Park, IL 60304   Ed Hiestand BLOG

2012 CCUIC Members Roster

NEXT CCUIC MEETING -  Saturday:  May 12, 2012,  9:30
Woodridge United Methodist Church, 2700 75th Street  •  Woodridge, IL 60517
CCUIC Resources   
NIC Media Library 847-931-0710 Ext. 17 Media center catalogue
Susan Gieseler sgieseler@umcnic.org   
NEW AT NIC MEDIA CENTER
“Three Faiths, One God: Judaism, Christianity, Islam
Film Information
This documentary compares similarities and differences in religious beliefs and practices that Islam has with Christianity and Judaism
 Imam shows how Muslims pray.
“Jews reading from Torah 		Christians in Prayer"
  Resource Person Available for local churches Program Topics Click for a parable  to keep in the back of your ecumenical mind
Please let us know events via email for posting here on Calendar or Idea Exchange.  If you see a need for a program in your local church, please let us know.
  .
Locations for ecumenical/interreligious studies and degrees:
* Switzerland WCC Ecumenical Institute Bossey  * Tantur Ecumenical Institute for Theological Studies - Jerusalem Tantur offers programs of continuing education and spiritual renewal for clergy and laity * Ukraine Institute for Ecumenical Studies Lviv   and *  Cambridge University. Interfaith Program  
CCUIC Resolutions at Northern Illinois Conference

2011  RESOLUTIONS  Toward Common Conversations - Jewish-United Methodist  
   Resolution on DuPage County    
Resolution in Support for Aspirations of Peoples

2008 NIC Passed Resolution Local United Methodist congregations/Jewish synagogues initiative UM-Jewish dialogue initiative
          Change to Standing Rules III-D-10  (p. 290,  2007 NIC Journal) to specify ex-officio members on the Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns Standing Rules  Referred to rewrite task force -CCUIC  to act  as if  passed .
2007 NIC Resolution Pursuing Peace and Justice in the Holy Land "Therefore, Be It Resolved, that the Northern Illinois Conference Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns is requested to develop and promote wider avenues of engagement between Christians, Muslims and Jewish communities pursuing justice and peace."   Palestine Resolution   CCUIC encourages churches to engage in the 2007-2008 Mission Study Israel-Palestine GBGM-umc study book
GBGM Women's Division answer to questions about mission study Response to critique
  See also: Peace links (Below) and specifically our peace web page references:  "Viewpoints" Views, and "Jewish, Muslim, Christian Groups on Mideast Peace-Israel/Palestine Mideast
2006  Resolution Bridges not Walls     Continuation of previous ecumenical and interreligious resolutions  Previous
 2005  Support for National Workshop on Christian Unity  NWCU    Encouraging Local Church Ecumenical/Interfaith Dialogues  Dialogues
2001 Resolutions  1. Steps Toward Wholeness --Pan Methodism - six session local church study on racism 2.  Celebrating the Birth of Churches Uniting in Christ (CUIC) 3.  Dialogue on Scriptural Authority for NIC during 2002 4. Yom HaShoah - Encourage churches to observe  5. : Ecumenical Cooperation expanding cooperation with Catholics, Evangelicals, Pentecostals and others
  Support CCUIC Conference Advance Specials 2010-2011 Rainbow choices      See page 26
Support organizations in Northern Illinois that enhance Christian unity and interreligious collaboration through six Advance Specials:  Protestants for the Common Good (PFCG) thecommongood.org,,  Chicago Religious Leader Network on Latin America (CRLN) crln.org,    Greater Chicago Broadcast Ministries (GCBM) gcbm.org,   You Tube - NIC youth on TV   In addition NIC membership supports the Illinois Conference of Churches. ilconfchurches.org  and Ecumenism Metro Chicago  Facebook. EMC
See CCUIC activities through the year in the Commission reports to the Northern Illinois Annual Conference
Historical Reports of CCUIC activity: 2010 REPORT  2009  2008  2007  2006    2005      2004    2002    2000           
CCUIC  Yesteryear -  Annual Conference Banquets and guest speakers Program book -1996   Bishop's Ecumenical Interreligious Awards    
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Northern Illinois Annual Conference
VISIT OUR NORTHERN ILLINOIS CONFERENCE WEB PAGE  http://www.umcnic.org/ 
See particularly the NIC calendar link for interchurch and interfaith events  

THE 2011 ECUMENICAL and INTERRELIGIOUS AWARD  
to BISHOP HEE-SOO JUNG
In recognition of your witness by word and action to God’s purpose for human community
      As the Episcopal Ecumenical Officer of our Conference you have envisioned God’s vast “house-hold—the oikoumene.” 
You have manifested, in your own words at the 2008 National Workshop on Christian Unity, that ”the Triune God is not an enclosed circle, but an inviting openness” seen in the beloved community.
You have led us as a conference and a commission both to understand how to profess authentically our Christian and United Methodist faith, and respectfully and hospitably to share in an open table with followers of other faiths in whom God’s spirit also
lives, moves and has being. 
From the story of your own faith journey, we have heard an invitation to live in the tension that is created by holding together the values of holiness and hospitality.
      You have celebrated the path to Christian unity in the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, at ordinations, in Roman Catholic and Lutheran settings, with Pan Methodists and World Methodist Council, Metro and Illinois organizations..
You initiated relationships with the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago recognized by the Islamic Society of North America.
You led a delegation to interfaith experiences in Turkey with the Niagara Foundation.
You led five Conference Interfaith Bus Tours, including recently a youth tour.
You have addressed the interface of  religion, culture and history — 
Through the Christian Peacemaking in the Holy Land and Korea summit conference and
Mideast travel “Seeking Peace and Pursuing Justice: Mission Education and Advocacy for Israel and Palestine.” 

The Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns
Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church
______________________________________________ 
Amos Oladipo  —  Chairperson CCUIC     June 11, 2011

Bishop Hee-Soo Jung comes with ecumenical and interreligious gifts.  He writes, "I think my calling today is in some ways bringing Christian unity as a gift."   Jung holds a doctorate in philosophy and comparative religions, and he wrote his dissertation on a Buddhist text. It's one manifestation of what he says is a passionate commitment to interfaith relations and bridge-building between factions in his own church.

2009 Northern Illinois Annual Conference  2009 Ecumenical/Interreligious Award to Niagara Foundation
Archives of previous Annual Conference awards and  pictures ARCHIVE

Northern Illinois Conference United Methodist Church is a member of
The Ecumenical Millennium Committee of Metropolitan Chicago,
The Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago,
The Illinois Conference of Churches.
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PRAY IN CONGREGATION FOR ECUMENICAL AND INTERRELIGIOUS BROTHERS AND SISTERS
For the peace and unity of the Church of God
For respect and collaboration among religions
For Peace in the Holy Land
  Christ is Born - Glorify . Him
 Bethlehem, the city of Jesus' birth, is under occupation. All its residents, including Palestinian Christians, are suffering. Behind the wall that separates neighbor from neighbor, patient from hospital, student from school and farmer from land, Palestinian Christians will continue to bear witness to their faith this Christmas, as they have done for generations.
http://www.diyar-consortium.org/films/PALESTIME.mpg

Pray for the ecumenical meetings
World Council of Churches
World Methodist Council Executive Committee
National Council of Churches of Christ -


Pray for the meetings of sister churches' annual assemblies, synods, conferences
Pray for the church, synagogue, mosque, temple down the street		 Northern Illinois Conference United Methodist Church  2009
United Church of Christ Illinois Conference
Presbytery of Chicago
Catholic Conference of Illinois
Pray for the Bi-laterals
More complete list

 ELCA/UM Agreement Interim Eucharistic Sharing
Lutheran/United Methodist dialogue		 UMC /Episcopal
UMC/Lutheran
UMC/Catholic
UMC/Orthodox
Episcopal/Presbyterian
Presbyterian/Reformed
Lutheran/Catholic


Chicago Tribune Religion Writer Blog - Manya Brachear
NPR Speaking of Faith Krista Tippett Krista Tippett
Cross Cultural windows:  Bridges TV    &  Al Arabiya  & BBC  &   Linktv Mosaic  & .Aljazeera
  &  Haaretz newspaper  &  Radio Islam on WCEV  1450AM  daily 6-7 pm  Radioislam.com
 Parliament of Worlds Religions news to your email   .parliamentofreligions.org/

Building Hope Conference: The Reconciliation Program of the Yale Center for Faith and Culture hosted a 10-day conference in June that brought together Christians, Jews, and Muslims  http://www.yale.edu/divinity July 2011

CAIR rep. condemns Afghan violence (CNN) - 4/1/11  video. : CNN transcripts

Thanks for UM support DUPAGE COUNTY BOARD voted  March 22, 2011 to approve the MECCA  mosque.    chicagotribune.com/video

We should celebrate with the Egyptians. Governments and religions alike must undergird the God-given unalienable dignity of the human soul; which soul has an unquenchable passion for liberation. That is “the moral force that bent the arc of history toward justice” which President Obama just spoke of. I think we saw and heard that arc from the Egyptian people on TV in Tahrir Square = ”Liberation.” I hope/trust that in every society, in the Middle East, Arab, Israeli, etc. etc, or anywhere in the world, the “arc” will be honored. May none of the diverse voices and diverse communities be quenched or co-opted. - ELH

Bishop Jung on Afghan violence and NIC UMC relations with Muslims. NIC news

SIC et NON - Differing perspectives on an issue
The issue: What is the meaning of religious freedom?
Re: Compulsion in Religion

What is it really in America/   Shariah101- Soundvision info By Abdul Malik Mujahid  The Sharia that Americans Live  pamphlet .pdf

Institute on Global Engagement globalengage  and journal  Review of Faith and Internaitonal Affairs

        CAIR Council on American-Islamic Relations Position Paper on Islam and Apostasy 8/09  "Islamic scholars say the original rulings on apostasy were similar to those for treasonous acts in legal systems worldwide and do not apply to an individual's choice of religion. Islam advocates both freedom of religion and freedom of conscience.... Before issuing this position statement, CAIR consulted with members of the Fiqh Council of North America, an association of Islamic legal scholars that interprets Muslim religious law.

       The Future of U.S. International Religious Freedom Policy (Recommendations for Obama Administration)  by Institute for Global Engagement
     Why Freedom of speech must include the right to defame religions  Economist 4-4-09
      Organization of The Islamic Conference 1990 Cairo Declaration of Human Rights in Islam  oicun.org  oic-oci.org
      UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948 Declaration of Human Rights  
      United States seeks seat on UN Human Rights Council  Diplomacy Faith and Freedom -   Economist 4-4-09
      UN Human Rights Council - passes 3-29-09  VS Defamation of religion   
      World Conference Against Racism 4-09  WCAR    
     View s on the right to change one's religion   7 26 08    Economist "Apostasy"   Economist "Conversion"    
     Muslim scholars re Apostasy and the right to change religions (many links)  http://apostasyandislam.blogspot.com/
    November 2009 Buxton Roundtable regarding issues of free speech, blasphemy and religious  Muslim Public Affairs Council
     November 14-15, 2009 Course on Muslims & Others in a Multi-Religious World,  Lombard Note aspects of issue in course description
VS  the MYTH that Muslims are SILENT ABOUT TERRORISM 
Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago condemns assassination of Shahbaz Bhatti, Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Minorities, in Islamabad  March 3, 2011
Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri, leader of a global Muslim movement Fatwa against terrorism 2010
Council of Islamic Organization of Greater Chicago "Jihad Against Terrorism"  Crescent Feb. 2010 p. 2 Dr. Z. Sahloul 
also  CIOGC collected statements  and  NPR Speaking of Faith - Islamist  and  Muslim Public Affairs Council  .
IF ASKED WHETHER "THEY" SPEAK OUT AGAINST TERRORISM
2004 - Ulama scholars re intra-Islam fatwas and interfaith  http://www.ammanmessage.com/   A fatwa is religious opinion concerning Islamic law issued by an Islamic scholar.
Deoband, a Muslim university,  issues Fatwa against terrorism - Council of North America 2008   A Fiqh Council makes interpretations of sharia law .
Azam Nizamuddin - our speaker at the NIUMC/CIOGC  dialogue dinner April 8, 2008 - passed along this column about Muslim Scholars in Deoband, India declaring a fatwa against terrorism http://www.newstatesman.com/religion/2008/06/terrorism-fatwa-india-islam  
U.S. Muslims issue Fatwa against religious extremism   Fiqh Council of N.A.  2008
 Chicago area Musilims endorse anti-terror Fatwa 2005
2004 - Ulama scholars re intra Islam fatwas and interfaith  http://www.ammanmessage.com/
Muslim organizaions statements and fatwas against terrorism Collected statements

Islamophobia: We need to accept the ‘other’  -Karen Armstrong   Theglobeandmail.com/

9/11 10th anniversary   Council of Bishops statement

UM supports Mosque permit in DuPage

HAITI APPEAL

911 10th anniversary - Woodridge UMC opens doors to Muslim congregation

Jewish/Muslim Initiative to be aware of - http://abunooralirlandee.wordpress.com/2010/01/22/jewish-muslim-community-building-initiative-text-study/  from an interesting blog by Chicago lawyer, Fenian Islamist Abu Noor Al-Irlandee.

Islamaphobia interview with  Kareem Irfan, President of the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago 
YouTube on Greater Chicago Broadcast Ministries "Different Drummers" TV in December

GOD IN AMERICA   - PBS SERIES  - OCTOBER 2010 http://www.pbs.org/godinamerica/

WBEZ  NPR May 2010 World View - Weeklong serices on Islam Jerome McDonald interviews

National Day of Prayer May 6 2010   About from NDP Task Force  web site  Comment about NDP Edgar Hiestand comment re Franklin Graham 
Pentegon disinvites Rev. Franklin Graham to National Day of Prayer An American Muslim Journal

Chicago Council of  Islamic Organizations  Springfield April 2010 Lobby

Tariq Ramadan - at CAIR annual dinner Drury Lane The Seeker - Chicago Tribune 4-16-10

Voodoo - Hollywood / Interreglious  NPR Speaking of Faith

National Prayer Breakfast 2010 President's Feb. 4 remarks

Report of Council for a Parliament of Religions Dec. 2009 meeting in Melbourne CWPR

The Politics of Minarets - Chicago Tribune article by Zaher Sahloul, president of the Coucil of Islamic Organizations, with comment by Edgar Hiestand Tribune Dec. 28, 2009

Chicago Muslims decry Fort Hood shooting  Chicago Council of Islamic Organizations dinner - Nov. 7, 2009   including video of Governor Quinn statement

Letter of NIC Bishop Hee-Soo Jung, Rev. Amos Oladipo CCUIC chairperson, and Edgar Hiestand Ecumenical Office Liaison to Dr. Zaher Sahloul CIOGC On  Ft. Hood shooting .pdf
 
Commentary on Dec. 25 terror attempt  by Council on American Islamic Association Executive Director Nihad Awad   C-Span 1-9-2010
  
Bethlehem Christmas 2009 - Palestinian Document   Patriarch Emeritus Michel Sabbah, Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, Lutheran Bishop of Jerusalem Munib Younan, and Archbishop Theodosios Atallah Hanna of Sebastia, Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, on Dec. 11, 2009 called on churches to support an end to occupation.
 
POPE AND ANGLICANS  October 21, 2009  The Pope issued a constitutional change that facilitates Anglicans disaffected by the issues of gay or women bishops return to Rome while keeping certain Anglican practices. Vatican text  and RC ecumenist viewpoint  and Wall Street Journal analysis       Some issues of reciprocity and subsidiarity.
 
New World Countil of Churches General Secretary Olav Fykse Tveit Sets Unity Priority
 
World Council of  Churches call for justly resolving Israeli  settlement issues  WCC Statement 9-2-09
Holocaust still a political football    Truthout 9-4-09 by Ira Chernus

Lutherans OK Full Communion with United Methodists  August 20, 2009

We are all Hindus now  Newsweek August 15, 2009

 WHENCE MID EAST ISSUES 2009 ? 
    President Obama June 4  Cairo video  Calls for a new beginning
    Northwestern University Buffet/Crown Centers establish Middle East Forum  
    Israeli rationale on settlements Jerusalem Center

Hadith (sayings of Prophet) being translated by Turkish scholars.  Islamonline  

National Workshop Christian Unity - Workshops: Living the Lund Principle Racism as an Impediment to Ecumenism Implications of Post-Modern Thought Common Words Among Christians and Muslims,     NWCU Audio files
 UMEIT (United Methodist Ecumenical and Interreligious Training) Network Dr.. Stephen Kim presentation, Part 1  and Dr. Stephen Kim presentation, Part 2
 
Two items from Jonathan Schwartz,  Assistant Director,  Chicago Chapter American Jewish Committee:
     April 9, 2009--The first Arab Christian university in Israel, Mar Elias, is slated for Nazareth.  Mar Elias, founded by Archbishop Elias Chacour, has numerous Methodist connections.  First university
      April 23. 2009 - Jerusalem Post article by David Harris AJC Durban Conference human rights double standards  Review Conference on Racism  Web site Report 

United for Peace and Justice  Afghanistan statement 3/2009
Aerial bombing Pakistan/Afghanistan Makes Terrorists Abdul Malik Mujahid - 5-24-09
Lifting the Veil (Afghanistan) Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy 5-09    Pakistan Frontline 2009
 Chicago Muslims & Jews Speak with One Voice on Peace & Justice  2/4/09

The Gaza siege
January 14, 2009 NIC Board of Church and Society need for ceasefire BCS statement and proposed NIC resolution 2009 Peace With Justice in the Holy Land 
Interfaith statement on Gaza in Boston Post December 2008 Statement
The Economist analysis of Gaza January 8, 2009
Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago Gaza statement January 19, 2009

Response of March 3, 2008  Mairead Maguire, Nobel Peace Laureate  Read Lift the Siege
Ms. Maguire,  Ms. Mairead Maguire of Peace People Belfast, www.peacepeople.com will be visiting Chicago for a Radio Islam dinner April 6.
CCUIC urges support of our 2008 NIC Advance Special:  Ecumenical Accompaniement Programe in Palestine Israel   EAPPI

1/20/09  National Prayer Breakfast - Obama, Blair

1/09 Annual Meeting Christian Churches Together In The USA:  statememt “Implementing the Call to Cut Poverty in Half” Poverty statement

NY Times - Iran scholar Abdulkarim Soroush on Qu'ran source  - sacred scripture: Prophet/Revelation distinction Article 12-7-08
12/2/08  The 100th anniversary of The Social Creed - NCC 21st century revision Bulletin insert revision and UM litany insert
11-26-08  7th Assembly of the Asian Conference of Religions For Peace GBGM article

12/08 The Review of Faith and International Affairs - (Council on Faith and International Affairs ) Islam and Pluralism - and - A Common Word

7/29/09 Jewish Journal Tikkun - by Asma Uddin editor-in-chief of Altmuslimah  Religious-pluralism-in-todays-muslim-world
http://www.altmuslimah.com/
9-25-08 Mass distribution prior to election of biased film on Islam (see "Obsession" discussion below in "Living in Multifaith World")   Rebuttal

NEW 9-10-08 Yale Divinity School Conference on  Loving God and Neighbor in Word and Deed - Implications for Christians and Muslims.  Miroslav Volf, the founder and director of the YDS Center for Faith and Culture, was a key organizer of the conference, along with Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad of Jordan. The conference followed the Center’s coordinated Christian response by several hundred signatories, published in a full-page advertisement in The New York Times, to an historic declaration in October 2007 by 138 Muslim clerics, who had urged reconciliation between the two faiths based on Christians’ and Muslims’ mutual emphasis on loving God and neighbor.

Interfaith Conference of Muslim, Christian, and Jewish clerics July 16-18, 2008 in Madrid.by Saudi King Abdullah.Christian Science Monitor  Comment by Arthur Waskow Rabbi Waskow    Michael Lerner Rabbi Lerner -Tikkun    and David Twesky New York Sun

Guidelines on Eucharistic Sharing - with United Methodist Church  dialogue/unitedmethodist/Guidelines
United Methodist ELCA Dailogue dialogue/unitedmethodist
United Methodist -Episcopal Church Interim Eucharistic Sharing

Pan-Methodists re-evaluate board roles UMC news 3/12/08

February 28, 2008  Gallup Poll survey of Muslim attitudes around the world
February 18 - 5th Annual US-Islamic Conference in Doha, Qutar US-Islamic
February 28 /Gallup-Center-Muslim-Studies
February 28 Gallup Poll Book 5 years in making Who Speaks for Islam    Commentary CAIR LINK
February 2008 ABC- TV "Encountering Prejudice" - Will bystanders speak out against discrimination against a Muslim woman customer Primetime Webcast
 July 2  Aspen Ideas Festival - Who Speaks for Islam - varied viewpoints of  Irshad Manji and Dalia Mogahed  -- video clips theatlantic.com/islam-speaks-for-itself.

Protestants for the Common Good (A CCUIC 2008 Advance Special) is launching a new program. Find out about the Academy - Training program for social policy involvement   The Academy for the Common Good will function as a new resource for providing education and advocacy in areas of social justice.  The challenges demand that we recruit and others to be trained and to share in the work of transforming our society into one that is more humane and infused with justice.

Schaumburg Churches have Abraham study based on Feiler book March 2008 series

Over the next two years, The United Methodist Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America will ask its members to approve "full communion" UMC.0rg news article January 2008

CBS documentary  In God's Name

Re Annapolis Conference on Israel/Palestine
National Interreligious Leadership Initiative for Peace in the Middle East: From Crisis to Hope To Secretary Rice
Mosiaic  World News from the MiddleEast -- Not hopeful  Link TV

 A Common Word Between Us and You (letter from 138 Muslim scholar/leaders to world's Chr istian leaders - Oct. 13, 2007)  Common Word letter
Response from the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago December 2009
Response from the United Methodist Council of Bishops Council of Bishops
Response from Yale Divinity School Yale Center for Faith and Culture response
Other Responses: Lutheran   ELCA  National Council of Churches October 8, 2008
Muslims point to Common Ground Christian Century news     Nov. 13, 2007


National Council of Churches 2007 General Assembly  Nov.  6-8, Iselin, New Jersey  NCCC      Wrap up Wrapup report
New General Secretary in Michael Kinnamon,  President is Archbishop Vicken Aykazian. For information: UM Delegates from NIC were Catiana McKay and Ed Hiestand




Current President Michael Livingston Churches of the NCC
 Michael Kinnemon installed
New President Aykazian (r.)
Michael Kinnemon is installed as General Secretary Nov. 2007  kinnamoninstalled.html
NCCC calls on Congress to recognize Armenian Genocide Armenia news
100 year old Social Creed to be revised 2008  History of creed and Methodist connection      lFeberal Council of Churches founding

Vatican ecclesiology statement
   UM Council of Bishops response July 2007
   Bishop Jung/CCUIC cover letter

Supreme Court justice analysis defines "fundamentalist" mindset re the absolutes underlying cultural divides in world chicagotribune.com/opinion/101407

Vatican, World Evangelical Alliance, Orthodox churches, historic Protestant and Anglican communions, and Pentecostal and independent churches will gather for a Global Christian Forum 2007,November 6-9 at a conference center outside Nairobi. Christian Century Aug. 21 2007

The Pope and Islam New Yorker April 2, 2007 by Kramer
Clear and thoughtful article post Regensburg lecture.

Chicago Tribune Thomas J. McNulty Public Editor article on newspaper coverage "Readers' Faiths Merit Discussion,  Nov. 27, 2006

Bishop Jung statement with Imam Malik on Korean Hostages NIC-Muslim release on Korean hostages

July 2006 - Perspectives on Israel/Palestine news - Gaza, kidnappings, etc. from  Jerusalem YWCA/YMCA and Jerusalem American Jewish Committee
YWCA/YMCA Advocacy Project
AJC Gaza - Shalit kidnapped
J Street is the political arm of the pro-Israel, pro-peace movement. -  http://www.jstreet.org/ 
AIPAC American IsraelPublic Affairs Committee, pro-Israel movement - http://www.aipac.org/

Christian Peacemaker Team mourns the loss of Tom Fox in Iraq - March 10, 2006 Statement

Illinois Conference of Churches PUBLIC POLICY RESOLUTION “ABANDON THE DEATH PENALTY”
Unanimously approved by the General Board Nov. 30, 2005 Judicatory Executives ratified Jan. 31, 2006 ICC Abandon Death Penalty

4th Consultation on Orthodox-United Methodist Spirituality http://gbgm-umc.org/global_news

Feb. 9, 2006 Tribune Perspective of a Western Muslim on Danish Cartoons and Reactions by F-Chicago -  Ahmed M. Rehab CAIRinthenews

Feb. 19 Tribune    Cartoonist Pat Oliphant   When cartoons inflame

Pew research American Muslim attitudes 5/22/07
Full report on Pdf.  Note also non-Muslims attitudes re agression.

Int. Herald Trib. 11/0706 about Chicago CAIR

Ingrid Matteson - new head of Islamic Society of North America  Newsweek article and her  Thoughts on women leaders in Islam

Muslims view Jesus at Christmas

Reading Scripture Across Interfaith Lines 
Christian Century 9/5/06 A Scriptural Reason Hermeneutic

Tariq_Ramadan 9/22/06  Pope -reason Violence-
Reporterinteractive 9/9/06  UM viewpoints - Islamic related violence
also, Pickens and  reference NIC and CIOGC relationship

  PBS "Not in Name of Islam"

 Review of Movie Water by Deepa Mehra

Bitter Lemons -Yossi Alpher:  Israeli and Palestinian Views re  Hizbollah 

Issues of proportionality  Hizbolah/Israel  Ministry of Foreign Affairs


Eboo Patel Tribune article


Bishop Jung and  NIC delegation  to Palestine for justice and peace. January 2006


Speaking of Faith - Interview with Miroslave Volf   2005 - Volf, a Croatian theologican at Yale wrote Exclusion and Embrace: A Theological Exploration of Identity, Otherness, and Reconciliation.  Significant thinking here to break out of the downward spiral of violence and despair on the world scene.




PEACE AND JUSTICE 
  "Peacemaking is a full time vocation that includes each member of God’s people." - Henri Nouwen Full Quote
"There will be no peace among the nations without peace among the religions. There will be no peace among the religions without dialogue among the religions." - Hans Kung Full speech

This week's Chicago area peace calendar  Peace Calendar
Sign up for the Chicago Peace Calendar at http://list.afsc.org/mailman/listinfo/chicago-chi
American Friends Service Committee  AFSC  Interfaith Peace Builders IFPB  2009 delegations to Israel & Palestine Info on trips
OUR NIC CCUIC Ecumenical/Interreligious  Peace Resources, Discussions and Links
Northern Illinois Conference   Peace Resources and Links   
United Methodist Church UMC Church and Society
  Northern Illinois Conference End the Occupation Task Force Church Network for Education on Palestine CNEP/ETO
2007 NIC Resolution Pursuing Peace and Justice in the Holy Land  Resolution 

CHICAGO REGION - Chicago Faith Coalition on Middle East Policy CFCMEP
Sunday, August 17th, sixty participants, mainly faith leaders but also community activists, from a wide variety of organizations in the Chicago land area, attended a Summit on Peace and Justice in Israel and Palestine at Elmhurst College.  Information on Summit contact Lynn Pollack - AFSC

 United for Peace: Faithful Citizenship Public Interfaith Effort toward a Peace in Iraq   afsc.org/greatlakes/chicago.htm
Religious leaders including Northern Illinois United Methodist Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns and the NIC Board of Church and Society with . other participants including Lutheran, Episcopalian, Roman Catholics, United Church of Christ, Jews and Muslims and faith groups and organizations 

North Suburban Peace Initiative  http://www.nspipeace.org   West Suburban Peace Initiative  http://www.faithpeace.org

Jewish Two State Peace Groups  Peace Now       J Street D.C. Lobby
No More Taking Sides Speaking of Faith

 Fellowship of Reconciliation  FOR  12 ways to save the lives of Abraham's Children provided by The Shalom Center http://www.shalomctr.org

Book recommended by AJC staff Holy Land Mosaic: Stories of Cooperation and Coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians
World Council of Churches Decade to Overcome Violence  DOV

2010 Travel as a Political Act Rick Steves

Peace pole information at  www.worldpeace.org
United States Institute of Peace Washington D.C. http://www.usip.org  - Iraq Study Group report 2006 
Karen Armstrong on 3 fundamentalisms

PERSPECTIVES
Rev. John T. Pawlikowski, OSM: .Significance of the Holocaust for ethics today.
Middle East through Mosaic medias Mosaic
From progressive paper in Israel  Haaretz.com
From James M. Wall's commentary on Israel/Palestine Wall blog
Tzedek v'Shalom is America’s Jewish organization promoting two-state resolution Brit Tzedek v.Shalom   
Foundation for Middle East Peace, Searching_for_peace in the middle east 30 minute film by Landrum Bolling
Donniel Hartman, Israeli commentatorFighting a Just War Against Hamas, Justly   with critiques
Slippery Slope ethics - Torture rationalization Newsweek May 2009
United Jewish Communities Jerusalem Assembly November  2008  Assembly Schedule
Articles which offer propose solutions to Arab-Israeli conflict.Common Ground News.Service

Abrahamic Alternatives to War: Jewish, Christian, and Muslim Perspectives on Just Peacemaking
Special Report by *Susan Thistlethwaite and Glen Stassen http://www.usip.org/pubs/specialreports/sr214.html

Northern Illinois Conference was a sponsor of United for Peace: Faithful Citizenship Witness
Sunday March 20, 2005  - 2nd Anniversary of the War
Lessons of  Iraq: War is Not the Answer/Pursuing a Vision of Peace
With Lila Lipscomb, Rabbi Bruce Elder, Abdul Malid Majhid, Deyar Gamil, Debbie Lucey @ the Chicago Temple
Have you read/implemented NIC 2004 Resolution on War in Iraq?  Annual Conf. Resolution
          
                                                                                                            Click for larger image

LISTEN TO  interview topic Churches Educating Churches on the Israeli Palestinian Conflict  March 2, 2005 by hosts:Imran Husain and Janaan Hashim.  Guests: Rev. Christopher Pierson, Director of Outreach & Witness Ministries Connie Baker, co-chair of the Methodist Task Force to End the Occupation and the Church Network for Education on Palestine  Radio Islam 1450AM,   Listen


 
Church and State / Religious Right / Rapture/ Christian Zionism
 America and the World generated several web sites concerned about responsible faith and citizenship such as.
The Interfaith Alliance http://www.interfaithalliance.org/
International Council of Christians and Jews http://www.iccj.org/en/
United States Institute of Peace http://www.usip.org/
United States Interreligious Committee for Peace in the Middle East  http://www.usicpme.org/usicpme.html
Christian Alliance for Progress (CAP) http://www.christianalliance.org
Walk the Road to Peace (in Chicago formation) Google  huml cached
Meeting of religious leaders June 1 with Colin Powell report from ELCA http://www.districtnet.org.uk/news/elca/2004/june/02.htm

Religious Right
Read   Why the Right Gets it Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It by Jim Wallis Sojourners
Read Americans United for Separation of Church and State commentary on The Council For National Policy  http://www.au.org/
The Institute for Religion and Democracy has been sending (Spring 2007) a book negative about Islam out to pastors. To sample author Karsh views  Wall Street Journal   To read a critiques of the IRD motivation and author link Episcopalchurch.mysterium        UM Nexus
Rapture
Read Bill Moyers "Welcome to Doomsday" in The New York Review of Books about Rapture Theology effect on environmental concerns. Moyer
Read The Rapture Exposed, a recent book by Barbara Rossing.  The popular Rapture series novels which tie in with dispensational theology popularized by John Darby (c. 1830).  More information on PBS Frontlinehttp://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/apocalypse/ show  and WTTW or  or http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/apocalypse/explanation/amprophesy.html
Christian Zionism
Northern Illinois Conference 2005 Resolution Fiction about the Rapture
Read critiques of Christian Zionism theology by various denominations http://www.christianzionism.org/    William Blackstone, an Oak Park, Methodist, in 1887 set up a Hebrew mission in Chicago to convert Jews prior to Christ's Second Coming , and in 1891 created an international petition support establishing a Zionist state as a precursor for the Coming.  Blackstone
Listen to NPR chicagopublicradio Worldview discussion on  "Christian Zionism and U.S. Foreign Policy “Israel, the Bible, and the Future: Premillennialism and Christian Zionism in American Culture and the Church”  Jerome McDonnell interviews Donald Wagner  from the North Park University Center for Middle Eastern Studies 
Holy War: A Texas Preacher Leads Campaign to Let Israel Fight (Post Gazette July 27, 2006) http://www.post-gazette.com


LIVING IN A MULTI-FAITH WORLD
Why do United Methodists dialogue and meet our neighbors? 
A CHOICE 
A fractured world 
OR empathy and household?
"Ralph Peters said, 'If we want to avoid the needless, thankless deaths of our own countrymen, we must learn to watch others die with equanimity.' ... Would it make  a difference to U.S. security if every Hutu killed every Tutsi, or vice versa; every Palestinian killed every Israeli, or vice versa; or if Serbs, Croats, and Bosnians exterminated each other to the last person? . . .All evoke empathy and stir emotion, but it is, as always a cruel world and each nation's one mandatory duty is to care for and defend itself."  Imperial Hubris  - Michael Scheuer                   
"A sad truth of human nature is that it is hard to care for people when they are abstractions, hard to care when it is not you or somebody close to you.  Unless the world community can stop finding ways to dither in the face of this monstrous threat to humanity those words NEVER AGAIN will persist in being one of the most abused phrases in the English language and one of the great lies of our time."   An Ordinary Man, Paul Rusesabagina,  manager in Hotel Rwanda
"Ubuntu" -- An African word and proverb meaning "I am human because you are human."

DIALOGUE RESOURCES

Scriptural Reasoning (contextual interfaith studing of texts)
Christian Century 9-5-06 Reading  Scripture Across Interfaith Lines an SR Hermeneutic 
     Scriptural Reading Society - philosophy underlying  SR
: Scriptural Reasoning Society UK  index
Journal of Scriptural Reasoning - Univ. VA
Scriptural Reasoning.org at Cambridge Univ.
Cambridge Univ. Interfaith Program   - facilitor of SR and A Common Word

Internet Resources Internet resources document
Beliefnet http://www.beliefnet.com/
Book Resources Books for Multifaith
NIC Media center Resources Multifaith videos and CD
Workshop model Dialogue model used at 2004 Conference
 Interfaith Relations Newsletter from National Council of Churches December 2006 Pdf
U.S. Institute of Peace What Works? Evaluating Interfaith Dialogue Programs
ELCA articles "Our ecumenical and interreligious world"  March 2007 Ecumenical Life
Interfaith Relations Toolkit

Bishop Jung's Interfaith Bus Trips  (see archives below)

Expanding understanding can come from travel.  One agency that can provide arrangements  to historical religious sites in Turkey is Magical Steps

Creating Interfaith Community -  Local Church Mission Study 2003-2004
Study book by R. Marston Speight $4.65, available from General Board of global Ministries, Service Center 1-800-305-9857 maito:SCorders@gbgm-umc.org  Supplementary Adult Small Group Study: Faith Questions What Do Other Faiths Believe: A Study of World Religions by Paul Stroble (Abingdon Press), and World Outlook Magazine Creating Interfaith Community - March/April 2003
Special Issue devoted to interreligious context for mission, relationship with other religions nwo-new.html

Also see NIC Media Center resources, http://www.rqmweb.com/search.asp?q=umcnic
Religions and World Pluralism Project of Harvard University Pluralism Project  by Harvard researcher Diane Eck -- especially CD "On Common Ground: World Religions in America". Eck is author of A New Religious America: How a "Christian Country" Has Become the World's Most Religious Diverse Nation. (Harper 2001)

Jewish Christian relations
The Institute for Christian & Jewish Studies
 exists to address the contemporary challenges of religious pluralism by helping to shape a new relation-ship between Christians and Jews
http://www.icjs.org/who/index.html

"Chicago coalition for interreligious learning" CCIRL- Jews (AJC), Catholics (EIA), and Muslims work to assure that textbooks do not perpetuate stereotypes. Book of prayers

Religious Conversion - Issues of pluralism & secularism
The scriptures of both Christianity and Islam call for believers to spread the faith. In Islam it is called Da'wah and in Christianity it is called evangelism. United Methodists and Muslims are neighbors. Have members of your confirmation class, your youth group, ACYM, college students and others organized their thoughts? (also see below: Ecumenical/Interreligious Formation )

STATEMENTS CALLING FOR DIALOGUE AND RELATIONSHIPS

June 2005 Northern Illinois Conference Resolution
Encouraging Local Church Ecumenical/Interfaith Dialogues

2004 General Conference of the United Methodist Church Resolution
Our Muslim Neighbors

Sept. 2004 World Methodist Council executive statement on Witness in Christian and Islamic Cultures   . World Methodist Islam Statement

Religious Freedom Day on the Hill on June 20, 2006 ,General Commission on Church and Society

  2005/1426 First Session of Dialogue Between The International Islamic Forum for Dialogue (IIFD) & The Middle East Council of Churches  (MECC)
Common Declaration

Training PowerPoint on Muslim Islam Dialogue from United Methodist GCCUIC
(temporarily un-downloadable) Muslim UMC Dialogue

The Future of Muslim-Christian Relations in the Middle East - Pluralistic Panel of Lebanese clerics and scholars  (Druze, Muslim and Christian) came to UMC churches and North Park Univ. April 16-19 to discuss current events.
Listen to them discuss some issues such as majority/minority rights or conversion/national unity in a radio interview.  radioislam.com April 16 -1450.asx    Flier  html flier   

Time Magazine, June 30, 2003 Should Christians convert Muslims http://www.time.com/time/covers/1101030630/ [small cost for download]

Interviews with scholar Tariq Ramadan
View on his conversion, his grandfather founder of Muslim Brotherhood  Christian Century 8-21-07
View contesting Huntington's idea of a Clash of Civilizations Radio Free Europe 2004,

NEW The Civic and Political Integration of Muslim Americans - Chicago Council on Global Affairs News of report 2007  and Complete task Force Report pdf

April 2007 PBS series America at the Crossroads  American at a Crossroads   Commentary on the series Salon  and  NY Times analysis of series
Islamist challenges confronting America's choices in the post-9/11 w:orld —

May 2007 Obsession fear video shown on Fox -- re radical Islamists
Website of   Obsessionthemovie  NPR 5-14-07 Radio commentary Critique of Obsession bias  Stanford Review
Rebuttals 9/25/08 when mass distributions of "Obsession" prior to election Rebuttal

FX network TV - 30 Days  "Muslims and America," features a Christian from West Virginia who agrees to live for 30 days in the Michigan Muslim community and describes his struggle with post-9/11 anti-Muslim prejudice."  See responses on the message boards.   See link and click Episode Guide" Muslims and America
http://www.fxnetwork.com/shows/originals/30days/main.html

Muslim views of obligation to practice Da'Wah [do a Google search on Da'Wah - as in Christianity a range of views]

7 26 08 Views on the right to change one's religion   Economist "Apostasy"   Economist "Conversion"

World Council of Churches  2008/towards-an-ethical-code-of-conduct-for-religious-conversions

Muslim scholars re Apostasy and the right to change religions (many links)  http://apostasyandislam.blogspot.com/

Muslim extremists constantly insult faith 12/07 Ibish in Blog/Tribune

12-07  View of a Muslim Woman on Haj as time of prayer against the double rape of women by men and by governments  - Khalilah Sabra of Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation
shalom ctr.org

Modern American Islam - First American Muslim seminary (New York Times need to register for whole article)  nytimes.com/2006/06/18/us/18imams

Discussion on NPR Religious conversion is a private matter, right? Then why does it have social and political consequences? Gretchen Helfrich and guests discuss religious conversion. Guests: Jean Comaroff Anthropologist at the University of Chicago, Gauri Viswanathan Director of the Southern Asian Institute at Columbia University in New York City, Danilyn Rutherford Anthropologist at the University of Chicago. Listen to the Entire Program February 11, 2003 WBEZ-FM NPR www.wbez.org/

Sermon by Rev. Kenneth Crooks 7/20/03   Sermon1pdf    Sermon2pdf   Sermon3pdf

Article on Pluralism and Christian Commitment in Theology Today by Lamin Sanneh. Volume 45

Muslim-Christian Encounters: Governments under God by Lamin Sanneh who teaches missions and world Christianity and history at Yale Divinity School. He is an editor-at-large of The Christian Century. This article appeared in The Christian Century, December 2, 1992,Muslim-Christian Encounters Governments under God.htm

Harvard International Review Winter 2004 issue Religion
Volume 25, Issue 4 Religion Beyond Beliefs includes articles:  Holy Orders - Religious Opposition to Modern States by Mark Juergensmeyer Resisting Modernity - The Backlash Against Secularism by Karen Armstrong http://www.hir.harvard.edu/

 International Conference on Religion and Culture, June 24-30, 2007
at Institute of Religion Culture and Peace,  Chiang Mai, Thailand  Conference program

Faith and Citizenship in Turbulent Times "Reflections" Yale Divinity School

  Future of Sharia in context of secular state

  Faith & International Affairs Journal (  http://www.cfia.org/ Winter 2008 Islam and Pluralism - Note articles on Role of Consensus, and the Common Word)

NEW 09 Website at KAM Synagogue, Hyde Park,  for Abraham's Children Interreligious Prayer and Peace Actions http://echoesoftheword.ning.com/

World Conference of Religions for Peace WCRP   Kyoto 2006

Asian Conference on Religion and Peace (ACRP)ACRP

Progressive Muslim Groups were discussed in a Christian Century article 11/15/03

Do Christians and Muslims Worship the Same God?  Christian Century 2004 articles by Jon D. Levenson, Lamin Sanneh, J. Dudley Woodberry, Wesley Ariarajah and Umar f. Abd-allah, with a study guide.     christiancentury.org/studyguides

<>      MPAC -  Muslim Public Affairs Council http://www.mpac.org/default.aspx
Programs: "Progressive Islamic Thought and Human Rights,”  "Campaign to Fight Terrorism"

 Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY
http://cmcu.georgetown.edu/

The Macdonald Center for the Study of Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations - Hartford Seminary
Many good articles
http://macdonald.hartsem.edu/default.htm

Touchstone Methodist Centre, Bradford and West Yorkshire, Great Britain
Interfaith Work - shared with NIC-CCUIC after reading of our Declaration of Relationship with Musilims in CIOGC
http://www.touchstone-bradford.org.uk

Read also:
Progressive Muslims: On Justice, Gender, and Pluralism, edited by Omid Safi - One World Press, Oxford 2003
The Dignity of Difference: How to Avoid the Clash of Civilizations, by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks - Continuumbooks, London 2002
http://www.chautauquaabrahamic.org/recommended-reading/

Richard Landau book on dialogue how-to-succeed-at-interfaith-dialogue.


Return to top

MODEL OF DIALOGUE
FELLOWSHIP OF RECONCILIATION MUSLIM-CHRISTIAN DIALOGUES
The Muslim / Christian training workshop "That we may know one another" sponsored by Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR) and Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America (BPFNA) held in Naperville on May 15, 2004  was very successful.  33 Muslims and Christians were together for a full day of dialogue to promote understanding of one another, led by facilitators from Toronto, NY, Aurora and Naperville. The organizing committee for the event is planning to invite the 33 individuals back for another get-together in October (details to follow). In the meantime, FOR Chicago would like to expand outreach in the following ways: If your organization is interested in holding a similar workshop in your community, we will be happy to assist you in putting it together.
On July 18, 2004 All-Saints Episcopal Church in Western Springs sponsored an excellent panel discussion consisting mostly of Muslims and Christians who participated in the May 15 event. David Meade, a member of our Executive Committee, was the chief organizer. If your church, mosque or organization is interested in holding a similar event, we can arrange it.
For more information. please contact Ellen McManus, 847-256-0456, Lee McKenna duCharme lee@bpfna.org and Tabassum Haleem CPA, Organization of Islamic Speakers  Midwest, Naperville - Tabassum Haleem  630.848.1475 - www.oismidwest.org
Read about the FOR and BPFNA outstanding model of Muslim Christian dialogue, May 15.  Description of event and techniques

  Methodists United for Peace with Justice

Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance  Information on "A Formula of Agreement" re: communion between four Lutheran and Reformed communions   Religioustolerance.org

"EMERGING" (rather, "foundational") issues needing future development here .
        A dynamic behind so many ecumenical and interreligious impasses between communities, or within a community like United Methodists, is our hermeneutical presuppositions.  The Wesleyan Quadrilateral helps, but behind that even, is how "experience" built the four -- including revelation as an experience.   The "one and the many" is an ancient formula question.  Within a psychology of how we know what we think we know, modern United Methodists generally function by William James' "Radical Empiricism and the Pluralistic Universe."  

NEW Resources 2009  Guidelines for interfaith dialogue by Richard  Landau What the World Needs to Know About Interfaith-Dialogue  and the Institute for Interfaith Dialogue   Interfaithdialog.org
NEW AND RELEVANT       ON FAITH AND REASON
with Bill Moyers
Interview with Salman Rushdie (author The Satanic Verses)  http://www.pbs.org/moyers/
The series of interviews began June 23, 2006, and can be seen weekly on PBS and in archives
"In a world where religion is poison to some and salvation to others, how do we live together?"  - Bill Moyers
Series will include discussions with Jeanette Winterson, Will Power, Margaret Atwood, Richard Rodriquez.

Study of the Roles of Religions in the Longer-Range Future
at Boston University Including audio address by Peter Berger.
http://www.bu.edu/pardee/events/conferences/2006/religionofficial.html

Intercultural & interreligious Hermeneutics: Raimon Panikar's  Hermeneutic and dialogue

        ELH - Another "household" = "ecumene" issue needing resourcing here is how to have society be e pluribus unum? The Trinity manages unity and diversity with koinonia.  But so much of church-state controversy is a zero sum, win-lose game between partisans.  There are probably hermeneutics behind this also, but the dialogue is stuck on symbols like "In God we Trust, the 10 commandments, hijabs in schools, and holidays.
        We are all called to be prepared to make a defense for the faith by which we operate in dialogue, in annual conference sessions, and in society.   .  Those committed to the inclusive experience are going to be challenged with other contending integrites, including excluding experience.  Be prepared!
     P.S. These kind of issues are being debated among our Abrahamic colleagues.     A May/June 2006 p. 66) posting from Tikkun (Jewish renewal magazine) quoting Shaul Magid.  "while Israelite monotheism posits a universal God, in Judaism that God is one who chooses and elects one people (Israel).  Hence monotheism can be, and has been a weapon to discredit other claims of revelatory truth.  One can even go further to argue that radical monotheism naturally functions that way.  Monotheistic religions, even those that are ostensibly 'universal' (e.g. Galatians 3) are wed to the notion of exclusion.    That exclusionary aspect of monotheistic religions does not travel well in the twenty-first century's multicultural and flattened world.  As...[argued]...classical monotheism cannot easily bear the weight of the 'poly' nature  of contemporary experience. "

WALKING THE INTERFAITH DIALOGUE WALK
In Northern Illinois  Conference
.........................................
List your church or community interfaith activities here -
 Email CCUIC here

SEE ALSO Building UM-Muslim bridges

Culture Bridge - Rev. Rich Darr, Minooka UMC story: grew up in Senegal and Mali, active interfaith SouthWest Weekly 2/9/07
Temporarily un-downloadable - order CD by email 

NIC and Muslims Sign Declaration of Relationship

SWIFT - South-West Interfaith Team - Churches, Mosques and Synagogues in Frankfort, Oak Forest, Orland Park, Tinley Park, Olympia Fields, Midlothian. Contact  Rev. Robert Haight

COFC - Oak Park River Forest Community of Congregations  Email interfaith

Read about the FOR and BPFNA outstanding model of Muslim Christian dialogue, May 15.
For more information. please contact Ellen McManus, 847-256-0456, Lee McKenna duCharme lee@bpfna.org and Tabassum Haleem CPA, Organization of Islamic Speakers Midwest, Naperville www.oismidwest.org
  Description of event and techniques

Ties that bind - video documentary of 7 Chicago Women ArtisticCircles.org


Global Negotiation Project at Harvard Univ.
Every Conflict has three sides

Rev. Robert V. Thompson Lake Street Church in Evanston,  Thirdside Sermon

Ismaili Muslim plan  to build house of worship group in Glenview  Tribune Oct. 05 article

St. Thomas UMC Glen Ellyn welcomed Ahmadiyya Muslim mosque   Reporter 2002 article  Leader Mubasher Ahmad
Ahmadiyya Movement alislam.org

First Corinthians. 8:1-13
?Free to eat meat sacrificed to idols?
Free to enculturate Christianity into local  traditions -- or must Christianity be iconoclast?  Which is the "weaker conscience" part of the Body?  Does "build up God's cosmic  Mission in love" guide us?.

Watch this -
Catiana McKay pastor of Good Samaritan UMC Addison is at planning stage of linking with Sommer Eksili of Niagara Muslims
Mar.10 Turkish coffee night for
women only
Mar. 17 Bible/Quran study 
Mar. 26 a turkish cooking club at Addison.

Urge congress to sign the  Dear Colleague Letter reinstituting Cuba travel by Thursday, 2/16/06
The Treasury Department new travel restrictions prohibit institutional and ecumenical religious travel to Cuba outside of individual churches. 
The  Department rejected the travel licenses of the National Council of Churches, as well as Presbyterian, United Methodist and UCC.

Naperville Interfaith Engagement 2006
Including North Central College
Schedule of Plans


United Power for Action & Justice DuPage
United Power for Action & Justice Chicago
United Power for Action & Justice LakeCo.

Our Saviour's UMC Schaumburg has a Paint-thon with Muslims 9/2009

Woodridge UMC has hosted Irshad Shia Muslims for prayers 2009
Irshal - Tribune photo

National Day of Prayer
  - Interfaith dinner and prayer
Friday  May 7  @  7:00 p.m.
Baetul Jaamay Mosque -  Glen Ellyn
Prayer offered by NIC - EIO Ed Hiestand
 Cf May 5 National Day of Prayer Task Force (Christian)  Comments on NDP

Sounds of Faith - video
Faces of Faith -  video

Ecumenical/Interreligious Formation of Youth in our local churches, colleges, seminaries

Developing a Younger Generation of Ecumenical & Interfaith Leaders
ENERGY AND CONNECTIVITY OF YOUTH
Try the listserves, "googleing" the household of God -- 2005 NWCU opening the ecumenical gates toolkit -- whose matra is "If it isn't online, it doesn't exist."  LINK HERE Toolkit-html.htm

Youth leaders building interfaith relationships (IFYC - Interfaith Youth Core) Bridge-Builders.Ring

Student Pluralism Interfaith Network (SPIN) Chicago campuses  www.SPIN-Chicago.org and  FacebookGroup 

The Young Adult Ecumenical Forum
is a conference and retreat designed to educate and empower young adults on global and local issues. As an ecumenical event, the gathering is open to young adults from any denomination or faith tradition — together, our voices can give us new avenues to explore the injustices at work in the world. As a young adult event, this forum is organized by and designed for young adult leaders across the world.  http://yaef.net/

National Workshop on Christian Unity Theology Student Essay Contest at Ecumenism in the 21st century essay contest

In Public schools
Interfaith Education Information from Case Foundation   (Many current initiatives) http://www.casefoundation.org
Bible Literacy Project ( legal in public schools) - new book   The Bible and Its Influence   http://www.bibleliteracy.org
      Teaching world religions courses helps reduce intolerance  Tolerance.org

An idea for your confirmation class

    Youth as well as adults in the 21st century are going to live their lives in a religiously diverse culture. Defining one's own faith, and contributing to the common good with persons of other denominations and religious faiths, will be in the context of a pluralistic American culture. Christian pedagogy recognizes that becoming a follower of Christ is more than just knowledge; it is formation of identity. Along with spiritual and ethical formation is ecumenical/interreligious formation.
    See also the series "Calliope World History for Young People" - small books about 50 pages each, on Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, written about older elementary level. They are written by an historical perspective. Address is 7 School St., Peterborough, NH 03458. CPWR may have info.
Confirmation classes, or units in Sunday School or youth meetings suggest themselves as ideal places for this to take place. The NIC Media Center has a video: Faith and Belief: Five Major World Religions (V554) that gives an overview of the nature and origins of five world religions - Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism. The video looks at the ways the religions seek to explain some of the mysteries of human existence. There is a four-session workbook with discussion guides, activities and outside assignments. Guides Age: Middle School/Junior/Senior High.
If you want to organize youth in your area across religious lines, to meet and do action projects together look into
. A church, or a ministerial association could connect with IFYC Interfaith Youth Core, an outgrowth of URI - United Religions Initiatives (see link below). Get information about this model in the Chicago Metropolitan area from Kevin Coval or April@ifyc.org
   Children of Abraham Project (Youth Theater) Muslim, Jewish and Christian teen uniting for peace in the shadows of 9/11 and the Middle East conflict    Youth Theater
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Methodist Links

This connectional dimension encompasses both gifts of diversity and unity, and is expressed in Christian koinonia and in interreligious linkage.  Connection's relational source is in the Holy Spirit at work amid humanity.
        In Christian relations this means our ecclesiology is about realizing the One Body of Christ; in interreligious relations, it means the fulfillment of  reconciling the whole human household and new creation. 
         Ecumenicity is not an option in programs, ministry projects, and events for the local church.  Just as we are cautious when a person's religious faith becomes only individualistic and loses communal consciousness of being a member of the Body of Christ,  SO ALSO -- a local church is somehow incomplete in its being ecclesia if it thinks of itself only congregationally, or even denominationally--United Methodist or even Wesleyan. 
         The paradigm logic about ecclesial incompleteness needs to extend until we have moved to the "ALL" that is the promise and goal of God.  We do not define ecumenism in minimalist terms as, "just getting along" -- we want fullness.  The Ecumenical stance at the local church and at every level of the church is a witness that our very being is the reconciling gospel which we proclaim will heal the whole household.
THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE ECUMENICAL MOVEMENT: FACING THE 21ST CENTURY REALITY
- presented by Rev.Dr. Larry Pickens of NIC, as General Secretary of GCCUIC Global Nature of United Methodist Church


Both the United Methodist Reporter The United Methodist Reporter and United Methodist News Service United Methodist News Service have many reports on ecumenical and inter religious events and issues.        

GCCUIC General Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns
This link provides a wealth of United Methodist information and resources as well as a complete set of links to ecumenical and interreligious web sites. Related documents of the General Conference are: "On the Ecumenical Road" - 1968, "Our Muslim Neighbors" - 1992, and "Building New Bridges in Hope" - 1996 (Jewish/Christians relations).     Phone GCCUIC 1-800-653-8936
gccuic-umc.org  photo

Pan Methodist
Negotiations for reconciliation, and commonality in social-justice, but not organic union continue among The United Methodist Church and the historic Afro-American Churches: AME (African Methodist Episcopal), AMEZ (African Methodist Episcopal Zion), CME (Christian Methodist Episcopal), UAME (The Union American Methodist Episcopal Church.) and AUMP (African Union Methodist Protestant Church).  http://www.gccuic-umc.org/panmeth/
Pan Methodist information 
Methodists United for Peace with Justice  mupwj.org/panmethodist.htm
Views vs. merger and cool relation to the CCT table ( Christian  Churches Together) Christian Century 4/17/2007
    The 38-member commission has representatives from four historic black churches --African Methodist Episcopal, African Methodist Episcopal Zion, Christian Methodist Episcopal, Union American Methodist Episcopal -- and the predominantly white United Methodist Church.
     Black Methodists created their own denominations in response to racism and other injustices that existed in the main Methodist bodies of their day. The Union American Methodist Church became a member of the commission in 2004.

GCCUIC (temporarily un-downloadable)
 Pan Methodist Family  PowerPoint
 . The episcopal leadership of the Commission on Pan-Methodist Cooperation and Union gather for the group's recent meeting and community-wide worship in Chicago Nov. 17-18, 2006. Pictured from left are: AME Bishop Philip R. Cousin Sr., UAME Bishop Linwood Rideout, AMEZ Bishop Nathaniel Jarrett (2007 chair of Commission), United Methodist Bishop William Oden, AME Bishop Carolyn T. Guidry, CME Bishop Kenneth Carter, and United Methodist Bishop Hee-Soo Jung.     Article about the meeting      A UMNS photo by Linda Green.
National website African Methodist Episcopal Church 
Chicago area  4th District       AME-today

African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
The United Methodist Church has joined in a friend of the court on behalf of the AME church. See the UM News Service article concerning retention of church assets UMNS article

Christian Methodist Episcopal Church

The Union American Methodist Episcopal Church
LARCUM
is composed of representatives of
Lutheran (ELCA), Anglican, Roman Catholic, and United Methodist Churches
with the mission to pursue and to support dialogue and understanding between our church bodies. LARCUM in Virginia

World Methodist links at University of Manchester, John Rylands Library

World Methodist Council
  World Methodist Council              First Friday newsletter            
North American Section of WMC includes  United Methodist  UMC    African Methodist Episcopal  .AME AMEZ AMEZ. CME .CME  Wesleyan Wesleyan  Free Methodist .Free Methodist  Nazarene Nazarene.United Church of Canada  UC-CA Methodist Church in Mexico Iglesia-Metodista.    .
Facilitates the World Methodist Exchange program for pastors from America to trade pulpits for a period with Wesleyan pastors in other countries). 
Ecumenics and Dialogues Committee report Bulletin#2-08 
The 9th WCC forum on bilateral dialogues, Breklum, Germany, 3/08.Bi-laterals' role in ecumenical movement  
World Methodist Evangelism    http://www.worldmethodist.org/wmcmain.htm

2011 World Methodist Council Meeting
2011 World Methodist Conference
Durban, South Africa will be the site for the 20th meeting of the World Methodist Council and will be followed by the larger World Methodist Conference. The Council meeting will be held at Wesley Methodist Church in Durban August 2—3, 2011. Durban’s International Convention Center will be the site for the 2011 Conference which has as its theme “Jesus Christ: For the Healing of the Nations.” The Conference will run  August 4 to 8.









The Nations -  The Society - 
Within the Body of Christ -  The Individual
WMC gathered amid global tensions


35 Years of World Methodist Council  - Roman Catholic Dialogues    pro.urbe.it/dia-int/m-rc
REPORT ON WORLD METHODIST  2006 CONFERENCE  2006  Conference
Twenty persons from Northern Illinois Conference attended the conference July 18--24 in Seoul. Emmy Lou John attended the prior Federation of Methodist and Uniting Church Women.  She and Edgar Hiestand are members of the WM Council, and she serves on the Ecumenical Committee. 
Resolutions were passed calling for reunification of Korea (see photo to right), and against human trafficking, torture, and for the Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations. 
The Methodist-Wesleyan  family of churches .also signed on to the historic 1999 Joint Declaration on Doctrine of Justification by the Roman Catholic and Lutheran Federation of churches.
Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification (RC-LWF)
 Methodist statement affirming the Joint Declaration



World Federation of United Methodist and Uniting Church Women  WFMUCW

India Re-Connect to Methodist Church of India List of projects

Rockford Urban Ministries 623 7th St Rockford, IL 61104-1303 (815) 964-7111 Fax 815-965-8903 http://www.gbgm-umc.org/urbanmin/
Primary Contact Stanley Campbell, Executive Director peaceman50@aol.com Rockford Peace & Justice Action Committee


Ecumenical Links
There are 33,000 Christian denominations  According to World Christian Encyclopedia

Ecumenical News Service     Latest news about the whole ecumenical movement  http://www.eni.ch/

World Council of Churches 2001-2010 is the WCC Decade to Overcome Violence.
World Council of Church USA  Office  wcc-usa
August 2009 -    - new General Secretary of WCC   Olav Fykse Tveit

National Council of Churches
NCC Pillars of Peace for the 21st Century Policy statement on the UN  Pillars

Christian Churches Together in the USA   CTT 
  In 2002 Evangelical, Orthodox, Pentecostal, Mainline Protestant and Roman Catholic church leaders invited all Christians in the United States to share our longing for an expanded Christian conversation in our nation. February 9, 2007 Pasadena, Calif.,   A consensus on the importance of evangelism and the need to eliminate domestic poverty marked the official formation of Christian Churches Together (CCT) meeting  February 6-9.  ChicagoTribune
Report on UMC provisional membership tied to Pan Methodist concerns United Methodist News Service 3-13-07

Church Women United
Links to web pages of many denominations

Churches Uniting in Christ (CUIC)
Important Status Notice  2008 President's Letter

 NEWSLETTERS  March 2007   CUIC Dec. 2003 newsletter Word Document
Resources CCUIC ideas Congregation Idea Sheet and Council of Bishops' Pastoral Appeal to the Churches about connection with ending racism, commitment signup sheet, and bulletin inserts describing CUIC. Appeal and Flyer .
The culmination of the 40 years of the Consultation on Church Union (COCU) took place when the new CUIC was formed at a ceremony in Memphis January 20, 2002. ICC news release On that day the United Methodist Church, along with 8 other denominations, marked the end of the beginning of this process toward  ecumenical fellowship with these churches.
NEW CUIC website For interpretation click Michael Kinnemon article more information CUIC

African Methodist Episcopal Church
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)      Chicago http://www.cmaucc.org/  email cud.uma@attbi.com.
Christian Methodist Episcopal Church  Chicago  Third Episcopal_District/chicago.htm    Gary District Thirddistrictcme.org/gary.htm
USA The Episcopal Church       Chicago Episcopal Chicago
International Council of Community Churches
The Moravian Church in North America
The Presbyterian Church U.S.A.      Chicago Chicago Presbytery
USA United Church of Christ    Northern Illinois lllinois Conference - UCC   Chicago Chicago Metropolitan Association
USA United Methodist Church    Northern Illinois  Northern Illinois Conference UMC


    Illinois . Conference of Churches
Web Site Illinois Conference of Churches 
  Current and past ICC newsletters and ICC brochure
Northern Illinois Conference UMC is a member of the ICC
2160 S. 6th Street, Suite D2    Springfield, IL  62703
Phone: (217) 522-7099       Fax: (217) 522-7105

  Executive Director
laurie@ilconfchurches.org


Public Policy Coordinator

 Rev. Catiana McKay
NIC-UMC rep
Catiana.Mckay@gmail.com
Report on the September 2009 Annual Assembly NIC @ ICC Assembly 09
The Illinois Conference of Churches,  comprising 31 judicatories with a 75 year history has a new constitution as of September 29, 2007. 
It's mission statement
"The ICC seeks to be an inclusive community of churches that celebrates and makes visible our sacred bonds on unity in Christ.  We will do this by: 1. Promoting an honest sharing and understanding of both our common and divergent theological convictions; 2. Make public prophetic witness to Christ's love for all people particularly by addressing poverty and racism.  To these ends the Members of the ICC proclaim our common faith in Jesus Christ.  In word and deed, we give expression to ephesians 4:5 -- there is "...one Lord, one faith, one baptism..." -- as we unite in cooperative ministries." 
The ICC gathers with judicatory leaders and representatives in an Annual Assembly.

Photo: Executive Director, David Anderson with NIC United Methodist delegates, Maureen Cribbs, Edgar Hiestand, and Charles Emery at Triennial Assembly, Nov. 22-23, 2002 in Bloomington.ICC 2000 Annual Report

ILLINOIS LEGISLATIVE ISSUES
Act for Justice -  - Public Policy Ecumenical Network of ICC
  e.g. health care, racism, other justice issues.
 Further information on issues is available from, 217-698-3440   or email Illinois Conference of Churches
 
 Your congrgation can track legislation here
Link to www.ilga.gov/mylegislation/  Log in with  legislative@ilconfchurches.org  Password Illinois
Illinois General Assembly home page Info and names of reps       Live feed when in sessions  www.ilga.gov/

Ecumenism Metro Chicago (EMC)
is a Chicago network
for promoting relationships for Christian Unity

The Ecumenism Metro Chicago (formerly Ecumenical Millennium Committee ) - American Baptist  Churches of Metro Chicago, Armenian Orthodox Church, Church of God in Christ, Church of the Brethren, Christian Methodist Episcopal Church Chicago District, Episcopal Diocese of Chicago, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Metro Chicago Synod, Greek Orthodox Diocese of Chicago, Orthodox Church in America Diocese of the Midwest, Polish National Catholic Church, Presbyterian Church (USA), The Roman Catholic Church Archdiocese of Chicago, The Salvation Army, The Syriac Orthodox Church,Ukrainian Orthodox Church, United Church of Christ, United Methodist Church Northern Illinois Conference, Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago, Greater Chicago Broadcast Ministries
EMC information
EMC organization
  



THE FACEBOOK PAGE TELLS MORE ABOUT EMC, including photos and video of the 2011 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity at St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Orthodox Church of Chicago.   
Facebook. Ecumenism-Metro-Chicago





PHOTO:  
On behalf of the Ecumenical Millennium Committee, Deacon Aren Jebejian of the Armenian Orthodox Church accepts the Local Ecumenism Award from the Illinois Conference of Churches at the  Triennial Illinois Conference of Churches Assembly in Bloomington, November 2002
Ecumenical Millennium Prayer
Almighty God, we lift our hearts to You
in praise and thanksgiving.

Out of love You created the heavens and the earth,
and breathed life into this world.
Inspire us to treasure this gift in all our relationships: with You, with each other, and with all of creation.

Out of love You gave us your Son,
our Savior Jesus Christ, as Light for the world.
Ignite in us the passion of disciples
and the courage to strive for justice and peace
among the rich diversity of race and culture.

Out of love You sent us the Spirit,
your own first gift for those who believe.
Instill in us a right spirit,
that we may bear your light and love.

Often we have strayed from You.
In your mercy, grant us your forgiveness.
By your power, strengthen us to do your will.

Gracious God, as the new millennium dawns,
enkindle the fire of love in this and every place
Fill us with hope, wisdom, joy, and peace,
that we may be faithful unto the ages of ages.

                                                         Amen 

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity - Yearly January 18-25
HOW CAN YOUR CONGREGATION CHURCH CONTRIBUTE TO UNITY THIS WEEK ?
The Franciscan Friars of the Atonement website for Christian Unity Atonement Friars contains  Resources html
World Council of Churches / Pontifical Council guidebook and liturgy

Full text documents of the World Methodist/Roman Catholic dialogues, as well as all other denominations' bi-laterals are also available at Pro Urbe Unione and Vatican site Liturgy and information
Graymoor Ecumenical & Interreligious Institute publishes Ecumenical Trends for $18 per year. PO Box 306, Garrison, NY 10524 Tel 845-424-2109. Jan. 2002 had article by Methodist David Carter: "Can the Roman Catholic and Methodist Churches be Reconciled?

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ORTHODOX
Guide to the Orthodox Churches (including Assyrian, Oriental Orthodox, Orthodox Church, and Catholic Eastern Churches. .) 
Guide to  Orthodox Churches

Worldwide orthodoxy Orthodox Links

Orthodox Church in America -  Mission and Vision oca.org

Armenian Orthodox Church   Armenian Church.org  Chicago church   St. Gregory Chicago.org

Chicago Greek Orthodox Chicago Diocese

Syrian Orthodox Church Syrian Orthodox Church.org/

Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA http://www.uocofusa.org/directory/ uocofusa

ROMAN CATHOLIC

The Vatican

Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago
 Ecumenical & Interreligious Affairs Department Archbishop Quigley Center, 835 N. Rush, Chicago, 60611   312 534 5324
Contains also the April 2001 statement on racism, "Dwelling in My Love"
Common Ground Initiative - inaugurated by Cardinal Bernadin with document: "Called to be Catholic:  Church in a Time of Peril" which calls for a process for unity and diversity  http://www.nplc.org/commonground.htm

 Christus Rex contains many links to classic Christian and ecumenical documents

 Sant Egidio  is a comunity in the Catholic Church committed to ecumenical work

Focalare RC Movement - Love impacting interreligious relationship    Contact     Focolare   Chicago midwest
Chicago Area Center 5110 S. Greenwood, Chicago 773-285--2746 or 708-848-6576  Marco Desalvo m-desalvo@sbcglobal.netfocalare 

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Sign up to subscribe to email version of ELCA's Ecumenical Life publication Ecumenical Life
 Every issue of ELCA's Ecumenical Life is filled with good content of unity and interreligious work (also archives) Issues of Ecumenical Life
Includes ELCA-UMC Resource. Confessing Our Faith Together: A Discussion and Study Guide is designed so ELCA and UMC
      Metropolitan Chicago Synod ELCA McsELCA   Northern Illinois Synod ELCA  .NIsynod.j

Salvation Army Chicago

International Pentecostal Holiness Church

Church of God in Christ - Chicago/Illinois

 Reformed Church in America

Westside Ministers Coalition Various denominations on Chicago West Side

Evanston Ecumenical Action Council email    Web Page http://www.evhomeless.org/eeac/

Seminary Consortium for urban Pastoral Education

Community Renewal Society (UCC)

Rainbow/P.U.S.H. Coalition http://www.rainbowpush.org/

Association of Chicago Theological Schools (ACTS)

CrossCurrents An Intellectual dialogues journal web page CrossCurrents

 North American Academy of Ecumenists  NAAE

The Liturgical Conference, an ecumenical collaboration centered on the liturgical renewal. It
includes members from Baptist, Episcopalian, Lutheran, Orthodox, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, United Church of
Christ and United Methodist traditions. http://www.litconf.org/us.html.

World Conference on Religion and Peace

Taize Services bring worshippers from many churches into ecumenical spirituality. Chicago Taize locations
See Tribune about Taize Taize article

Texas Conference of Churches http://www.txconfchurches.org/

Protestants for the Common Good SEE NEW PFCG statement for local church consideration about becoming more involved in civil society: "Public Faith--Public Church." PFCG will also come to give local church presentation on this decision.
PFCG is organizing an ongoing program for congregations and inclusive communities. This UMC supported organization has a many-faceted approach to justice in the metropolitan area affordable housing, police accountability and campaign finance reform. peace vigils, and what is just war, are reported in their newsletter. Campaigns include Welfare Justice Now, and Interfaith Open Communities in cooperation with the Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago, the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, and the Council of Islamic Organizations. To be on their email list Request list


Greater Chicago Broadcast Ministries Link
Through GCBM the UMC has joined with other Chicago Protestant, Orthodox and Episcopal denominations since 1956 to produce shows on Chicago's major television stations. 312-988-9001 GCBM email
Also think VCR to share with others  
Different Drummers
Airs on CBS Channel 2
Sundays at 5:00 a.m.
.(Teen and young adult groups can attend filmings Saturday 10:00 a.m.
Contact Eric Diekhans 312-988-9001 or gcbm@ameritech.net )
See NIC youth on this show You tube NIC youth
 Sanctuary
12:30 PM Sundays
in March, June, September and December
ABC Channel 7
  - NOTHING BUT NETS - anti Malaria Campaign
Documentary Videos Available:   Capital Punishment: Too Flawed to Fix about Illinois death penalty,  Bonhoeffer, In Time of Siege  Voices in the Wilderness, and Hope Dies Last (Studs Terkle interview with Kathy Kelley), Where we Stood:  Chicago Opposition to Iraq War.		 Chicago Sunday Evening Club's
30 Good Minutes

WTTW Channel 11  5 p.m. Sunday 

Interview & sermon with Dr. Robert Edgar
30goodminutes.org/


Interreligious Links
 Starter resource on interfaithing   UM Interfaith Bus tour packet
NIC Interfaith Media resource
InterfaithRelations/Interfaith Links

The Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago
This interfaith group of leaders address the common concerns in the area.
C R L M C   NEW 2009
The Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago is composed of chief leaders of the Greater Chicago area's Catholic, Episcopal, Eastern and Oriental Orthodox, Protestant, Jewish, and Islamic communions and institutions.
CRLMC President  Rt. Rev. Demetrios of Mokissos  and  Co-Executive Directors Rev. Paul Rutgers 312-431-3236    and  Stanley L. Davis     312-504-3582
1143 So. Plymouth Ct, Unit 507- Chicago, IL 60605-2054 www.crlmc.org

  Council for a Parliament of World’s Religions  Parliament of World's Religion's Web site  CPWR newsletter

The CPWR has met five times--1893 and 1993 in Chicago, 1999 in Capetown. S.A. and  Barcelona in 2004.
CPWR Global Network  is on-going work of the Parliament for anyone interested in being a part of a virtual Parliament.  Share ideas, network on world issues, as a continuation of the Barcelona 2004 Assembly.     Sign up to collaborate in this interfaith work. 
CPWR in Melbourne, Australia December 3-9, 2009     Details of Melbourne Meeting
Report on Melbourne by Helene Slessarev-Jamir , Mildred M. Hutchinson Professor of Urban Ministries at Claremont Sounourners blog
 
Chicago Center for Cultural Connections (formerly NCCJ)
312-236-9272 Barbara Abrajano, Exec. Director.   Chicago Chapter
The Interfaith  calendar for 2009 (very useful) may be ordered @ $16.95 each. Fill out check to Chicago Center for Cultural Connections and send to Trevor James 27 E. Monroe, Suite 400, Chicago, IL 60603-5600 or call 800-311-9823, or fax 312-236-0029 with credit card order.

World Pluralism Project of Harvard University Pluralism Project Harvard researcher Diane Eck has just written A NEW RELIGIOUS AMERICA: How a "Christian Country" Has Become The World's Most Religiously Diverse Nation.

The relation of religion to civic life in American is a central interreligious issue. The two clauses of the Constitution's first amendment portend the wrestling and balancing that have and will take place in a religiously diverse society. A three-day symposium sponsored by The American Assembly explored the gifts and struggle of diversity and unity in our nation. Matters of Faith: Religion in American Public Life

http://www.faithinplace.org/  Religions working for the environmental common good in Chicago Area

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Jewish Links
American Jewish Committee
 American Jewish Committee national office   Chicago office  Site projects   AJC Chicago office
See the topics on which UMC/AJC have had dialogues. Let us know by email if you are interested in having similar dialogues. Dialogue Topics
The AJC has sponsored Holy Land ecumenical seminars in which numbers of United Methodist leaders have participated.
Project Interchange: seminars in Israel - An institute of the American Jewish Committee  http://www.projectinterchange.org/

 United Jewish Communities: The Federations of North America  UJC

Chicago - Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago    http://www.juf.org/

Jewish Council on Urban Affairs -Combating poverty, racism, and anti-Semitism in partnership with Chicago's diverse communities  http://www.jcua.org/

Chicago Board of Rabbis  30 South Wells  •  Chicago, Illinois 60606   •  cbr@juf.org  http://www.juf.org/cbr/
Rabbi Daniel N. Sherbill- President Phone: (312) 444-2896 Fax: (312) 855-3757
Inter-denominational rabbinic organization which serves as a collective rabbinic voice in relationship to the organized Jewish community and the non-Jewish world

Chicago Rabinical Council (Orthodox) http://www.crcweb.org/

Jewish Reconstructionist Federation http://www.jrf.org/

Kol Hadash Humanistic congregation Kol Hadash Lincolnshire

Union of American Hebrew Congregations (Reform) http://uahc.org/

Union for Reform Judaism  http://urj.org/index.cfm?

United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism http://www.uscj.org/

Association of Reform Zionists of America http://arza.org/index.htm

Interreligious Coordinating Council in Israel - working with Jews, Christians, Muslims http://www.icci.co.il/

Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center  Holocaust Museum in Skokie

Spertus College, Library, Museum Chicago http://www.spertus.edu/

Museum of Tolerance (A Simon Wisenthal Museum)- teacher & family resources  http://www.museumoftolerance.com/mot/index.cfm

Views from Jewish progressive standpoint Tikkun Magazine Rabbi Michael Lerner's insights in this magazine and website about "tikkun"= "to mend, repair and restore the world" speak to the justice issues of the Mideast, Israel and Palestine, ecology, and many other issues. One proposal is to build Tikkun Communities which can be Jewish or interfaith. For example he invites students and faculty of colleges to build a national network to end the Occupation. He invites people to gather friends and others to meet once a week in a Havurah or Tikkun Community Salon to support each other's social change activities and discuss Tikkun magazine and website articles.

The Institute for Christian and Jewish Studies Institute for Christian and Jewish Studies brings scholars to the interface of Christianity and Judaism, in scripture, history and current dialogue. In 2000 the Jewish Scholars project published in the New York Times a statement, Dabru Emet, "A Jewish Statement on Christians and Christianity" Dabru Emet

Christian Century, August 15, 2001, had articles on Jewish Engagement with Christianity by Scott Bader-Saye; and a book review of Zionism and the State of Israel: a Moral Inquiry, by Michael Prior.

Web site of International Council of Christians and Jews. The ICCJ has 33 Christian-Jewish member organizations in 31 countries. Find documents, events, articles related to dialogue and relationships Link to ICCJ

This link has numerous links to information about Jewish faith, culture, Jewish organizations, information about current events, topics to deepen understanding of Jewish life. Jewish Links

Judaism  101
 Four major branches:Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist

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Muslim Links

Islamic Society of North America   I S N A 
 231 S State Street, Suite 300, Chicago IL 60604,   Office: (312) 506 - 0070  Email
President-Zaher Sahloul  - Ahlam Jbara, Associate Director       Interfaith Chairpersons - Shakir Moiduddin, Azam Nizamuddin
 Newsletter Crescent
Also: (IMAD)Illinois Muslim Action Day in Springfield, Illinois  Tuesday, April 17, 2012  Time: 7:00am to 4:00pm
Issues: Education, Access to Healthcare and Arabic in school, and more.
Busses for all pre-registered participants and interfaith observers.  

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IMAD in statehouse rotunda
 Dr. Zaher Sahloul, CIOGC President
 Interfaith United Methodist statement At Illinois Treasurer's Office
 Rev. Edgar Hiestand, CCUIC and Imam Hassan Aly, MECCA Mosque


      World Council of Muslims for Interfaith Relations - Joint WCMIR and CIOGC training of Muslim Interfaith leaders in Elmhurst 2008
 NIAGARA FOUNDATION
http://www.niagarafoundation.org/
205 N. Michigan Avenue Suite 2540 , Chicago 60601
T- (312) 240-0707 F- (312) 240-0706 info@niagarafoundation.org
Executive Director Sherif Soydan ext 104 - Associate Director M. Hilmi Cinar ext 109 & Hakan Berberoglu ext 108
(Turkish - honorary president is Muslim scholar Mr. M. Fethullah Gulen  Video of Gulen movement's mission-)  
Lectures on 14th c. Rumi  Rumi       Gulen Interfaith Television  site ebru.tv/en
The Ecstatic Faith of Rumi (Sufi mysticism, poetry) Listen and links
Turkish American Society of Chicago  Subsidary of Niagara  TASC

Council On American-Islamic Relations -   CAIR
to join a daily national CAIR list serve http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/  or subscribe info@cair.com   
     Chicago CAIR Chapter - Online Center   http://www.cairchicago.org/     
Subscribe or Read current and archive newsletters http://www.cairchicago.org/newsletter.php
Scoop "Open Mosque" Scoop series features different Chicago area mosques (do search at cairchicago/thescoop)  

Muslim Public Affairs Council

Organization of Islamic Speakers Midwest, Naperville. Tabassum Haleem CPA,  www.oismidwest.org

Chicago Muslims

Muslim American Society (MAS) Chicago Chapter

Nawawi Foundation Burr Ridge  630-214-0011     http://www.nawawi.org/index.html

IMAN  Inner City Muslim Action Network  IMAN

Muslim Educational Cultural Center of America,  Willowbrook MECCA-center

International Education Foundation  IQRA

Chicago Irananian website Iran House

The American Muslim forum (article vs. anti-Semitism) Tariq Ramadan

American Islamic College   640 W. Irving Park Rd     60613    AIC

The World Council of Muslims For Interfaith Relations   WCMIR    and   newsletter

Interesting Free Press Online Muslim Magazine  altmuslim.com/

Islamic Institute of Toronto (links to Quran, youth perspective, etc.) http://islam.ca/index.php

Interesting Free Press Online Muslim Magazine  altmuslim.com/  and Online Mulim gender  issues Altmuslimah.com/

Islamic information and products Sound Vision

Tune in Radio Islam on WCEV (Chicago's Ethnic Voice)  1450AM every day 6-7 PM  http://www.radioislam.com/

The Civic and Political Intergration of Muslim Americans 2007  Report of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs task force 

Series on Islam in the Chicago Tribune in 2004 - You will be directed to register to access.   http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/specials/
Islam 101
Professor Marcia K. Hermansen
Professor of Islamic Studies Loyola University,                                 
Short video from Niagara Foundation

How to perform Salah prayer
Muslims and Others: Islam in a Multi-Religious World - syllabus   soundvision.com

Some needed vocabulary to learn  Words to Google

Islam in Urban America: Sunni Muslims in Chicago by  Garbi Schmidt  Excerpt
 Islam is not monolithic
Indonesian, South Asian, China, America, Arab, Balkans,Alevi, Yazidis,etc.

Other Interfaith Links


Buddhist
Buddhist Council of the Midwest (directory of many temples) Buddhist Council of the Midwest
   Wat (Temple)Phrasri Cambodian influence)  Watphrasri
Midwest Buddhist Temple (Japanese influence)Midwest Buddhist Temple 
Zen Buddhist Temple (Korean influence)  ZenBuddhisttemple
Jain Temple in Bartlett http://www.jsmconline.org/home.asp

Native American Spirituality
Religious movements
American Indian Center
Anawim Center 4750 N. Sheridan, Chicago
2009 UMW Mission Study Native American Survival
UMC resolutions Resolutions

Sikh Religious Society of Chicago  http://www.srschicago.com/index.php
 1280 Winnetka Ave. Palatine, IL 60067 847-359-1117

Zoroastrian Center of Chicago
Arbab Rustom Guiv Darbe Mehr
8615 Meadowbrook Drive Burr Ridge 60527  Zoroastrian Association of Chicago information
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Organizations Enabling Interfaithing

  Institute for Global Engagement     IGE promotes sustainable environments for religious freedom worldwide.

Yale Center on Faith and Culture Human Flourishing Project, Reconciliation Program with Muslims, Faith and Globalization Project, Ethics and Spiritualist
    Yale Center on Faith and Culture

Tony Blair Faith Foundation mission-statement  and Yale article on God and Blair

Hartford Seminary, CT has many programs - Interfaith student body, oldest Christian-Muslim Relations program in the U.S., Abrahamic religions program to prepare peacemakers, Interreligious partnership to promote vital faith communities. http://www.hartsem.edu/

Parabola - Quarterly Magazine - treats myth, tradition, and the search for meaning http://www.parabola.org

SHEM Center for Interfaith Spirituality, Oak Park http://www.shemcenter.org/

The DuPage Interfaith Resource Network. Rabbi Steven Bob 630-858-1561
Evanston Interfaith Action Interfaith Action

Northwest Suburban Interfaith Council Buffalo Grove, Long Grove, Arlington Heights
Sacred Space International - interfaith rhough sharing Chicago  spaces .sacredspaceinternational.org/

Faith-based organizing to build moral barriers against hate Center for New Community Oak Park, IL

Faith in Place - religious commitment to be good stewards of the Earth  .faithinplace.org

Interfaith Relations Resources of the World Council of Churches
http://www.oikoumene.org/en/programmes/interreligiousdialogue.html
Director: Rev. Dr. Shanta Premawardhana

Interfaith Relations Resources of National Council of Churches
NCCC Interfaith Link  Interfaith blogspot Blog
NCC interfaith blog spot Shanta Premawardhana
Global Dialogue Institute
Presbyterian Church USA interfaith news site  

United Religions Initiative
A Global Charter Signing Ceremony took place in Pittsburgh, PA, June 26, 2000. From 39 spiritual traditions from 44 countries, people gathered to charter to work to end religiously-motivated violence and to create cultures of peace, justice and healing for all. 100 Cooperation Circles have been formed. In addition there is a global site URI Global
  United Religions Initiative News
URI has adherents explain their respective Religions_and_Traditions

North American Interfaith Network (NAIN)

Interfaith News Net   http://www.interfaithnews.net.    

International Interfaith Organizations Network current news  Parliament, Blair, Decade of Dialogue, IFYC, etc.

The Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC) is a Chicago based organization related to URI whose mission is to strengthen the relation of young people to community sharing the spiritual role of religion to motivate and sustain social action and service and reduce conflict among religions. If you are a high school or college student with a strong commitment to Faith, Cooperative Service, Leadership, Religious Community and Interfaith understanding link here.  http://www.ifyc.org/  Director Ebbo Patel blog   http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/      231 S. State Street. 312-506-0070   Acts of Faith: Eboo Pate'sl spiritual journey and struggle for the soul of a generation

Christian-Muslim Studies Network  Universities and seminaries network

Common Ground Center of Deerfield Illinois (815 Rosemary Terrace, 847-940-7870).Common Ground CG focuses on the world's great cultural, philosophical, religious, and spiritual traditions and their implications for every dimension of human experience. Director Jim Kenney

Interreligious Insight: a Journal of Dialogue and Engagement (Jim Kenney)  interreligiousinsight.org

Eighth annual conference of Globalization for the Common Good (GCG)   http://www.gcgchicago2009.info Chicago Conference at Loyola University -  Globali
zation: the Challenge to America May 31 – June 4, 2009  This major international Conference is convened by four organizations: The Interreligious Engagement Project (IEP21), the Center for Ethics, Loyola University Chicago, the Center for Global Studies at Purdue University Calumet, and Globalization for the Common Good.

Mainstream faith-based agenda for religion as positive healing role in America

Xavier University  Bruggeman Center for Interfaith Dialogue  http://www.xu.edu/dialogue/

Interfaith Refugee and Immigration Ministries http://www.irim.org/

Meeting Place of the World's Religions

How interfaith relations work in Britain

Michigan Ashram

Interfaith Climate Change Campaign of Illinois

Resources for Inquiry and Dialogue
A comprehensive list of questions that arise in interreligious study, with resources.

 Voices Exchange helps Chicagoland residents find the social, political, cultural and economic information they need to become active participants in the civic life of their community and country. Many local speakers, performers and organizations  offer renewed hope for a peaceful and just future for the world. Unfortunately, their ideas do not always receive the recognition or visibility that they deserve. Through its on-line database, Voices Exchange can connect these many talented speakers, performers, religious/community leaders from various faith traditions, skills trainers, academics, and other specialists to local host groups — including interfaith and religious organizations, civil or fraternal groups, labor organizations, community groups, student or youth organizations, and schools/colleges.    http://www.voices-exchange.org/

Chicago Tribune August 7, 2004 reported the opening of the Shree Swaminarayan temple in Bartlett Illinois.  The Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), a socio-spiritual organization with its roots in the Vedas, was revealed by Bhagwan Swaminarayan in the late 18th century and established in 1907 CE by Swami Yagnapurushdas. http://www.swaminarayan.org/

Guidelines for Religion and Public Discourse from The Park Ridge Center for the Study of Health, Faith and Ethics

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                            Archive articles
   Archive
Articles            
Centenary of the 1910 Edinburgh World Missionary Conference    http://edinburgh2010.org/    Christian Mission and Other Faiths: A Complex Issue           Methodist Presence at the Conference
 
At the celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the  Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago June 21, 2010, right Rev. Arlene Christopherson, Assistant to Bishop Jung, with Imam Kareem  Irfan  

ISNA%2520UMNS10_353_1_48.jpg




 
Thursday, October 1, 2009  10th Anniversary Celebration Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification
Between the Catholic Church and the Lutheran World Federation and Affirmed by the World Methodist Council in 2006
Hosted by: Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I. President United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, The Reverend Mark S. Hanson Presiding Bishop Evangelical Lutheran Church in America   Homilist: The Most Reverend Wilton D. Gregory Archbishop of Atlanta  Address Rev. Ishmael Noko General Secretary of Lutheran World Federation
  Guests: United Methodist Council of Bishops:  President UM Bishop Gregory Palmer, Ecumenical Officer Bishop Sharon Rader,  NIC Bishop Hee-Soo Jung,

Signing of the Affirmation of the  JDDJ 
at the World Methodist Council in Seoul Korea, 2006

Joint Declaration on Justification (LWF-RC) text

World Methodist affirmation of JDDJ  text

GCCUIC UMC commentary on the JDDJ

 WMC Approves Further Ecumenical Dialogue
10th ANNIVERSARY
Old St. Patrick’s Church  Chicago

Bishop Gregory Palmer, Rev. Ishmael Noko General Secretary Lutheran World Federation, Rev. Michael Kinnamon NCC, Bishop Hee-Soo Jung, Bishop Sharon Zimmerman Rader, ELCA Bishop Wayne Miller, ELCA Bishop Bjornberg, William Cardinal Keeler Archbishop Emeritus of Baltimore.
StorIies  UMCom   and NIC Reporter Sept. 25   and UM News
            Cardinal George you tube on justification
 
Bishop Hee-Soo Jung, United Methodist
Church and Bishop Wayne Miller, Evangelical Lutheran Church of America serving communion together at NIC Annual Conference 2009.

 Resolution Passed at Annual Conference June 2009 to Observe &  Celebrate
Ecumenical Progress with Lutherans &  Roman Catholics

UM and ELCA approve FULL COMMUNION
Starting a UMC-ELCA grassroots conversation
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Illinois Conference of Church Annual Assembly  Faith Lutheran, Joliet  Friday,  September 25, 2009
"Christ's Church with Persons Who Are Poor"   UM Bishop Gregory Palmer - speaker

  

 Northern Illinois UMC Bishop's Delegation to Turkey October 19-29, 2008
Members of the Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns visited Turkish Muslims and Christians courtesy of the Niagara Foundation and Gulen movement in Turkey.  Anchor link Bishop's Delegation to Turkey
(see web link Niagara  in Interfaith Section)    UM Reporter news article November 28 UMReporter  p.7A

At Kasimiye Madrasa In Mardin - L-R: Shemus Aytekin, Kwang P. Chung, Catiana McKay, Nancy Hiestand, Im Jung, Bishop Hee-Soo Jung, Sherif Soydan, Amos Oladipo, Hakan Berberoglu, David Lagos-Fonseca, Edgar Hiestand
More pictures

 NWCU 09 report,  papers, audio of workshops

  
 Students in Sanliurfa
Armenian Patriarch - Istanbul    
Syrian Orthodix Bishop in Mardin  
Syrian Orthodox Bishop in Midyat

5th Annual Dinner of Abrahamic Traditions -  January 20 - Catholic Theological Union
Sponsored by CTU and Niagara Foundation
Theme: Perspectives on Mercy and Compassion  Speakers: Bishop Hee-Soo Jung, Rabbi Michael Balinsky, Imam Kareem Irfan

Each night at sunset during Ramadan, Muslims celebrate a breaking of the fast (iftar) and a festive dinner is given for friends and family
MECCA masjid (Muslim Educational & Cultural Center of America)Willowbrook (Member of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago ) shared with United Methodists Wednesday    September 10, 2008    and September 9, 2009 - 
Interfaith Unity Banquet (Ramadan Iftar - sunset breaking of fast and Maghrib prayer) at Ashton Place, Willowbrook,     08 pictures
April 23-May 2 General Conference General Conference 2008
Proposed resolution from GCCIC strengthening New Bridges in Hope" - 1996 (Jewish/Christians relations): to disavow any UM program of proselytism directed toward practicing Jewish persons.  Bridges  Other GCCUIC legislation and resolutions submitted to General Conference

  National Workshop on Christian Unity  

  http://www.nwcu.org
Highlights 2008 NWCU  Chicago
Opening Prayer Service -Mary Seat of Wisdom Parish, All Ecumenical Communions   Sr. Dr. Lorelei F. Fuchs, SA
  United Methodist/Episcopal/Lutheran Eucharist    St.  Mary's Episcopal Church    Bishop Hee-Soo Jung  Sermon
 Churches Uniting in Christ (CUIC) First Baptist Congregational Church  Bishop Christopher Epting
Cultural event -  At  Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies http://www.spertus.edu/
2008 workshop schedule                                 2008 photos  NWCU

John Wesley ecumenical sermons #39 The Catholic Spirit and  #38 A Caution Against Bigotry

ARCHIVE OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS ANNUAL CONFERENCES
2008 Northern Illinois Annual Conference  2008 Ecumenical/Interreligious Award to Charles Emery
2007 Northern Illinois Annual Conference      
North Central College received the Bishop's 2007 CCUIC Ecumenical/Interreligious Award for their yearlong emphasis of understanding Islam and the Muslim World.   See Ecumenical/Interreligous photos of the 2007 Conference  NIC pictures
2006 Northern Illinois Annual Conference Photos    Pheasant Run Inn, St. Charles


Bishop's Ecumenical Interreligious  Award
presented to the Council of Islamic Organizations
president Abdul Malik Mujahid
CCUIC table with CIOGC interreligious guests: Charles Emery, Ed Hiestand, Abdul Malik Mujahid, Catiana MdcKay, Drs. Habeeba and Shakir Moiduddin, Im-Hyon and Bishop Jung, Chris Pierson
 Ordination participants, ELCA Bishop Paul Landahl, and UCC IL Conf. Minister Rev. Jane Fisler-Hoffman, and Bishop Jung
 A sister relationship was voted with the South Seoul Conference of the Korean Methodist Chur
2005 Northern Illinois Annual Conference Photos     Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles
Many events highlighted the ecumenical interreligious agenda, from resolutions to seminars and liturgies.  Native American worship, issues of the rapture and Middle East peace, and dialogues spoke to the centrality of God's world house in all its diversity.
Ecumenical Advocacy Days -  2009

Chicago Religious Leader Network on Latin America which is a CCUIC 2009-10 Advance Special visited government offices regarding issues such as Cuba and Collumbia.  Photo includes NIC participant:  Lynn Pries and CRLN director Gary Cossett.  CRLN is also a partner to NIC in Bolivia and Columbia .

The Twenty-Fourth Annual Interfaith Memorial Observance for Indigent Persons
at the Chicago Temple/First United Methodist Church
77 West Washington Street (Loop) Chicago, Illinois 60602
Wednesday, May 20, 2009  12:00 – 12:50 p.m.
Christian Peacemaking in the Holy Land and Korea
Sponsored by Northern Illinois Conference UMC   Feb. 25-27,  2008 At Techny Towers Conference & Retreat Center -
Speakers included:  Bishop Hee-Soo Jung, Bishop Kyung Ha Shin, S. Michael Hahm, Bruce Cumings, James Wall, David Wildman
Rev. Hwa Young Chong 224-558-0618  hwayoungchong@yahoo.com    Article on NIC website NIC, Informative  Flier and registration download
This conference coincided with the New York Philharmonic concert in Pyongyang, North Korea Blog Comment
UNITED METHODIST - MUSLIM RELATIONSHIP  NIC and CIOGC and ISNA
The Northern Illinois Confirerence of the United Methodist Church and the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago
initiated a new relationship between the United Methodists and Muslims, April 6, 2006.
These events brought together clergy, laity, and Muslim and Christian college students from  universities for dialogue.
Sponsored by CCUIC of Northern Illinois Conference United Methodist Church AND Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago

 .
Seventh Interfaith Unity Dinner 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM  Thursday, May 10, 2012
Location: Islamic Foundation, 300 West Highridge Road  Villa Park, Illinois 60181  
Topic:  Religious Freedom(s) in a Pluralistic Society
 Religion and moral debate in the public square: Sharia, Church and State
 
Dr. Barry Bryant 
Associate Professor of United Methodist
and Wesleyan Studies Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary
 Speakers:

Azam Nizamuddin, Esq. Attorney and principal, The Law Office
of Azam Nizamuddin, P.C.
Adjunct Professor, Theology, Loyola University

Jump Start your thinking with this video Bill Moyers.com/ Freedom-of-and-from-Religion/
This event brings together clergy, laity, and Muslims and Christians for dialogue.
Sponsored by CCUIC of Northern Illinois Conference United Methodist Church & Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago 


Unity Interfaith Dinners at Islamic Society of North American  

NIC Receives 2010 Interfaith Unity Award      Sunday, July 4, 2010 Islamic Society of North America at the  Rosemont Center
    Northern Illinois Conference received the 2010 Interfaith Unity Award during the 47th Annual ISNA Convention in Rosemont on July 4.  Eight members of NIC stood at the interfaith banquet as Rev. Amos Oladipo, chairperson of the Conference Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns, accepted the award on behalf of our Conference.  The award read "ISNA (Islamic Council of North America) and CIOGC (Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago) proudly recognize the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church for its outstanding contributions to interfaith relations, dedication to the advancement of peace, justice, and community harmony, and its advocacy and sincere friendship for the American Muslim Community."  
      Article in UM News Service           Northern Illinois Conference News
July 3, 2011 Sunday pictures
Unity Interfaith Dinners With Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago 
  At the First Interfaith Dinner April 6, 2006, clergy and leaders of masjids and Muslim institutions and Methodist congregations got acquainted around a fellowship meal tables at the Islamic foundation of Villa Park.  The possibility was opened that relationships could be formed among the people through local events (dialogues, invitations, hospitality, community issues involvement, adult, men, women children and youth interactions).
April 21, 2006 Reporter Article

Similar work is taking place in Great Britain
.faithtogether  and .yorkshirefaiths
   Euro-Islam.info Comment
The Declaration of Relationship
CIOGC---NIC-UMC
Bishop Hee-Soo Jung and Imam Abdul Malik Mujahid signed the Declaration
2nd Interfaith Dinner  April 26, 2007
North Central College  Naperville,    May 11, 2007 Reporter Article    
Dinner Theme: Building Trust: Interfaith relationships in an unreconciled world Keynote: Amina A. Saeed
Powerpoint Presentation  and  Pictures of 2007 Pictures-nic-cio.html
  3rd NIC United Methodist - Islamic CIOGC Annual Interfaith Banquet April 8, 2008
     Dinner Theme "In this current, heated political season, we are seeing the introduction of religion in a way that draws us apart rather than brings us together. How can we, as interfaith partners of different religious communities, work to counteract a politicization of religion at expense of others and negotiate parameters in the public square?"
   Azam Nizamuddin's keynote speech   
Photos of the event Photos
4th Interfaith Dinner  March 31 2009
North Central College  
Dinner Theme: " We recognize the differences and similarities between the Qur’an and the Bible, both of which bid us to respect the dignity of all people, to trust and submit to God’s will in everything, and to work for a society of justice and peace where hate and fear are overcome by love." Speaker: Dr. Kenneth Vaux
     Resource: Scriptural Reasoning
UM Reporter news article Report May 1 2009 p. 2A 
Bishop Jung
and CIOGC chairperson Dr.Zaher Sahloul    		 Amos Oladipo and reporters from each table

More Pictures NIC Flickr
The 5th Annual  United Methodist - Council of Islamic Organizations Dialogue Dinner
of Northern Illinois Conference UMC and the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago
   Tuesday  April 13, 2010   6:00 PM - 9:40 PM    At Benedictine University  5700 College Road  Lisle, IL 60532.
Theme: Competing in Goodness: A New Paradigm for Christian-Muslim Relations
Speakers -  Scott Alexander, Associate Professor of Islam at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago,  Chair of the Department of Intercultural Studies and Ministry and Director of the school’s Catholic-Muslim Studies Program.  Inamul Haq, Adjunct Professor, Coordinator of Islamic Studies, Elmhurst College,  International Strategy and Policy Institute, Human Rights Watch, Fiqh Committee CIOGC
This event Brings together clergy, laity, and Muslim and Christian college students from North Central College and Benedictine University
 More 2010 Dialogue Dinner photos on Flickr


6th Interfaith Dialogue Dinner               6:00 PM - 9:30 PM Thursday, May 26, 2011   at Northwestern University
  Theme: The Face of our Faith -  Given that the popular Face of our faith (Islam or other religions) is often a product  of Media, how can we reframe  perceptions of its FACE through our actions? 
Speaker: Judith Valente  Judith Valente's career in journalism included The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal, She was twice a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Since 1998,  she has been correspondent for PBS-TV news program Religion & Ethics News Weekly.     Photos of 2011 Dialogue Dinner  Facebook photos
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2012  INTERFAITH  BUS TOURS WITH BISHOP JUNG

Adult Interfaith Bus Tour-
Friday-Sunday,  March 23-25, 2012
        

Hee-Soo Jung and a host of other guides as we visit several interfaith sites Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, Jain, Sikh, and interfaith dialoguearound the Chicagoland area. 

Cost: $195 which includes all travel, meals, and two nights lodging.

Dates: March 23 (evening) - 25
Primary location:  Hilton Hotel/Lisle-Naperville 
3003 Corporate West Drive Lisle
Transportation will be provided by Dixon-Meyers Trailways.  
To register contact: Harriette McCabe at 630-355-4617 harrietmccabe@earthlink.net

ONE DAY INTERFAITH TOUR

Saturday, March 24,

$50 includes two meals and 6 sites

 Bus leaves hotel at 9:00 a.m. and returns at 8:30

If you have ever wanted to know about another faith, this trip offers a guided tour with the guidance of our conference committee on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns and Bishop Hee-Soo Jung.  Experience first-hand how we as Christians live in a world of different religions.

 

INTERFAITH YOUTH BUS TOUR WITH BISHOP JUNG
  Saturday, March 24th, 2012   8am-6pm

Bishop Hee Soo Jung invites all youth in our Conference on an interfaith journey designed for those in confirmation or youth group
classes about interfaith relationships. We will visit at four locations, covering Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, and Jain The tour will include
discussions with local faith leaders whenever possible.
Cost: $20 per person (light breakfast, lunch, & dinner) Starting  Location: Naperville Area
To register, please e-mail Rev. Michael Mann at mmann@umcnic.org. Include the size of the group and the ages of the youth. Also, chaperones from each group are welcome (ratio of 1:7 recommended), and each chaperone should be Safe Sanctuary certified. Chaperones will be asked to pay their own way.   Group sizes are not limited but we are limited to 53 persons.Sign Up Now information


 


  Bishop's 4th Interfaith Bus Tour April 16--18 
tourbus Bishop Hee-Soo Jung conducted the fourth Interfaith Bus Tour from Friday through Sunday visiting Jewish Beth Shalom Synagogue in Naperville, Sri Venkateswara Swami Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago in Aurora, the Jain Society of Metropolitan Chicago Mandir in Bartlett, Baha'i Temple in Wilmette, Bultasa Buddhist Temple of Chicago, Muslim Bridgeview Mosque and Ahmadiyya Baetul Jaamay Mosque in Glen Ellyn. In addition there will be discussion of the “Ties That Bind” DVD of women’s interfaith dialogue at Oak Lawn UMC, Sunday worship at Grace UMC Naperville, and a talk at St. Thomas UMC, Glen Ellyn, by Abdul Malik Mujahid, president of the Council for a Parliament of World's Religions.  

Bishop Hee-Soo Jung originated the idea of these tours, realizing that United Methodists in the Chicago metropolitan area have as neighbors 261,000 Jews; 500,000 Muslims; 220,000 Buddhists; 80,000 Hindus; 20,000 Native Americans from 200 different tribes; 5,000 Sikhs; 5,000 Jains; and 5,000 Unitarians.  Through learning and dialogue we better understand how to respect each other in variety and commonality and find ways to converge with each other in the common enterprise of peacemaking.   More 2010 photos on Flickr Bus tour - Flickr

 
Bishop's 3rd Interfaith Bus Tour - Chicagoland September 19-21, 2008 
Sites included Beth Shalom Synagogue Naperville; Jain Society of Metropolitan Chicago Bartlett; Hindu BAPs Swaminarayan Bartlett; Devon Avenue and Indo-Pak UMC, Japanese Midwest Buddhist Temple, Chicago; Anawim Natuve American Center, Niagara Foundation Turkish Muslim dinner, Mount Prospect; Glen Ellyn UMC, St. Thomas UMC and Amadiyyah Mosque, Islamic Center and Grace UMC Naperville
Bishop's 2007 2nd Interfaith Bus Tour - Chicagoland
Led by Bishop Hee-Soo Jung
March 2 - 4, 2007 (Friday evening, Saturday, and Sunday).    Holiday Inn Select, Naperville.  
Picture Jewish Torah in Naperville, and Sikh Gurdwara in Palatine
 2007 Bishop's Interfaith Bus Trip
RESOURCES - PICTURES - OUTCOMES
 Organized by the Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns


2006  1st Ecumenical, Pan-Methodist and Interfaith Bus Tour       Friday, Feb. 24, through Sunday, Feb. 26.
 The Northern Illinois Conference Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns CCUIC  sponsored  the first-time tour “Living Witness in a Multifaith World.” Bishop Hee-Soo Jung originated the idea for the project and lead the tour that converged with the following faith communities: Jewish,  In our Chicago metropolitan area context there are 2 million Protestants; 3 million Catholics; 261,000 Jews; 500,000 Muslims; 220,000 Buddhists; 80,000 Hindus; 20,000 Native Americans from 200 different tribes; 5,000 Sikhs; 5,000 Jains; and 5,000 Unitarians. View Reporter  and Next Steps to take Suggestions    and  Tour photos
150 years of Methodism in India, 25th of Methodist Church in India
Re-Connection of NIC United Methodist and Methodist Church in India ------
NIC Delegation to Lucknow, October 20-22, 2006 
Honoring India's gift to NIC  - Sunday - November 19,  4:00 @ Viceroy of India Restaurant

    Presentation of Greeting
                       
The 9th Assembly of the World Council of Churches 
in Porto Alegre, 14 - 23 February 2006,  WCC-Assembly 
Downloadable PowerPoint presentations on 2006 assembly and previous WCC assemblies   CD Presentations
      Ecumenical Millennium Committee - Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Services
Northern Illinois Conference is a part of the Ecumenical Millennium Committee'
WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY 
Left photo(click):  Friday, January 21, 2005 at Annunciation Greek Orthodox, Chicago  
Right photo(click):  January 22, 2006   St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church, Chicago
 
IDEAS FOR OBSERVING The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity locally  WPCU IDEAS
2001 St. James Episcopal Cathedral - Bishop Sprague preaching
2002 Chicago UM Temple Cardinal George preaching
 2003 at First Baptist Congregational Church Chicago -
Sermon of Archbishop Vsevolod of Ukrainian Orthodox Church Vsevolod on Immigration.doc
2004 WPCU at Quigley seminary
January 21, 2007 Fourth Presbyterian Church   WPCU 2007 Photos
Jan. 20, 2008 Christ Community Church of God in Christ - South Holland  2008 Photos
2009 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Metropolitan Worship Service.  Sunday, January 18  4:00 p.m.
At  St. Paul Chong Ha Sang Korean Catholic Mission  675 Dursey Ln., Des Plaines 60016.
 Preacher: The Rt. Rev. Victor A. Scantlebury, Assistant Bishop Episcopal Diocecse of Chicago
 This year the National Council of Churches and the Pontifical Council for Christian United liturgy was prepared by the churches of Korea, and theme and scripture are associated with reunification. Chosen Theme: "That they may become one in your hand".(Ezekiel 37:15-19, 22-24a).   The service is sponsored by the Ecumenical Millennium Committee of Metropolitan Chicago. Video of the procession with Korean drummers U-Tube WPCU 09
More WPCU information 2009 church resources

2010 WPCU Week of Prayer for Christian Unity - January 18 - 25
Luke 24:48 "You are Witnesses of these Things.”  The litany produced from Scotland in recognition of the 100 year-ago World Missionary Conference in 1910 in Edinburg   which was a catalyst for much of the modern ecumenical movementt.  The 10th Annual Chicago Area Ecumenical Prayer Service January 24, 2010 at 4:00 p.m.   at  Community Church of Wilmette   1020 Forest Ave., Wilmette, IL 60091 Preacher:  Rev. Dr. Zina Jacque, Pastor of Community Church of Barrington This service is sponsored by the Ecumenical Millennium Committee (EMC Metro Area) will also commemorate its 10th Anniversary  and 1% of the 3rd Ecumenical Millennium Resources   WPCU - World Council of Churches    and  Atonement Friars  . and  2010_wop_poster.jpg          Photo at right  of Arlene Christopeierson and Zina Jacque

2011 WPCU was held at St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Orthodox Church, Chicago, with Bishop Wayne Miller, ELCA, preaching. The service was written by the churches of Jerusalem.  . See photos and video of sermon on EMC (Ecumenism Metro Chicago) Facebook
 http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ecumenism-Metro-Chicago/

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Report on National Workshop on Christian Unity  --  New Orleans - April 4-7, 2005 www.nwcu.org/

Eid-ul-Adha festival (final rituals of hajj) Chicago Tribune article January 21, 2005 on sharing of food to poor in Chicago. Read article

Kingdom of Heaven film -a "balanced portrayal" (CAIR) of the Crusades in 1187 movie.com
Passion of Christ - Mel Gibson's  opened  Ash Wednesday Feb. 25, 2004  
This film requires briefing and debriefing, and understanding Interfaith context now and in the first century.  Its release during Lent brings back memories of churches and youth groups going to previous cinema versions of the Life of Christ as educational and devotional experiences.  Gibson's is a particular angle on the gospels. Interfaith empathy requires us to be careful and caring.  Informative links on the debate about the film, with discussion guides.  From Northern Illinois Conference web site http://www.gbgm-umc.org/nillconf/3views.htm  Additional Informative Links History of passion plays and  Anti Defamation League and Tikkun Rabbi Michael Lerner thoughts  Tikkun-Lerner  and Cardinal Bernardin Lecture on Christianity and Judaism including caution in  using  John's gospel during Holy Week Cardinal Bernardin Lecture

 Building Bridges to Islam Elderhostel program is to enhance knowledge of Islam, as well as to interact with members of their local Muslim communities Information and Registration
2004 Parliament of the World's Religions Barcelona, Spain July 7-13, 2004 Pathways to Peace: The Wisdom of Listening, The Power of Commitment http://www.cpwr.org/what/events/barcelona/barcelona.htm  and Barcelona 2004 Universal Forum of Cultures with 40 congresses and dialogues considering themes of peace, cultural diversity and sustainable development  http://www.barcelona2004.org

This Holy Mystery: A United Methodist Understanding of Holy Communion (HTML version)
This Holy Mystery: A United Methodist Understanding of Holy Communion was adopted by the 2004 General Conference of The United Methodist Church as an official interpretive statement of theology and practice in The United Methodist Church.  It is commended for study in the churches 2004-2008

WHAT IS THE REAL PRESENCE IN THE EUCHARIST - Rev. Philip Dripps sermon at a Retired Clergy meeting, October 2003, challenges United Methodists to wrestle with current Roman Catholic understandings. Oh taste the goodness of the Lord

RECOMMENDED Harvard researcher Diane Eck says the U.S. has become the most religiously diverse nation in the world. Muslims here now number 6 million, outnumbering Presbyterians, Episcopalians, and possibly Jews. Only 25 percent of U.S. immigrants since 1965 have been Protestant. Forty-four percent are Catholic and 35 percent are Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and of other non-Christian faiths. See PBS video "America's New Religious Landscape available from NIC Media Library. World
 Project of Harvard University Pluralism Project Diane Eck has just written A NEW RELIGIOUS AMERICA: How a "Christian Country" Has Become The World's Most Religiously Diverse Nation.

Roman Catholic symposium in 2005 -  40 years since Nostra Aetate - 2nd Vatican Council Document on relation to Jews and other religions interfaith Viewpoints

Interfaith Prayer given September 11, 2002 in Chicago, Daly Plaza NCCJ link. http://www.nccj-chicago.org/remembrance.htm

The connection between unity and justice impels ecumenical and interreligious organizations to collaborate. On Yom Kippur the scripture is Isaiah 58:3-9 that fasting and ritual is bound to justice for the other; and Deuteronomy 16:20 where the words "justice, justice" are repeated to highlight the priority of doing justice, both the end and the means. Here are some links to a concern about justice in medical care, and for children's insurance health coverage. Illinois Campaign for Better Health Care and for Kidcare state subsidized insurance for children Kidcare insurance information see also Illinois Maternal & Child Health Coalition 773-384-8828.

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CONGRATULATIONS to the 2003 BISHOP'S AWARD for ECUMENICAL SHARED MINISTRY CONGREGATIONS
Cosmopolitan, Melrose Park; Church of the Three Crosses Chicago; Amboy United First Church Wilton Center; Federated Church, Manhattan; Hanover UMC and Hanover Presbyterian Church; United Protestant Church, Grayslake; The Federated Church of Wauconda; United Church of Rogers Park; Grace United, Park Forest; United Church of Hyde Park; and University Park Pilgrimage Protestant Church. Each year at Annual Conference the Bishop gives the Bishop's Ecumenical/Interreligious Award in recognition of a person or ministry who has witnessed by word and action to God's purpose for the unity of the human community in ecumenical or interreligious settings. The Bishop gives the award on recommendation of the Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns. Ecumenical Shared Ministries United Methodist Discipline ¶ 208. are ecumenical congregations formed by a local United Methodist church and one or more local congregations of other Christian tradition

General Conference 2000 ecumenical legislation Types of legislation
General Conference 2000 urges UMC to join Yom HaShoah (Holocaust) observances Yom HaShoah
General Conference 2000 counsels caution in using anti-Catholic polemical Articles of Religion Articles caution

Information on inclusive housing in our metropolitan area Congregations Building CommUNITY

United Power for Action and Justice Chicago Area faith-based community action.

Official United Methodist Statements on ecumenicity and interreligious dialogues
Commentary by Rev. Bruce Robbins of GCCUIC and Rabbi Leon Klenicki of the Anti-Defamation League on the UMC document "Building New Bridges in Hope" on Jewish Christian Relations (includes text of document). Commentary.pdf

A discussion of the ethics of "Hebrew/Christians proselytizing Jews. HebrewChristians

 Holy Thursday Lord's Supper and the Passover Seder A Passover Seder Service
Pastors considering a Seder at your church will find of interest and use  Thoughts on Seders  and Footnote on Messianic Jews  
(See my opening Comment, and the United Methodist Book of Worship addendum in the linked A Passover Seder Service offered above.  For a general interpretation of the relation of the United Methodist Church to Judaism see also the Building New Bridges in Hope Commentary above )

Called to Be Neighbors and Witnesses
This is the official statement concerning Interreligious relationships made by the 2000 General Conference

Yom HaShoah liturgy from the General board of Discipleship       Annual memory of  the Holocaust in April         
             
World Council of Churches guidelines for theological growth in interreligious dialogue My Neighbors Faith and Mine

Ecumenical Millennial Prayer 1999 Prepared by Protestants, Roman Catholics and Orthodox for the Chicago metropolitan area.

Full text documents of the World Methodist/Roman Catholic dialogues, as well as all other denominations' bi-laterals are also available at Pro Urbe Unione .

 
World Methodist Council
Bethlehem Candles

1999 - Bethlehem, Houston and Northern Illinois Conference 		..............................................................................................................
18th World Methodist Conference July 25-31, Brighton, Great Britain Report Reporter article on gift (photo), Reporter
Vatican Interreligious Assembly Message 1999 by 200 representatives of different religions with observers from Christian ecumenical bodies such as the World Methodist Council which affirmed it July 2001.
World Council of Churches 8th Assembly 1998 In Zimbabwe
Mission Statement of the NIC - CCUIC 1996
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Interreligious Bulletin Insert Information and questions stimulated by 1993 Parliament of World's Religions in Chicago

November 21, 2004 - 40th anniversary of Second Vatican Council Decree on Ecumenism Unitatis Redintegratio  http://www.christusrex.org/www1/CDHN/v13.html

Cuba Issues need Illinois Churches' Response  Chicago Religious Leadership Network on Latin America (CRLN) with UMC support urges an end of the embargo on food and medicine.
  Cuba Report and Suggestions   At the invitation of the Cuban Council of Churches, the Illinois Conference of Churches and Chicago Religious Leadership Network on Latin America organized a February 9-18, 2002 an opportunity for Illinois health care people to share experiences with counterparts in Cuba. A pioneering visit was made to Cuba in 2000 by Christian churches in Illinois to strengthen relationships with the Christian community in Cuba. Mission Trip details More details
Information on action to cancel Third World Debt Jubilee 2000/USA
January 2000 to December 2002-Local congregations are to prepare for Pan Methodist reconciliation using study guide "Steps Toward Wholeness." (Downloadable from GCCUIC link above).
Bishop C. Joseph Sprague Unity sermon, Week of Prayer for Christian Jan. 18, 2001 Sermon
Archdiocese ecumenical information and sermon of Cardinal Francis George Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Jan. 18, 2002. Sermon
Conference on the Religious Significance of Jerusalem at CTU, Jan. 23, 2001 Summary of speakers
Letter from CCUIC chairperson to AJC concerning B.C. cartoon Letter text
Interfaith campaign to increase the welfare cash grant
The Illinois Conference of Churches and Protestants for the Common Good seek petitions to Governor George Ryan and the Illinois General Assembly to increase the TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) cash grant by 30%. Petitions available by contacting ICC or PFCG (links below) are to be mailed to Interfaith Campaign, c/o Protestants for the Common Good, 200 N. Michigan - Suite 502, Chicago, IL 60601.

May Response (UM Women magazine) for several interfaith articles. Calendar

Death Sentence 2000 - 2001
Death Sentence 2000, an Interfaith Forum for Humanity calls for support to end the death penalty in Illinois. Information, resolutions, petitions and sign-ups to volunteer can be obtained from from Campaign to End the Death Penalty
PEACE: A Time to Think, a Time to Talk and a Time to Gather
Monday May 15th from 7-9 p.m.   Schaumburg Township District Library: 130 S. Roselle Road, Schaumburg.

Sponsored by the Schaumburg-Hoffman Estates Clergy Association.  3 sessions with interfaith approaches to peace.
The first workshop will be facilitated by the Rev. Harriette Cross.   It will be based on the study Shalom, Salaam, Peace published by the General Board of Global Ministries for the United Methodist School of Christian Mission   For more information call Rev. Harriette CrossOur Savior's United Methodist Church Schaumburg, IL 
See flier  SHECA


The space for this web site has been provided courtesy
of the General Board of Global Ministries, The United Methodist Church .
The content of these home pages is the responsibility of Edgar Hiestand
 Please send feedback and comments to this Ecumenical/Interreligious web page of the
Northern Illinois Conference United Methodist Church to ehiest@mc.net

Comment by Editor about this CCUIC web page. As it has evolved, almost everything is connected to ecumenical and interreligious concerns. The world oikos of God's household impacts not only unity and dialogue, but every relationship -culture, , how we witness and seek justice, do ministry mission and discipleship, and replace war with peace/shalom/salaam. The mandate is all encompassing - it is a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth Ephesians 1:10.
- Edgar L. Hiestand Jr.

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This website, like the CCUIC role, engages in  bridge building for the sake of peace and reconciliation.  To change the metaphor, it hosts a table where differing viewpoints may sit closer together than usual.  Sometimes this leads to tension - even to ourselves when threading along the many internet links here, where there are profound disagreements and contradictions.  As web editor, I don't like some viewpoints.  In general I think it is better to err on the side of letting viewpoints be heard and fighting it out in the public forum of ideas, than to let attitudes fester.  It is my hope that this openness serves God's future best, for I trust it is God's future. Editor's opinions do not necessarily imply an official United Methodist position.
- Editor   Rev. Edgar L. Hiestand Jr  Phone/Fax 708-660-9168, email ehiest@mc.net   1124 S.Clinton Ave., Oak Park, IL 60304

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