FROM THE 2002 JOURNAL

700-20 promoting local church interfaith dialogues -

Therefore be it resolved that Northern Illinois Conference

Commend the churches which have initiated dialogues with any other religious communities.

Encourage congregations and clusters to seek out relationships with Muslims and Jews and begin dialogues locally.

Urge that these dialogues be done in a spirit of mutual openness and respect and urge use of the Guidelines on Dialogue with People of Living Faiths and Ideologies as put forth by the World Council of Churches available at http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/interreligious/glines-e.html

Urge that local churches web-sites create a link to the Northern Illinois Conference CCUIC Web site http://www.gbgm-umc.org/interrelig/ in order to find information and resources about other these other faiths.

Affirm the Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns in setting up models of dialogue and a workshop during this conference year for local churches on methods of dialogue.

(CCUIC Charles Emery)

700-21 Nurturing the Churches United in Christ -

Therefore be it resolved, that local churches will seek out occasions in their local communities to nurture and make visible this new relationship.

Such ideas may include

Pray for nearby CUIC congregations by name. Make their joys and sufferings your own

Read or make available in worship our Council of Bishops pastoral letter "Appeal to the Churches To Seek God's Beloved Community"

Include the CUIC flyer in your Sunday bulletin

Include representatives of neighboring CUIC congregations in your baptisms,

Celebrate the Lord's Supper with other CUIC congregations in your area, at least on special occasions

Undertake mission projects with CUIC partners on a regular basis, especially projects aimed at overcoming racism

Invite a member of a neighboring CUIC congregation to serve on a board or committee of your church

Invite other congregations to participate in your special events, from worship services to ice cream socials

Organize shared youth retreats or adult education courses. Teach about the other churches in your own education program

Explore possibility to talk about unity in ministerial association, to joint choirs, in lectionary groups

Make available Cokesbury material on the different denominations

Add the words, "Member of Churches Uniting in Christ" to your church signboard

Further be it resolved, that the Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns will provide leadership and resources for churches in this endeavor.

(CCUIC - Charles Emery)

FROM THE 2004 JOURNAL

700-25 Taking Measures to Create Interfaith Community [IFYC]

RESOLVED, That the Northern Illinois Conference encourage its members and especially its young people to find practical ways to work with persons of other faith communities for the common good, as suggested in the Book of Resolutions;

FURTHER RESOLUVED, That the Northern Illinois Conference make available information about the programs of the IFYC [InterFaith Youth Core] to all of its local churches so that specific interfaith programs can be developed.

(Northern Illinois Youth Annual Conference)

FROM THE 2005 JOURNAL

700-01 Support for the National Workshop on Christian Unity

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that Northern Illinois Conference will share in the invitation to welcome the National Workshop on Christian Unity to Chicago. [2008]

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that The Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns shall do all it can to facilitate our participation in every way possible.

(CCUIC Catiana McKay)

700-02 Finding Strength in Diversity

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church encourage members to

1. Confront negative and untrue accusations against Muslims or other faith groups of attacks on them.

2. Read A New Religious America by Diana Eck or other material to better understand the challenges and opportunities before us in the doing of justice as we face our religious diversity; and

3. FURTHERMORE, BE IT RESOLVED,

that the Conference secretary send a letter to President Bush thanking him for speaking out publicly for acceptance of Islam as a religion of peace and its followers of the same God that Christians worship. (Martha Schmidt, Donna Atkinson, James Preston, Sheila Burris, Florence Butler, Kermit Krueger, Joseph Snider, Gary Hougen)

700-07 Encouraging local church ecumenical/interfaith dialogues

Therefore be it resolved that all Northern Illinois Conference congregations are strongly encouraged to provide study courses and opportunities for interdenominational and interfaith dialogues designed to promote accurate understanding and recognition of divergent faith traditions and cultures.

(CCUIC Catiana McKay)