Assembly passes ecumenical statements on Christian-Muslim relations, dialogue
Charles F. Burge, The Layman, June 26, 2008
SAN JOSE, Calif. — In plenary business Wednesday, the 218th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) passed three overtures intending to build communication with Muslim communities, but concerns were raised that at least one of the statements will confuse rather than clarify.
Ecumenical and Interfaith Committee moderator the Rev. Margaret O. Thomas introduced three items from her committee dealing with interfaith dialogue between the PCUSA and Muslims, including Overture 07-01 from Newton Presbytery, “On Calling for Tolerance and Peaceful Relations Between the Christian and Muslim Communities.”
The original language read that “the PCUSA affirms that Jews, Christians and Muslims worship a common God, although each understands that God differently.” The final statement reads: “… that though we hold differing understandings of how God has been revealed to humankind, the PCUSA affirms that, as children of this loving God, we share the commandments of love for God and neighbor.”
R. James Miller from Maumee Valley, who brought the amendment, said although he thought the original wording was “OK,” he later spoke with a Muslim and a representative from the PCUSA Office of Theology and Worship, and both indicated that Muslims and Christians do not “worship a common God” and that “most Muslims would not agree” with the original statement.
Floor debate reflected confusion from the commissioners:
- Leslie Day-Ebert of Los Ranchos Presbytery spoke in favor of the amendment, saying that the original “was something my church wouldn’t agree with.”
- Cathleen Eskiew of Pueblo Presbytery, who also sat on the original committee, also spoke in support of the amendment, expressing her “deep concern” that “if we retain original language, it will communicate that the basis for dialogue is worshipping the same God.”
- Youth Advisory Delegate Joseph Laurendeau of Olympic Presbytery spoke against the amendment, saying “in the wording of the amended motion, it never states that we worship the same God, it simply states we worship one god, and that God is the God of Abraham.”
- Also speaking against the amendment, the Rev. Philip Olson from Detroit Presbytery shared a personal story about how the youth of his church work with Muslim youth in the area and “they, as a group, share their belief as children of Abraham in one God revealed and understood in many ways” and that the amendment would “deny” the work they have done with the poor.
Joseph Small from the PCUSA Office of Theology and Worship addressed the commissioners who requested clarity, by saying the central point was “to affirm belief in one God is not identical as affirming belief in the same God.” Small said that Christianity, Islam and Judaism are “monotheistic faiths” and it’s quite clear that Christians and Muslims understand who God is quite differently, and that difference is something that needs to be before Christians and Muslims.”
“Christians need to understand Muslim beliefs in the one God, and it would be nice for them to understand our beliefs in that one God,” Small said.
The floor vote on the amended motion was 547-149-7. Two related overtures — 07-02, “On Response to An Invitation to Interfaith Dialogue” in support of the Muslim cleric-penned “A Common Word Between Us and You;” and 07-07, “On Peaceful Relations Between the Christian and Muslim Communities” – both passed without discussion or opposition.