Group protests PCUSA
camp hosting Islamic group
The Layman, December 20, 2010
A Presbyterian Church (USA) conference center is defending its decision to host a Muslim Youth of North America (MYNA) event, despite concerns expressed by local residents and criticism that the group has alleged terrorism ties.
The MYNA’s Winter Leadership Retreat is planned for Dec. 19-25 at Presbyterian Mo-Ranch Camp and Conference Center in Hunt, Texas. In a Dec. 14 statement by Mo-Ranch president Dr. David W. Jordan said the camp and conference center has received phone calls and e-mails recently accusing it of being un-Christian and un-patriotic.
“Mo-Ranch is providing Christian hospitality to a group of Muslim youth sponsored by the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA),” Jordan said in his statement. “For several years now, this organization has held retreats at YMCA camps and the facilities of various religious denominations across the country. Consistent with Mo-Ranch’s values as a Presbyterian center, we do also welcome people from other Christian groups and from time to time members of non-Christian faith traditions in support of better interfaith communication, especially in these times of great misunderstanding among these American religious communities.”
According to an article in the Fort Worth Star Telegram, the ISNA was one of 302 Muslim groups named as unindicted co-conspirators in the 2008 trial of the Holy Land Foundation in Dallas. The foundation and five of its organizers were found guilty of illegally funneling more than $12 million to the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas. ISNA has filed a motion with the Justice Department to be removed from that list, but that has not yet happened.
According to its website, ISNA is opposed to terrorist acts of groups such as Hamas and praises Mo-Ranch for standing against “anti-Muslim bigotry.” In addition to defending the camp, Jordan also came to the defense of ISNA.
“ISNA is a prominent organization within the Muslim community in the United States. Its leaders and members are in frequent dialogue and cooperative endeavors with the Presbyterian Church (USA), other Protestant denominations, and Catholic and Jewish groups,” he said in a statement. “There have been many co-sponsored multi-faith conferences in recent years. Last summer, an ISNA representative attended the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) for fruitful discussion of critical issues, and ISNA is regarded by our denomination as an important partner in Christian-Muslim cooperative ventures. … The trustees and administration of Mo-Ranch view such groups who occasionally visit our center as a positive outreach and expression of gracious hospitality, a fundamental Christian ethic.”
Some critics, however, are protesting the retreat.
According to the Star-Telegram article, the Hill Country Oaks Initiative launched an e-mail campaign and worries about the group’s alleged terrorist ties. The Hill Country organization is a local chapter of the international Oak Initiative.