Inter-Religious Relations
"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." ~ Romans 12:18
The office of ELCA Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Relations, in cooperation with the ELCA Global Mission, shares responsibility for an expression of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's relationships with people of other living faiths.
New ELCA Resource: Christian-Muslim Talking Points
The
Christian-Muslim Talking Points resource is a set of eight leaflets to set forth opportunities for discussion around issues in Christian-Muslim Relations. These Talking Points are intended to stimulate reflection, response, and activity on key issues as part of ongoing inter-religious engagement today. Each leaflet addresses a particular topic and concludes with several questions for further discussion. These Talking Points raise real questions that might otherwise go unaddressed.
Learn about the Consultative Panel on Lutheran-Jewish Relations and spur conversation with the Christian Jewish Talking Points.
Featuring the Muslim-Christian National Initiative, the Consultative Panel on Lutheran-Muslim Relations, and many resources.
Learn about the trip that over 90 ELCA delegates made to the Holy Land by reading related documents and resources.
Links to many Jewish- and Muslim-specific websites and materials, as well as general inter-religious.
ELCA Bishop Claire S. Burkat (
pictured left, front) is a member of the
Religious Leaders Council administered by the
Interfaith Center of Greater Philadelphia. The council last met in October 2010 to "
reflect on our relationships with one another and on values that we share."
Countering Islamophobia
The
United Church of Christ and the
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) have created an online resource called
Countering Islamophobia. This valuable site tells of the recent history surrounding Christian-Muslim relations in the U.S., including the participation of the United Church of Christ and the Disciples of Christ. It also provides links to other resources and suggested reading.
The Board of Trustees at the
Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions released a statement on September 2, 2010, entitled:
A Call for Solidarity on 9/11
Follow the link, or download the document
here.
Christians and Buddhists Find Similar Teachings to Address Economic Crisis
At a
Lutheran World Federation -
World Council of Churches consultation in Thailand, August 22-26, 2010, a group of leading Buddhists and Christians underscored the urgency for faith communities to engage with government and financial institutions to transform personal and structural greed and help promote the equitable distribution of wealth. Read the
LWF press release and download the official statement, "
A Buddhist-Christian Common Word on Structural Greed."
We reside as Lutheran Christians in a rich pluralistic world where people maintain sometimes conflicting opinions, moral standards, social perspectives, political allegiances, and religious fidelities.
When the world encounters times of immense change, it affects our self-understanding:
"Given such diversity, what does it mean to be Lutheran?"
A Leap of Faith: Interreligious Marriage in America
The Berkley Center’s 2008 Undergraduate Fellows Program provided a select group of ten Georgetown undergraduate students with the resources to interview forty-five different couples focusing on the challenges and benefits that arise within interreligious marriage. The interviews were divided into four combinations: Jewish-Christian, Muslim-Christian, Hindu-Christian, and Buddhist-Christian. Go here for the full report of their studies.
InterActive Faith:
The Essential Inter-Religious Community Building HandbookDrawing on the knowledge and experience of interfaith leaders from a variety of faith traditions—Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Bahá’í, Jainism, Shinto, the Sikh faith, Taoism, Zoroastrianism—this comprehensive resource provides practical ideas for connecting with people of all faiths, all backgrounds through common concerns and activities that promote respect and support. It enables communities rich with diversity to work together to create paths toward peace and justice.
Windows for Understanding:
Jewish-Muslim-Lutheran Relations
You are invited to explore, learn, and grow in your faith. The premise is this: If we can open a window for understanding, then such opportunities will create healthier and deeper perspectives for the present and future of Jewish, Muslim, and Lutheran relations. We encourage you to send us your comments and suggestions by filling out the evaluation form at the end of
Windows.
Windows for Understanding: Jewish-Muslim-Lutheran Relations (Download PDF)
In God's Name
"In God's Name" is a two-hour television program that features 12 of the "world's most influential religious leaders," including ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson.
The program, produced by Jules and Gedeon Naudet, aired on CBS, Dec. 23, 2007. It features diverse and provocative perspectives on issues in our post-9/11 world, including the rise of terrorism, fanaticism, intolerance and war. | Find out more
Interfaith Toolkit
Full communion partner interfaith resource done in concert with the ELCA.
This kit contains a variety of resources to help as you engage with neighbors of faiths other than your own, or prepare to do so. It contains “how to do it” sorts of pieces, examples of what others have done, as well as more reflective materials on interfaith relationship as an integral part of being faithful followers of Jesus Christ. | Find out more