Posted on 04/25/2006 3:27:38 PM PDT by HEMICRASHBOX
United Methodists and Muslims in Northern Illinois have officially created a covenant relationship between the two faith groups. More than 100 leaders of the greater Chicago Islamic community and the United Methodist Northern Illinois Conference celebrated that covenant at an April 6 interfaith banquet at the Islamic Foundation in Villa Park.
United Methodist Bishop Hee-Soo Jung and Abdul Malik Mujahid, chairman of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago, signed a "Declaration of Relationship" committing the two groups to "a relationship grounded in our mutual love for God and dedication to the ethical core of our faiths."
The covenant includes an agreement that the two groups will continue in dialogue with each other and expand the dialogue to include local faith communities; work together on issues of social justice; inform one another of situations that may affect each other's faith community; and gather annually to celebrate, reflect on the relationship and reaffirm the commitment.
Also attending the banquet was the Rev. Larry Pickens, a Northern Illinois clergy member who serves as chief executive of the United Methodist Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns.
The covenant was the result of a dialogue that began a year ago as an introduction between Jung, who started serving as the episocopal leader in September 2004, and Malik Mujahid.
"We had talked about the idea of bringing together Bishop Jung and Malik just to meet," explained the Rev. Charles Emery, chairperson of the Northern Illinois program council. "Out of that conversation, Bishop Jung said, 'Why don't we work on a covenant together?' So we spent the last year working on this declaration of relationship."
The banquet provided an opportunity for leaders or imams of Muslim institutions and United Methodist clergy in local churches in the same geographic areas to meet and begin to establish relationships, according to the Rev. Ed Hiestand, the conference's ecumenical and interreligious officer.
"It is hoped that this initiative will result in further interfaith activity at the local level," Hiestand said. "This may include dialogues, hospitality, community projects, as well as children and youth programs."
Holy ground
As he prepared to address those attending the banquet, the bishop removed his shoes and walked to the podium. "I took off my shoes," Jung said," to honor all of you and to honor God in this moment. I believe I am standing on holy ground."
Jung said his personal journey as a Christian leader has convinced him that he needs to build bridges by affirming the dignity and "belovedness" of people in other parts of the globe and in "different traditions in the universe."
"There are many people excluded by human narrowness and prejudice toward each other," the bishop said. "This exclusion is, of course, a gross violation of the principles that govern us."
Jung noted that God's love is unconditional, and this love encourages people to learn about and love one another.
"In our declaration of relationship, it is imperative that people of faith commit together to a spirit of peace and cooperation," Jung said. "We are in a spirit of humility and truth tonight. We are here to respect each other in an atmosphere of reconciliation, unconcerned about winning a victory over one another or bringing the other over to our own position. We come together as friends, as family members, as siblings."
Jung said failure to connect with each other would be failure to honor God. And he said he believes the covenant between the two groups will make him a better Christian. "God is seeing us together tonight," Jung said, "and is pleased."
'An extraordinary event'
Saleem Sheikh, board member of the Islamic Foundation and the council, called the declaration "an historic agreement between two faith communities."
"We are honored and we are grateful," Sheikh said. "We are delighted to share with you our commitment to justice and fairness for all God's creation."
Mujahid called the signing of the covenant "an extraordinary event."
"In a world of fear and warfare, people of faith must continue to work together for a peaceful and just world," he added.
He invited the United Methodists to apply their "methodical practices to the only racism still considered acceptable in America, 'Islamaphobia,' the new racism of our time."
Mohammed Kaiseruddin, past chairman of the Islamic council, said it was his "hope and our prayer" that the new relationship "will flourish and grow and bring results."
Kaiseruddin saluted the diversity of the United Methodists at the banquet. "We as Muslims take pride in the diversity we have among us," he said. "We have all colors and ethnicities among us. I was so pleasantly surprised to see the same diversity among the United Methodists here tonight. That is one of the reasons that I have hope that the association established tonight will flourish."
This is strange.
United Methodist Bishop Hee-Soo Jung needs to do some homework before joining Satan worshippers for a celebratration.
There are not really two political parties in Illinois, it is sort of a hermaphrodite state politically. In that light, it is not surprising giving the politics, that the Methodists and Muslims would share conjugal bliss, so to speak.
Bishop Jung had better watch his head.
I converted to Catholicism a while back after the Methodists came up with the slogan, "Open Hearts... Open Minds."
Good grief, you're right...a simple internet search might have saved the bishop from becoming the latest enabler and useful idiot of radical muslims:
Check out Abdul Malik Mujahid's nonsense regarding former black panther leader and convicted cop-killer jamil al-amin:
http://imamjamil.com/articles/memoriesbymujahid.asp
Let me guess.They agree that President Bush is the most evil,dangerous man to ever walk the earth.
This is wrong on so many fronts. 'swhy we quit our Methodist Church membership.
Mr. Hee-Soo Jung has obviously never read the Koran, else he'd be runnin' for his life.
"United Methodist Bishop Hee-Soo Jung "
Good dhimmi. Sit dhimmi. Roll over dhimmi. Convert or die dhimmi.
Never did trust those Methodists (all peace and blessings be upon them!)
Welcome aboard.
Me, too, mware. I joined at Easter Vigil. The Methodists lost me several years ago, and I found a home with Catholicism.
Well, there go the good ol' Methodist ham dinners. It does warm my heart to see followers of Christ embrace those who have killed so many for believing in His divinity.
Ouch!
Me too, only it was 12 years ago. My great-grandfather was a prominent Methodist minister in Northern Alabama. I don't think it is the same church it was in his day.
Left my Methodist church after 9/11. Our pastor declared, from the pulpit, that 9/11 was due to 'world hunger. We must redistribute the wealth so that everyone has enough'. I haven't found a church, here in SoCal, that not waaay leftist. Anybody have ideas???
I'm curious to know to what churches did you go? I quit the Methodist Church when I found the Catholic Church. I always say that I found the Catholic Church rather than I left the Methodist Church, but when I look at some of the loopy things coming out of the Methodist Church now, I can't believe it took me so long. The Church doesn't condemn abortion, but the most worrisome thing is that it doesn't believe in much of anything. That isn't to say that the Church that St. Peter founded is perfect... far from it. I'm at home with its theological and philosophical underpinnings-and of course its reliance on tradition.
By the way, I meant to address my question to all of those who had posted.
I think that, where you're located, you may have a problem finding *any* congregation of *any* religion that isn't lefty. The Christian message is such that a person who has leftie leanings can twist it, incorrectly, into what Catholics, for example, call liberation theology.
I think you'll have to visit numerous churches of various denominations to find the right one. Hint: Methodists and Prebyterians seem to be more lefty than the rest...
If you give Catholicism a look, find somebody who really knows the religion to answer your questions. There's a whole lot of bad and dis-information out there about it.
"It's difficult to tell from this vantage point whether they will consume the captive earthmen or merely enslave them. One thing is for certain, there is no stopping them; the ants will soon be here. And I, for one, welcome our new insect overlords. I'd like to remind them that as a trusted TV personality, I can be helpful in rounding up others to... toil in their underground sugar caves."
My great grandfather helped plant a Methodist Church in the 1850's. My ancestors were all very conservative both religiously and politically. My father stayed in the Methodist Church until the late 1980's. By that time, I had attended a variety of Penecostal denominations. My father spent the last years of his life attending Pentecostal and Fundamental churches in which he found great peace. I presently attend a pentecostal church that is of the Foursquare denomination which was founded by Aimee Semple McPherson. The Methodist church has totally embraced humanism and no longer serves the Body of Christ by presenting God's plan for salvation through Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
tens = tent. Looks like I've already had a few.
I would not want to offend Catholics but I attended the Catholic Church when I was in college. My boyfriend at school was Catholic. I have often attended midnight mass on Christmas Eve and have always felt very connected. But as an everyday religion I don't feel that it is something that I could embrace. I have had a tough time trying to decide where to go. I will continue looking. I might try the Nazarene Church here. Many members of my previous church left and now go to the Nazarene Church.
I was/am Methodist for over 50 years, now in the process of becoming Catholic. Try coming home.
This is even stranger coming from the mouths of muslims:
"In a world of fear and warfare, people of faith must continue to work together for a peaceful and just world," he added.
Kind of like Hitler telling everyone to calm down and he'd have the world in order in a few short years if everyone would just cut him a little slack.
I remember that one! I'm Catholic. Here in my little predominantly Catholic town, our local Methodists have actually converted Catholics with that slogan and their 'PAWS' service. They have a unique way of 'reaching out' to local Catholics, I know, I was 'targeted', as a former Catholic now Methodist acquaintance told me. (And, for the record, I don't believe their behavior is a sample of all Methodists.)
John Wesley in his grave at 15,000 RPM.
"This is strange."
Not when you see the little signs in front of the Methodists churches that say "Open hearts, open minds, open doors."
Vance Havner once said, "You can be so open-minded your brains will fall out."
In this day and age, an door COULD be opened by something going, KA-BOOM! ! !
Shaking hands with the devil.
Someone had to decide to be slaves.
How special. There's just nothing like making a pact with the devil. It's idiotic things like this that caused me to leave the United Methodist Church, a long time ago!
I wish you the best.
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