ELCA NEWS SERVICE

April 21, 2009  

ELCA Presiding Bishop, Other U.S. Religion Leaders Meet with King of Jordan
09-089-JB/JD

     WASHINGTON (ELCA) -- Four U.S. religious leaders -- two
Christian and two Muslim -- met with King Abdullah II of Jordan
here April 20 to discuss specific topics about the Middle East.
The topics included the current conflict between Israelis and
Palestinians with a focus on concerns for Jerusalem, deepening
Muslim-Christian relationships and the future of Arab
Christianity in the Middle East, said the Rev. Mark S. Hanson,
presiding bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA),
Chicago.
     Hanson organized the U.S. participants in the discussion, a
follow-up to a meeting he had in Amman with King Abdullah II in
January.  Hanson invited three U.S. religious leaders to attend:
the Rev. Michael Kinnamon, general secretary, National Council of
Churches USA, New York; Imam Mohamed Majid, vice president,
Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), Sterling, Va.; and Imam
Sayid Hassan Al-Qazwini, scholar and religious leader, Islamic
Center of America, Dearborn, Mich.  The 30-minute meeting was
private.
     The discussion was an extension of a 2007 document, "A
Common Word Between Us and You," from 138 Muslim scholars to
Christian leaders, calling for Christians and Muslims to work for
peace.  It declared that the world's future depends on peace
between Muslims and Christians.
     In a conference call meeting with reporters afterward,
Hanson said, "This is a critical time for us because we see in
His Majesty King Abdullah II and in President Obama two global
leaders who share a sense of renewed urgency in re-engaging the
peace process." Abdullah and Obama are scheduled to meet here
April 21, Hanson noted.
     "We also see in both of these leaders a deep commitment to
interfaith relationships," Hanson said.  Religious leaders can
diffuse rhetoric and religious extremism in the world and promote
greater understanding between Christians and Muslims. That can
contribute toward "a lasting and just peace in the Middle East,"
he said.
     "Having Bishop Hanson be the one who invited us to this
meeting -- it shows the relationship between the Christian and
Muslim communities in this country, which we would like to be a
model example for others (of) how people can work together," said
Imam Magid, a Sunni Muslim. Having Sunni and Shia Muslim
representatives in the meeting with King Abdullah II "shows that
the Muslim community believes in interfaith work, and they reach
out to people of other faiths to work together for common ground.
We would like His Majesty to help with interfaith work among the
Sunni and Shia."
     Kinnamon said his presence signaled support for the position
articulated by Hanson as well as "a broad array of churches." The
NCC is 35 member denominations, including the ELCA.
     "We have spoken strongly together as churches about
encouragement of a two-state solution, about great concern for
the dwindling population of Christians, especially for
Palestinian Christians and throughout the Middle East, and
concern for interfaith relations as a basis for peacemaking in
the region.  I tried to speak about those issues," he said.
     Kinnamon said he told the king about "the very positive
climate that's developing between Muslims and Christians" in the
United States. The NCC has been concerned about other issues such
as residence permits and family unification issues in the Middle
East, and construction of homes for Palestinians in East
Jerusalem and other parts of the West Bank.
     "I emphasized with His Majesty King Abdullah the need for
Muslims to have a dialogue with the Christians," said Imam Al-
Qazwini, a Shia Muslim. "I spoke about the fact that the majority
of Christians do support Muslims and do understand where they are
coming from. That is why Muslims need to reach out to the
Christians and to establish a permanent dialogue with the
Christians." Al-Qazwini said he also spoke about the need for
intrafaith dialogue between Muslims.
     "Today was a blessed day for me to be talking to King
Abdullah II and with Bishop Hanson. These are friends. I am so
delighted to be with Christian leaders, and I am willing to move
forward in the same step," he said.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://www.elca.org/news
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