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| Islamic Center of Murfreesboro |
No matter where
you live, you have probably heard about the controversy about the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro. Certain dissatisfied
citizens continue to protest the county’s granting a building permit to the new
mosque although it has now been occupied over a year and several courts have
ruled against the plaintiffs, who now want to take their case to U. S. Supreme
Court.
On the larger
stage, many Christian leaders in our country are considering ways to ministry
in what may be the most religiously diverse nation in the world. Christians are increasingly
called to exercise our pastoral practices in a context that requires understanding
of faith traditions other than our own.
Three
years ago, with the support of the Henry Luce Foundation, the Association of Theological
Schools provided grants to 18 theological schools to help prepare their
graduates to serve faithfully in a multi-faith environment. The projects funded
by the Christian Hospitality and Pastoral Practices in a Multi-faith Society
(CHAPP) project are available online.
The thrust of these projects was not to
compromise the Christian faith or “water down the Gospel.” In most cases the first step was to help theological
students understand their own faith commitment better. In the words of Jewish theologian Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, “Faith must proceed interfaith.” A person must have a firm grasp of his or her
own tradition before entering into dialogue or cooperation with those of
another faith tradition.
What is the value of a Christian minister
knowing how to function in a multi-faith context? Let me suggest several possibilities.
First, we can enrich our understanding of our own faith tradition by considering how
others see us. As we attempt to overcome
the stereotypes that others have of us, we find new ways to interpret what is
vital to us.
Second, as we learn
to appreciate the faith tradition of another person, we come to see that person
not as the “other” but as a multidimensional human being with many of the same
questions, concerns, and values that we have.
Third, we can find
areas of mutual concern where we might work together without abandoning our own
convictions. You do not have to give up
your faith to work with others on matters of civic or social concern. We all want things like better schools, less
poverty, and healthy families no matter what faith we practice.
Fourth, we can
learn how to effectively share resources or space. The resources allocated to ministries
such as institutional chaplaincy are limited and becoming more so. We must learn how to “share space” with other
faith traditions while respecting our mutual commitments.
The effective
Christian minister in 21st century America must have the skills to
function in a multi-cultural, multi-faith environment. This is not only a reality but an
opportunity.
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