Interfaith - Ecumenical Ministry at St. Charles Church, Arlington VA

Ecumenical / Interfaith Ministry

Updates

* Our next Interfaith Committee meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 16, in Room 101 on the St. Charles campus. We will continue planning for the Oct. 17 Middle School Interfaith Event.

* The sixth annual Unity Walk along Embassy Row in Washington, D.C., will take place from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 12. This event commemorates the tragedy and heroism of Sept. 11, 2001. The program will begin with an invocation and welcome at the Sikh Temple (3801 Massachusetts Ave., NW). Participants will then visit open houses of worship in the surrounding area and stop at the community service fair at the Islamic Center. The walk will conclude at the Gandhi Memorial near the Dupont Circle metro stop on the Red Line.

The Rev. Mpho A. Tutu, daughter of Episcopal Archbishop Desond Tutu, will speak at this year's walk. Rev. Tutu is an Episcopal priest and the founder and executive director of the Tutu Institite for Prayer and Pilgrimage. Sister Maureen Fiedler, host of Interfaith Voices, will emcee and moderate the event. Confirmed speakers include: Rabbi Noah Fabricant of Washington Hebrew Congregation; William Aiken, public affairs director of the Soka Gakkai International Buddhist Culture Center; Dr. Adjullah M. Khouj, director of the Islamic Center of Washington; Rabbi David Schneyer, founder and director of Am Kolel; Jay Winter Nightwolf, host of "American Indians' Truth" radio program; and Clark Lobenstine, executive director of the Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington. For more information contact Jody Uyanik (703) 642-2778 or jtuyanik@yahoo.com, or Dominique Rychlik (301) 580-0934 or rychliks@gmail.com.
Statement: Observations on the Controversy Surrounding the Islamic Center in Manhattan

The following statement was drafted by James Drummond, chairman of the St. Charles Borromeo Interfaith Committee, in response to the controversy surrounding a proposal to construct an Islamic Center near the site where the twin towers of the New York World Trade Center fell. The committee welcomes statements from other St. Charles parishioners and will post them on this page of the St. Charles web site.

Religious intolerance can skew a Great Nation’s moral compass. As the anniversary of the tragedy, and heroism, of Sept. 11, 2001, approaches let us affirm the freedom of faith which is a pillar of our Constitution. Actions which demonize our Muslim brothers and sisters by exploiting the memory of those who perished on that day serve only to deepen the divisions which spawn terrorism and contradict the message of neighborly love that our Savior brought to us. The local community’s acceptance of an Islamic Center in close proximity to the hallowed site of Ground Zero speaks volumes about the strength that diversity brings to the American way.

Some of the opposition from those far removed both geographically and philosophically from that community is based on good faith albeit misguided concerns over the memory of those who perished at Ground Zero. Others, however, have cynically manipulated the situation for partisan political advantage as a “wedge” issue. In contrast, Christians, Jews, and Muslims worship at a chapel that was built at the site of the Sept. 11 attack on the Pentagon with the support of our military leaders.

Let us celebrate God’s Universal Grace by respecting the dignity of all faith traditions.

Letter of Support

Interfaith Committee expresses support for Virginia House of Delegates' selection of Imam Johari for opening prayer in March 2010:

Dear Imam Johari,

We are writing to express our support of you and your legacy of working to promote interfaith tolerance and understanding. In our years of working with you, we know you to be a great advocate for peace. We are deeply saddened and disturbed by this week's protests. Quite to the contrary, we are very pleased and proud that you were asked to lead the prayers for the opening session of the VA House of Delegates.

As you and others talked about during our Interfaith Panel on March 7th, the work of promoting peace is difficult and often met with narrow-minded opposition. We are praying for your continued efforts, even in the face of such difficulties, and want you to know that you are not alone in your quest.

Sincerely,

Father Gerry Creedon
& the St. Charles Interfaith Committee

Previous Events

Panel discussion on the causes of friction among Abrahamaic faiths and what can be done to address them
On March 7, 2010 a panel discussion called "Developing Understanding among Abrahamic Faiths: Opportunities for Cooperation in the Local Community" delved into the causes of friction among Abrahamic faiths and what can be done to address them.
Panelists included:
Rev. Leonard Hamlin - of Macedonia Baptist Church in Arlington, Va.
Rabbi Tamara Miller - of the Center for Integrative Medicine in Washington, D.C.
Imam Johari Abdul-Malik - of the Dar al-Hijrah Islamic Center in Falls Church, Va.
Father Gerry Creeden - pastor of St. Charles moderated the panel
Panel Discussion on Mysticism as a Common Theme among Religions
On Oct. 26, 2008, a panel of religious leaders representing Catholic, Jewish, Protestant and Islamic traditions discussed "The Role and Heritage of Mysticism in Modern Religions With Origins in the Middle East."
Panelists included:
Father Thomas Ryan - a Paulist priest who has written on mysticism as a form of spiritual practice
Rabbi Bret Isserow - with Beth Al Synagogue in Alexandria and hosted a Seder for St. Charles parishioners in April 2008
Rev. Dr. Carol Flett - Interfaith Programs Coordinator at the National Cathedral
Uzma Farooq - Vice President of the Muslim Women's Coalition
Father Gerry Creeden - pastor of St. Charles moderated the panel
Seder Meal, April 20, 2008 - The St. Charles Interfaith Committee partnered with our brothers and sisters at Beth Al Synagogue in Alexandria to provide St. Charles parishoners with an opportunity to witness a Seder. Three dozen parishioners attended.
Interfaith Marriages Resources from St. Charles
Adult Education - Conversation with Creedon event discussed interfaith relationships, Jan. 13, 2008
Survey Results: Winter 2008 interfaith family questionnaire survey results
Open Houth of Faith (OHOF) - On Feb. 7, 2006, St. Charles opened its doors to the community and presented “A Brief Introduction to Catholicism for All Ages.” The evening featured short talks, a Q&A session, and a tour of the church with Fr. Charles Ukwe. Other local faith communities hosting Open Houses included Lutheran, Methodist, Mormon, Pentecostal, Eastern Orthodox, Jewish, Muslim, Unitarian, and Baha'i communities. For a complete list of Open Houses, see openhousesoffaith.org/events.htm. For more information on the St. Charles Open House, see the flyer (PDF)
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity - Jan. 18-25, 2006
Miracles and Lights: A Musical Chanukah Celebration - Dec. 11, 2005
Interfaith Thanksgiving Service - Members of Arlington faith communities joined together for the annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service. Host: Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church, 2700 South 19th St., Arlington. Several new congregations participated this year.
Conversations with Creedon - "Progress and Obstacles in Catholic-Jewish Dialogue," Sept. 4, 2005
Pope Pius XII and the Holocaust: A Dialogue Toward Consensus and Healing, May 2, 2005
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Jan. 18-25, 2005
Interfaith Thanksgiving Service, Nov. 24, 2004
LARC Conference (Lutheran, Anglican and Roman Catholic), Nov. 12-23, 2004
Iftar Meal and Ramadan Conversation, Oct. 22, 2004
Our Father, Our King: An Introduction to the Music and Liturgy of the Jewish High Holidays., Sept. 5, 2004
A Musical Introduction to the Jewish Tradition of Sabbath Celebration, Sept. 15, 2003
An Introduction to the Jewish High Holidays and Passover, March 31, 2003

Last modified: 05 September 2010
St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church
3304 Washington Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201, USA
Tel: 703.527.5500 | Fax: 703.527.5505 | Web: www.stcharleschurch.org

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