Today I attended the first two formal meetings of the new (Special) Commission on Baptist-Muslim Relations established last year by the Baptist World Alliance. Tomorrow the BWA Executive Committee is expected to approve the Commission as a permanent body within the Freedom and Justice (F&J) Division (one of two study and research divisions of the BWA). F&J currently has four Commissions: Peace, Social and Economic Justice, Religious Freedom, and Human Rights Advocacy.
The purpose of today’s two meetings was threefold:
(a) to outline a proposed program of work over the next four years, leading up to the 2015 BWA World Congress in Durban, South Africa;
(b) to share stories of challenges and opportunities in Baptist-Muslim relations from various contexts in disparate parts of the world; and
(c) to plan and organise how to achieve the goals set for 2015.
For reasons of security, and to encourage those present to freely express their stories, views and questions, press reporting was restricted. Here I will note a few general observations and point to some key resources.
The suggested goals for the next four years are to build better relationships with Muslims; to learn more about Muslim culture and religion; to develop tools and resources for living in peaceful coexistence with Muslims; and to address how to present an authentic Christian witness among Muslims.
Many personal stories were told, some of them deeply distressing, some of them awe-inspiring and encouraging. Contexts ranged from Indonesia to Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Lebanon, Gaza, Holland, Ghana, Niger, Nigeria, Detroit (USA), and California. I won’t elaborate here.
Important resources mentioned at today’s meetings include the following (in no order of priority):
1. A Common Word - http://www.acommonword.com/index.php?lang=en&page=option1
2. Response to A Common Word by BWA President David Coffey – http://www.acommonword.com/index.php?page=responses&item=32
3. Response to A Common Word by BWA leaders David Coffey, Neville Callam, Paul S. Fiddes & Regina Claas - http://www.acommonword.com/ACommonWord-Baptist-World-Alliance-Response.pdf
4. Christian Witness in a Multi-Religious World (2011) - http://www.oikoumene.org/fileadmin/files/wcc-main/2011pdfs/ChristianWitness_recommendations.pdf
5. Thomas Helwys, The Mystery of Iniquity (1612) – see http://www.centerforbaptiststudies.org/resources/iniquity.htm
6. Ethical guidelines produced by the Christian-Muslim Forum (and now approved by the Baptist Union of Great Britain) - http://christianmuslimforum.org/images/uploads/Ethical_Guidelines_for_Witness.pdf
7. A forthcoming book edited by Glen Stassen (and others) titled Interfaith Just Peacemaking (Nov 2011?)
8. The Imam and the Pastor - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCK3wnGnDZY
9. A resolution on Christians and the Middle East (to be voted on at the BWA Decision Making meeting on Friday 8 July 2011) – [I will provide a link to the resolution after it is adopted]
Any other relevant resources?
NOTE: WordPress won’t allow me to insert active URL links today, so I have had to paste the full URL text.
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