United Church hosts Muslim-Christian dialogue

| The New Mexican

1/5/2008 - 1/5/08

"What Christians can Learn from Muslims, What Muslims Can Learn from Christians" is the focus of a dialogue sermon at the United Church of Santa Fe on Sunday when Isalmic leader Br. AbdulAziz Eddebbarh and the Rev. Talitha Arnold share worship leadership in both the 8:30 and 11 a.m. services.

Eddebbarh, a leader in interfaith understandings and dialogue, is the chairman of the board for the Ibn Asheer Institute of Islamic Studies in Santa Fe.

A native of Morocco, Eddebbarh also is a part of a new mosque for the Islamic community in Santa Fe.

He has a doctoral degree in environmental sciences from Colorado State University, and benefited from a traditional Islamic Education in Morocco.

He is presently on the board of directors of the North America Interfaith Network and is a co-director and founder of the American Muslim-Jewish Dialogue.

He led a delegation of American Muslims and Jews on a peace-seeking journey to Morocco and the Middle East.

The conversations between Eddebbarh and Arnold began as a result of two documents.

In October, 138 international Islamic scholars, clerics, and other leaders issued a letter to the worldwide Christian community titled "A Common Word Between Us and You."

It affirms the love of God and love of neighbor as shared principles and a foundation for peace and understanding between Muslims and Christians.

In response to the Muslim letter, the dean and faculty of Yale Divinity School developed the statement, "Loving God and Loving Neighbor," which affirms that the "Common Word" is a "Muslim hand of conviviality and cooperation extended to Christians worldwide."

Christian leaders, from megachurch minister Rick Warren to Pope Benedict XVI, have since signed onto the Yale response.

The Islam and Christian documents can be found on the Web at www.acommonword.com and www.yale.edu/faith/abou-commonword.htm

Arnold, who is on Yale's alumni board, learned of the two statements this fall and thought they would be a good starting point for a Muslim-Christian dialogue in Santa Fe.

She and Eddebbarh had met last spring when they were speakers at an interfaith service held at the Cathedral Basilical of St. Francis of Assisi.

In addition to the two services Sunday morning, Eddebbarh will speak in the 9:45 adult forum.

He and Arnold also are planning three Thursday conversations, based on "A Common Word" and "Loving God, Loving Neighbor," to be held at
7 p.m. this Thursday and on Jan. 24 and Feb. 7, also at the United Church.

Child care for infants and toddlers is offered through the morning services at the United Church.

Children's ministry for elementary school-age children is offered during both the 9:45 a.m. adult forum and
11 a.m. worship service.

Older youth are invited to share in the forum and worship. Pianist Jacquelyn Helin offers special music at both services. The Sanctuary Choir, directed by Catherine Robinson, sings at the 11 a.m. service.

The United Church of Santa Fe,
1804 Arroyo Chamiso, is part of the progressive United Church of Christ, whose roots are in the Protestant Reformation of the 17th century, the Abolition movement of the 18th century, and the civil rights movement of the 20th century.

For more information, visit the Web site at www.unitedchurchofsantafe.org or call 988-3295.

Inside Santa Fe's Faith Communities is compiled by the individual faith community and edited by the religion editor. All faith communities are welcome to submit an article — send an e-mail to service@sfnewmexican.com or send a fax to 986-9147. For more information, call 986-3049.