Promoting Muslim-Christian Understanding

Paul McKenna of Scarboro Missions is recognized for his contribution in furthering understanding between Muslims and Christians

January/February 2007

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One of the most successful programs of the National Muslim-Christian Liaison Committee has been its annual Recognition Dinner in which a Muslim and a Christian are recognized for their contribution in furthering understanding between Muslims and Christians in Canada. Last year, Paul McKenna of the Scarboro Missions Interfaith Desk was one of those recognized.

Paul's interfaith career spans more than 25 years. He teaches, writes and consults in the fields of world religions and interfaith dialogue. Paul collaborated with Scarboro Missions and a number of artists and scholars in creating Scarboro's Golden Rule poster. Published only seven years ago, the poster is making an international impact.

Currently Paul is the Coordinator of the Scarboro Missions Interfaith Desk. Says Paul, "I'm profoundly grateful that Scarboro Missions has provided me with an opportunity and an environment to live out the things that I believe in."

Dialogue with the Muslim community has been a key focus of Scarboro's interfaith work.

For example, during the 2003 World Youth Days in Toronto, Scarboro Missions and the Toronto Muslim community collaborated in organizing the largest gathering of Christian and Muslim youth in Canadian history.

At the recognition dinner, Raheel Raza of the Muslim community was also honoured. Raheel is an author, media commentator and interfaith activist. She has been involved in a number of Scarboro's interfaith events.

Formed more than 15 years ago, the National Muslim-Christian Liaison Committee is a Canada-wide organization whose membership is comprised of several Muslim and Christian organizations. These include the Council of the Muslim Community of Canada, the Canadian Islamic Congress, the Canadian Council of Muslim Women, the Islamic Circle of North America, the Council of Imams, the United Church of Canada, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Presbyterian Church of Canada, and the Canadian Council of Churches (including the Associate Secretary for Faith and Witness).

The Committee seeks to be a forum of exchange in which official representatives of the Muslim and Christian communities can explore mutual concerns. The Committee meets five times each year to discuss areas of sensitivity or conflict as well as issues of common interest. Although the committee cannot speak for any of its member organizations, it does urge its various representatives to return to their organizations with a position or policy and have their organizations act on the position taken by the Committee.

Some of the activities that the Committee has urged its member organizations to support include:

• issuing of statements to Canadian government officials against the war in Iraq;
• advocacy for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Palestine;
• advocacy for the poor and homeless in Canada;
• collaboration with the United Church of Canada in the preparation of its groundbreaking document on Muslim-Christian understanding, That We May Know Each Other.

To download this document and accompanying study guide, go to:
http://www.united-church.ca/sales/publications/400000126

In the past, the National Muslim-Christian Liaison Committee has sponsored projects such as Families Meeting Families, in which Muslim and Christian families were paired so that they could get to know each other and their faith traditions through social interaction. The Committee has also organized a tour across Canada by senior Muslim and Christian representatives to encourage the formation of local Muslim-Christian dialogue groups.

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