Mennonite Weekly Review

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Mennonite scholar David W. Shenk joined 150 Christian and Muslim scholars and leaders for “Common Word Conference: Loving God and Neighbor in Word and Deed” July 28-31 at the Yale Center for Faith and Culture.

Shenk was gratified to be a part of this effort by religious leaders working for the common good.

“While none of the thorny issues were resolved, the conference provided an excellent forum for us to better understand the concerns of others in interfaith relations,” said Shenk, a global consultant for Eastern Mennonite Missions with previous missionary service in Somalia, Kenya and Lithuania.

The gathering was organized in response to a letter, “A Common Word,” written to Christian leaders in October 2007 and signed by 138 Muslim leaders from 40 countries.

The letter emphasizes that Christianity and Islam share two common core values — love of God and love of neighbor. The signatories believe that discussions among leaders from both faiths can help defuse tensions between the faiths and will trickle down to respectful relationships around the world.

Co-hosted by Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad bin Talal of Jordan and Miroslav Volf, a Christian theologian who directs the Yale Center for Faith and Culture, the conference was the first of several planned among high-level Muslim and Christian leaders in the next 15 months.

In his opening address at the Yale conference, Ghazi listed five factors he believes have led to increased tensions between Muslims and Christians: Jerusalem and Palestine, the Iraq war, terrorism, fundamentalism and missionary activity.

In this appeal to religious leaders who are, he believes, “the last bulwark of morality,” Ghazi said it is imperative that faith communities look for “theological common ground to stop deep-rooted mutual suspicions.”

In his opening remarks, Volf said: “Deep faith does not need to mean antagonism. Deep faith fosters conviviality. Deep faith expresses itself in love.”

Volf noted that “A Common Word” is not about amalgamation. It recognizes that there are different centers — the Koran for Muslims and Jesus for Christians. Christians believe in the triune God. Muslims believe that Muhammad is the seal of the prophets.