San Francisco, June 24: Dozens of churches, about making friendships between neighboring mosques and churches (‘twinning’), is inspired by the well-known twinning between towns and cities in the UK and other countries. Our aim is to build and demonstrate strong local friendships between Christians and Muslims.
We intend to inspire people to get know their neighbours and offer our ideas, and support, to help clear hurdles and build bridges. Friendship – the energy for growing these relationships comes from friendship. Twinning mosques and churches is not a project, or something forced upon the unwilling, but a celebration of being together as friends and neighbours.
Friendship and sharing encourages the Christian Muslim Forum in its work to promote ‘strong personal relationships between Christians and Muslims, based on faith in God’. The importance of friendship for the creation of the Forum as a joint Christian-Muslim venture was highlighted by the late Bishop John Austin:
‘As the process unfolded what became increasingly clear was just how important it was that the initiative was a partnership between Muslims and Christians. It would have no credibility at all without the genuine collaboration of a group of Muslims and Christians who have become fast friends through the work they have shared together.’
Why Inter Faith?
Inter faith engagement covers a vast array of action carried out by people who want to build mutual understanding and respect. Some of the main reasons for Christian- Muslim engagement include:
• Demonstrating appreciation of people of other faiths and their contributions to society
• Demonstrating to fellow Muslims and Christians the importance of positive inter faith relations.
• Campaigning on common goals, such as social, political or economic justice
• Challenging prejudice and hatred of Christians, Muslims and other peoplein society
• Learning about the history, beliefs and doctrines of each other’s faith
• Articulating the validity and religious truths of one’s own faith
• Acknowledging historic injustices experienced at each other’s hands
-Agencies