| In
the
summer
of 2007
several
members
of the
Lake
Street
partnership
of Taking
Heart
met
on the
shores
of Lake
Calhoun
for
their
third
annual
picnic.
About
50 people
of Christian
and
Muslim
faiths
shared
a pot-luck
meal
and
continued
building
the
relationships
between
them.
That
is the
goal
of Taking
Heart
- building
relationships
between
people
of Muslim
and
Christian
faiths
in a
way
that
emphasizes
the
similarities
more
than
differences.
A national
survey
completed
by Princeton
University
in 2003
showed
that
75%
of Christian
respondents
have
little
or no
personal
contact
with
Muslims.
Unfortunately,
many
people
who
are
interested
in getting
to know
people
of different
faith
traditions
do not
know
how
or where
to start.
There
can
be uneasiness,
fear
of offending,
and
discouragement
that
the
differences
are
just
too
great.
In a
time
in Minnesota
when
religious
diversity
is increasing
dramatically,
and
religious
tension
is heightening,
Taking
Heart
is designed
to and
foster
greater
understanding
and
mutual
respect
between
Minnesota’s
Christian
and
Islamic
communities.
Taking
Heart
is a
joint
program
of the
Minnesota
Council
of Churches
and
the
Muslim
American
Society
of Minnesota.
The
intent
of the
program
is to
establish
grassroots
relationships
by creating
and
supporting
partnerships
between
members
of churches
and
mosques.
Partnerships
are
created
geographic
areas
so that
neighbors
get
to know
neighbors.
You
do not
need
to be
a member
of a
participating
congregation
in order
to participate
in Taking
Heart.
If
you
would
be interested
in participating
in a
Taking
Heart
partnership
please
contact
Gail
Anderson
at Gail.Anderson@mnchurches.org
back
to Christian
Unity and Interfaith Relationships
|
