The 219th (2010) General Assembly voted to “refer the report from the Offices of Interfaith Relations and Theology and Worship entitled: ‘Christians and Jews: People of God’ back to the Office of Interfaith Relations and Theology and Worship to rewrite the report after broader consultation to include the National Middle East Presbyterian Caucus, PC(USA) partner churches and agencies in the Middle East, relevant mission networks of the PC(USA), the Advocacy Committee for Racial Ethnic Concerns, and the Advisory Committee for Social Witness Policy.”
The goal of this symposium is to help Presbyterians formulate our position on the knotty issues of interfaith relations raised by the report “Christians and Jews: People of God.” By bringing more voices to the table, we seek to place the dialogue between Christians and Jews in the U.S. in the larger context of interfaith relations and political realities in the Middle East. We also seek to reiterate the PC(USA) commitments to peace based on UN resolutions, international law, and human rights covenants as they apply to interfaith dialogue.
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Bible, Land, and Our Theological Challenge: A Presbyterian Conversation
Held on Thursday October 13, 2011
Schedule
| 9:00AM | Welcome, introductions, statement of purpose, prayer | |
| 9:30AM-10:20AM | “Kairos Palestine and Interfaith Relations in North America” |
Rev. Dr. Said Ailabouni, ELCA Pastor, La Grange IL, Former director of ELCA office on the Middle East |
| 10:30AM-11:20AM | “Biblical interpretation and Old Testament Land Theology Today” |
Rev. Dr. Eugene March, Old Testament Profesor Emeritus, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary |
| 11:30AM-12:20PM | “Biblical interpretation and New Testament Land Theology Today” |
Rev. Dr. Gary Burge, Professor of New Testament, Wheaton College and Graduate School |
| 12:30PM | Lunch and discussion: catered in the Presbyterian Center. Registration includes cost of lunch. | |
| 1:45PM – 4:30PM | Panel Discussion | |
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Moderator: Darrell Yeaney, former university Campus Minister in Kansas, California and Iowa; Founder with his wife Sue of the Congressional Accompaniment Project to Israel/Palestine Speakers: Said Ailabouni, Gene March, Gary Burge (see above) National Staff: Rev. Dr. Christian T. Iosso, Coordinator, Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy (PCUSA) Rev. Dr. Charles A. Wiley, III, Interim Director, Theology & Worship, PC(USA) IPMN members: Rev. Katherine Cunningham, Co-Executive Director, New Horizons Associates, Counseling and Consultation, New Jersey; a past moderator of the Committee on the Office of the GA; Vice Moderator of IPMN. Professor Nahida Halaby Gordon, Schools of Medicine and Nursing, Case Western Reserve University, moderator of the National Middle East Presbyterian Caucus, officer and member of the Steering Committee of IPMN Rev. Dr. Donald Wagner, Research Professor for Interfaith Engagement, Eastern Mennonite University and former Professor and Director of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies North Park University, Chicago, IL Rev. Raafat L. Zaki, Transitional Synod Executive, Synod of the Covenant. He was educated in the Middle East, Asia, & the USA and has held three pastorates, two GAMC positions, and two synod positions. |
