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ELCA Presiding Bishop Responds to Letter from
Muslim Leaders
October 12, 2007
The Rev. Mark S. Hanson,
presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
and president of the Lutheran World Federation, Geneva,
responded Oct. 12 to an Oct. 11 letter sent to him and several
global Christian leaders by 138 Muslim leaders from throughout
the world.
The 29-page open letter, "A Common Word Between You and Us,"
calls for Muslims and Christians to work more closely together
for peace.
"Muslims and Christians together make up well over half of the
world's population," the Muslim leaders wrote. "Without peace
and justice between these two religious communities, there can
be no meaningful peace in the world. The future of the world
depends on peace between Muslims and Christians. The basis for
this peace and understanding already exists."
Information about the contents of the letter is available on the
Web from news organizations
The text of the presiding bishop and LWF president's response
reads:
"Greetings to you in the name of Almighty God, our Creator and
Sustainer.
On October 11, a copy of a letter was delivered to me from
Muslim scholars and religious leaders addressed to Christian
religious leaders around the world. As presiding bishop of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and president of the
Lutheran World Federation, I receive this letter in the sincere
expression of faithfulness intended by its drafters, and with
the hopeful expectation for peace that calls to us from the
origins of our sacred texts and professions of faith. I
encourage prayer and planning for communities of justice, peace,
and security where Muslims, Jews, and Christians draw from these
origins as from essential wells of living water.
The letter attests to both the love of God and our shared
heritage of true hospitality to one's neighbor. These
commandments convey prophetic witness for mutual and vital
co-existence that Christians and Muslims must embrace in one
another. The letter further references how the commands to love
God and neighbor are linked "between the Qur'an, the Torah and
the New Testament." I encourage everyone everywhere to read the
beauty of these passages found in the sacred texts of the Abrahamic faiths, which signify God's vision for how and whom we
love in a broken world. This common vision for Jews, Muslims,
and Christians signifies fidelity and fellowship in a world
where conflict offends our common heritage as children of God.
In 2005 I, along with an LWF delegation that included General
Secretary Ishmael Noko, met with His Royal Highness Prince
Ghazi, personal envoy and special advisor to King Abdullah II of
Jordan. Our delegation was grateful for the sincere hospitality
and friendship that were so freely displayed in our
conversation. The delegation spoke at length with Prince Ghazi
about the origins of the Abrahamic faiths in that region of the
world. In another meeting, Akel Biltaji, advisor to His Majesty
the King, stated, "We are honored to be servants and custodians
of the Holy sites."
I acknowledge this letter in gratitude and recognition of the
need for its further study and consideration. I likewise accept
it in the belief that Jews, Muslims, and Christians are called
to one another as to a holy site, where God's living revelation
in the world is received in reverence among the faithful and not
in fear of our neighbors.
I pray for God's continued blessings among Muslims, Jews, and
Christians alike, and thank God for such displays of wisdom and
humility from their leaders."
The Rev. Mark S. Hanson
Presiding Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
President, The Lutheran World Federation
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