I guess you missed this story.
American Muslim News Briefs Thursday, November 11, 2004 CO: Imam Joins Church Staff for Bridge-Building Effort Source: Associated Press
DENVER - A Muslim imam will join the staff of a Christian church in Denver this weekend in what may be a national first.
Ibrahim Kazerooni, a Shiite cleric, will direct St. John's Cathedral's fledgling Abrahamic Initiative, a bridge-building effort between Christians, Jews and Muslims.
"I really don't feel out of place here," said Kazerooni, an Iraq native who will continue to head the Islamic Center of Ahl Al-Beit in Denver. "Whether it is a church, a synagogue or a mosque, it's just the medium. The message is the work we do."
The initiative seeks to find common ground of the three monotheistic faiths through lectures and dialogues in private homes where people from each faith share stories.
"Our society is polarized," said Greg Movesian, the cathedral's canon and chairman of the initiative's steering committee. "We hope this appeals to people who don't look upon people of other religions as a target for conversion but rather potential partners in maintaining a civil society."
Hiring Kazerooni is "a breakthrough," Movesian told The Denver Post. "I don't know if there is any other church in the country that has an imam on its staff."
Kazerooni, 46, won't be paid for serving as interim director of the initiative, which is named for the Biblical figure linking the three faiths. Instead, the church will cover a year's tuition at Iliff School of Theology, where he is pursuing a master's degree.
"We hope this appeals to people who don't look upon people of other religions as a target for conversion but rather potential partners in maintaining a civil society."
Jesus Christ and the apostles looked upon people of other religions as "targets" for conversion to belief in Jesus Christ. Why isn't this cathedral's canon doing the same? What would Jesus Christ and the apostle Paul have to say to him?
I did miss it. Thanks so much for posting it. Interesting, to say the least.
Char :)