How do we build bridges of understanding?
Community Relations Council

The Jewish Community Ministers Conference has been and continues to be a gift to ecumenical relations in our community. It is one of the few times that religious leaders of differing faiths gather for a lecture, discussion and fellowship with one another. Initially it was primarily a Christian-Jewish dialogue but as the religious diversity of our community has increased so has the opportunity for new partners in an inter-faith conversation. In these conversations religious leaders can acknowledge often with humility and occasionally with laughter the multiple voices within any given faith tradition. I remember Lawrence Hoffman speaking just after his book, "The Art of Public Prayer" had been published and the commonality that could be found across faith and interpretative traditions of those of us who engage in public prayer. It was a gift. And one of my favorite trips ever was the time we travelled as a clergy group to the Holocaust Mu-seum. Having the time together on the bus, over meals and overnight was one of the richest ecumenical, in-ter-faith experiences I have had in my 30 years in this community. Thank you, to Jewish Federation, for making this time of inter-faith conversation possible.

Rev. Richard Edens
United Church of Chapel Hill