The Words of the Burton Family
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The Words of the Burton Family |
As reported by Rev. Don Peavy, a columnist for the Fort Worth Ecumenical Examiner, the call for Washington D.C. Faith leaders to gather for a "Day of Reverence" at the Imani Temple on September 10, 2010 was met by a chorus of "Amens" by ministers in nine U.S. cities. See: www.examiner.com/ecumenical-in-fort-worth/christian-leaders-call-for-a-day-of-reverence-and-respect-for-all-faiths-and-their-holy-books
Archbishop G. Augustus Stallings Jr., Co President of the American Clergy Leadership Conference (ACLC), responded to the plan to burn the Quran by calling for Christian churches across America to refute this way of thinking and welcome Muslim brothers and sisters and Imams on Sunday, September 12, 2010. [After the press event was called, Florida minister Terry Jones called off the burning on Sept. 9.]
Despite the cancellation of the Quran burning, the Archbishop called for "A Day of Reverence and Respect for All Faiths and their Holy Books." Several Christian churches responded on short notice and took action, hosting Muslim community representatives at their Sunday Services on September 12, 2010.
News aggregate websites such as Reuters, MSNBC as well as ABC, CBS and NBS TV News in Washington, took note of the announcement by the ACLC.
Responses came pouring in from around the country, according to Peavy. Rev. Ernest Hatcher of the New Kingdom Missionary Baptist Church responded immediately by inviting the noted Muslim Cleric Imam Abdullah Al Amin, from the Detroit Muslim Center, to join a service. Rev. Hatcher said, "Jesus teaches us that we must love all people and serve one another. Hate and condemnation are not part of the Christian witness. I love my Muslim brothers and sisters and respect them. God's people must come together." Imam Al Amin immediately accepted the invitation and reportedly is looking forward to the opportunity to visit.
In New Haven, Connecticut, Mrs. Myrtle Stallings and the congregation of The Church of God and Saints of Christ welcomed Deputy Imam Hani Nasser from Yemen, representing the West Haven Mosque, Masjid An-noor, and the Mosque at the University of Bridgeport. The proclamation calling for an "International Day of Reverence for all Faiths, Believers and their Holy Books," was first introduced, after which Imam Nasser spoke about coming to the United stated States 22 years ago. He was deeply moved by the diversity and the acceptance of all religions, as well as people and their beliefs. Imam Nasser also thanked the ACLC for having the courage to speak out.
Mike Ghouse, of the Foundation for Pluralism, emailed the following comment to the ACLC: "I am glad the coalition is standing up for the other, in this case the faith of Islam. It is the right thing to do. Every human goes through a period of invincibility to vulnerability; if we don't stand up for those who are vulnerable, then who will stand up for us when we are vulnerable?"
His statement continued: "Father Moon emphasizes the idea, 'Living for the sake of others.' Indeed, there is a lot of wisdom in it, as Martin Niemoller also reflects in his eternal poem, 'first they came for the Jews, I wasn't a Jew, then they came for Communists, I didn't care, I wasn't a communist, then they came for me and there was no one left to speak up for me.'"
Minister Steven Muhammad, President of "Building Family, Neighborhoods and Communities of Atlanta," wrote in an email, "The press statement is truly a beautiful document, as I read it tears came to my eyes. May Allah (G-d) bless you and the clergy of ACLC."
Dr. Luone Rouse of The Huntington Cold Harbor United Methodist Church in Huntington, New York, wrote, "Thank you. This is a real means of a sincere response, and reach for peace among the people of God. Sectors of our nation have responded to the misguided and misdirected understanding of Rev. Jones in Gainesville, Fla.
"There could be no more meaningful of a response than the call of Archbishop G. Augustus Stallings, Jr. for 'An International Day of Reverence and Respect for All Faiths and Holy Books,'" Rev. Rouse continued. "It is so right to do and at the right time. As I pray, I will include forgiveness of those who ignore and misunderstand the Bible and the Quran so as to have divine intervention reconcile us."
Rev. Michael Jenkins, Chairman of the American Clergy Leadership Conference stated, "As we seek to understand our Muslim brothers and sisters and their faith and Holy book, we find that there is deep love and respect for Jesus, and can also see Christians as people of the book. We need to develop that love and respect as we honor God and the call from the Lord to love one another."
Archbishop Stallings said, "We stand here today on the eve of 9/11 with sincere prayer and remembrance of those who lost their lives and the loved ones they left behind. The tragedy that occurred at Ground Zero was born out of hate and extremism; a new era will only be born out of love and cooperation."
Archbishop Stallings said further: "We, as representatives of the faith communities, are all people of the Book. That is, we are people of God's Word. We stand as One to say to our American Islamic brothers and sisters, as well as to our Islamic brothers and sisters in every nation of the world, that we respect the faith of Islam. We are confident that God (Allah), the creator of us all, is One."
He continued, "Jesus said in the Gospel of John 10:16: 'I have many sheep who are not of this fold. I must bring them also and they will heed my voice, so there shall be one flock, one shepherd.'"
Rev. Arnold Howard of Enon Baptist Church in Baltimore said, "the faith leaders must stand together to end the hatred. We respect and love our Muslim brothers and sisters and we respect the Koran."
Rev. Mark Hernandez, Texas leader of the American Clergy Leadership Conference, called on all local pastors and Christians in general, to join this national movement and to invite Muslims to participate in their Sunday worship services.