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Friday 12 Jun 2015 - 18:42 Makkah mean time-25-8-1436
(Image form The State website)
York, Pennsylvania (IINA) - Fourteen Christian pastors, representing 11 York County churches in USA, had lunch with neighboring Muslims on Thursday, sharing the common beliefs of their faiths, according to The States newspaper.
The meeting was born out of a letter signed by 24 York County pastors many of them in attendance calling on their church members to embrace Muslims as their brothers and sisters.
The Rev. Sam McGregor, pastor at Allison Creek Presbyterian Church near Lake Wylie, started the letter because of recent threats against Muslims nationwide and possibly those at Holy Islamville, a Muslim community that has called York County home for more than 30 years.
About 10 families live on the site near York, and other Muslims live nearby.
The letter, which opposed any acts of violence against “anyone due to their religious beliefs,” prompted Thursday’s sharing.
Umar Bowers of Charlotte and a member of Islamville said the bigger picture of what America will become motivates him to attend such interfaith gatherings.
“We believe in peace, prosperity and love, and to allow the true beliefs of our mutual faith to shine through,” Bowers said.
He and Imam Shakir said the Muslims of Islamville are Americans and that the hateful religious emotions nationally and worldwide have a local effect. They hoped Thursday’s conversation would resonate not only locally but worldwide.
Shakir said he hoped Thursday’s meeting would lead to more interfaith exchanges
The Rev. John O’Kain, also a Presbyterian minister, said the easiest change to make will come in how he refers to Islamville.
“Instead of the Muslims of Islamville, it will be my friends at Islamville,” he said.
SM/IINA
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