The United Church of Christ national leaders and the Pacific Northwest Conference are inviting the wider church to get involved in building bridges between Christians and Muslims in our local communities around the country. Building on the Conference's Ramadan initiative, 'Honoring Sacred Time,' which posted visible signs of welcome, solidarity and support for Muslim Americans in dozens of churches around Washington state, this is a one-church effort to extend the extravagant welcome of the United Church of Christ to all.
"This initiative is very much in line with the spirit of love and compassion that the gospel invites us to bear witness to. While we celebrate this bold, public witness, we also realize that Muslims in America live in fear all the time. It is going to take a concerted, collaborative effort on our part to shift the dialogue and engender feelings of trust, of love, and of mutual support across interfaith lines."
The Rev. John C. Dorhauer, United Church of Christ General Minister and President
"The United Church of Christ is setting an important example of serving God by serving humanity. I was very impressed to see General Minister the Rev. John Dorhauer and PNW Conference Minister the Rev. Mike Denton dedicate so much time and thought into conceiving and rolling out the ‘Honoring Sacred Time’ project. All I can think of are the thousands of American Muslim children growing up across our (Washington) state, and millions across our nation. When they pass by a UCC church on the way to school or to soccer practice and see a sign publicly and vocally telling the public that American Muslims are our neighbors, it tells them that American Muslim children have the right to the same aspirations, hopes and dreams as every other young American. The responses from UCC churches across (the Pacific Northwest Conference) and beyond also really speaks to the values and the character of UCC leaders. They really are showing the country what it means to 'do to others what you would have them do to you.'"
Arsalan Bukhari, Executive Director, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Washington
Make an appointment to visit a mosque in your community, or take time to have a conversation with a Muslim friend.
Find a mosque near you
Interfaith Relations and Islam
Resources on the Middle East
Hang a banner or a sign outside your church!
Order a banner from the Interfaith Action on Human Rights
Ways to show your support and be an ally
Confront Islamophobia
Countering Islamophobia
Photos from the Honoring Sacred Time: An Interfaith Ramadan Campaign Facebook page.
Faith groups in Texas community form human wall of support around mosque following gunfire
http://www.ucc.org/news_faith_groups_in_texas_community_form_human_wall_of_support_around_mosque_following_gunfire_07102016
Pennsylvania pastor stands firm on church's support of Muslim neighbors
http://www.ucc.org/news_pennsylvania_pastor_stands_firm_support_of_muslim_neighbors_062316
Austin interfaith community declares, 'We Stand with Our Muslim Neighbors'
http://www.ucc.org/news_austin_interfaith_community_declares_we_stand_with_our_muslim_neighbors_06232016
Honoring Sacred Time uniting UCC, Muslim faith community in Pacific Northwest
http://www.ucc.org/news_honoring_sacred_time_uniting_ucc_muslim_faith_community_in_pacific_northwest_06072016
Rhode Island UCC ministers seek to strengthen relationship with Muslim community ahead of Ramadan
http://www.ucc.org/news_rhode_island_ucc_ministers_seek_to_strengthen_relationship_with_muslim_community_ahead_of_ramadan_06032016
Extravagance UCC study group learning about Muslim faith
http://www.ucc.org/news_extravagance_ucc_study_group_learning_about_muslim_faith_01222016
Chicago seminary offers a visible statement of solidarity with Muslim sisters
http://www.ucc.org/news_chicago_seminary_offers_a_visible_statement_of_solidarity_with_muslim_sisters_12212015
California church wants to welcome, take in refugees
http://www.ucc.org/news_california_church_welcome_take_refugees_12032015
UCC and Disciples leaders, in solidarity with Muslims, express abhorrence of hate speech
http://www.ucc.org/news_ucc_disciples_leaders_solidarity_with_muslims_express_abhorrence_of_hate_speech_12092015
Muslim couple surprises Missouri church
http://www.ucc.org/news_muslim_couple_surprises_missouri_church_10132015
Interfaith rallies trump Anti-Muslim protests
http://www.ucc.org/news_interfaith_rallies_trump_anti_muslim_protests_08122015
Urgent call for UCC response to Anti-Muslim rallies
http://www.ucc.org/news_urgent_call_ucc_response_anti_muslim_rallies_10092015
Faced with fear from anti-Islamic protestors, Arizona interfaith supporters rely on love
http://www.ucc.org/arizona_interfaith_supporter_love_06012015
Lebanon's top Sunni pledges peace-building to Global Ministries delegation
http://www.ucc.org/news_middle_east_initiative_sunni_peace_05132015
Nebraska UCC church joins tri-faith movement aligning Christian, Jewish and Muslim communities
http://www.ucc.org/countryside_trifaith_movement_04142015
Synod stands against hostility toward Islam and the Muslim community
http://www.ucc.org/synod-stands-against
The United Church of Christ's Historical Witness
Throughout its history, the witness of the United Church of Christ General Synod has reflected a faithful and prophetic engagement calling to address hostility against the Muslim community.
In 1989 General Synod 17 adopted the resolution "The Relationship Between the United Church of Christ and the Muslim Community," that set the foundation for interfaith support and dialogue between Christians and Muslims.
"Faced with the recognition that history extends forward as well as backwards from the crucifixion (in the words of Pilgrim’s pastor, John Robinson, "God has yet more truth and light to break forth from His word") and that Christians have often ignored and been openly hostile to the revelation of God to Muslims, we ask for open hearts and minds as we as Christians learn about and support Muslims in their faithfulness in affirming the same God and our common prophets, as we discover in Islam a perspective on our beliefs and traditions and we rejoice in sharing with Muslims a hope in the principle of justice and righteousness and a belief in the peace of submission to God."
Most recently, General Synod 28 (2011), passed another resolution, To Counter Actions of Hostility Against Islam and the Muslim Community A Resolution of Witness
This resolution speaks against anti-Muslim hatred and fear — indeed all types of hostility toward other faith groups — which is contradictory to our Christian faith. It also encourages increased learning and interaction between settings of the UCC and members of the Muslim community, in the US and globally.
Our Stillspeaking Voice is a monthly issues-oriented multimedia initiative, created to amplify the bold public voice of the United Church of Christ. Part of General and Minister and President John C. Dorhauer’s first 90-day initiatives, Our Stillspeaking Voice is the product of all the UCC’s national ministries–– the Office of the General Minister and President, Justice and Witness Ministries, Local Church Ministries and Wider Church Ministries –– in partnership with several UCC conferences, around a dozen issues that are part of the church’s DNA.
Previous UCC "Our Stillspeaking Voice" intitiatives.
Faith Beyond Bars Site | Story
Work to End Gun Violence Site | Story
Keep it in the Ground Site | Story
Focus on Israel/Palestine Site | Story
Spotlight (on sexual abuse in churches) Story
Why I Protest Video | Story