Religious Leaders for Reconciliation:
An American Journey of Clergy Beyond Borders

Background

Religious and cultural pluralism in the United States is facing a critical challenge. Fear of the other, already heightened in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks, has been exacerbated by events of the last decade, including disputes over the rights of undocumented immigrants and increased presence of religious minorities. Recent public discourse - illustrated, for example, by a prime time U.S. network television program entitled "Should America Fear Islam?" (NBC, October 3, 2010) - clearly defines Islam as a foreign threat. Other religious minorities such as Mormons are also viewed with suspicion, and talk of a Jewish "agenda" has resurfaced in prominent media outlets.

This situation is not solely a concern for religious minorities, or for those who favor inter-religious understanding. It epitomizes the on-going struggle to realize our country's aspirations and founding principles of pluralism and tolerance in the face of lingering nativism, racism, and other forms of bigotry. Historically minorities including Catholics and Evangelical Protestants have also been victimized. But we have not confronted such a concerted threat for many years.

In response to the deteriorating situation, CBB proposes a domestic Religious Leaders for Reconciliation Bus/Caravan designed to amplify the voices for pluralism and confront extremist trends, both of which exist in our various religious traditions. With our positive messages and multi-religious clergy model, we will correct ignorance and misperception. The Bus/Caravan will shore up local interfaith efforts where they exist, while sowing new seeds of cooperation and inter-religious understanding where none have flourished.

On our itinerary we will offer training for religious leaders along with inspirational programs for youth and general audiences in communities which have exhibited disruptions to interfaith harmony as well as in communities seeking to prevent such problems, increase inter-religious cooperation more widely, and promote pluralism and tolerance.

A Multi-State Inter-Religious Campaign

The multi-state campaign will bring inter-religious training teams (Jewish, Christian and Muslim, at a minimum) to communities around the U.S. In each location, workshops will be offered for religious leaders, as well as panel presentations for the general public and for youth audiences.

Customized programs will promote local relationship-building and offer suggestions for promoting mutual understanding in individual congregations and across the community. The concept of a regional or national bus/caravan will build synergy between previously isolated communities, building momentum for a re-invigorated national commitment to pluralism and celebration of inter-religious harmony.

Content will depend on local needs and audience. Each stop, however, will focus on essential topics:

• sources for pluralism within the Abrahamic traditions;
• using faith-based resources to promote conflict resolution and peace building;
• the interaction of religious and secular law in a pluralist society;
• approaches to "problematic" texts and perspectives on international conflicts

A nationally-recognized consulting firm has agreed to organize the tour. In conjunction with the bus tour, a short film will be produced. This film will then be used to further the goals of the campaign, through various outlets. In addition, CBB will extend the campaign to an audience beyond the individual "bus stops" through print and on-line materials and by furthering discussion and connections through Facebook, Twitter and other on-line media.

The overall focus at each stop will be on helping participants further local inter-religious efforts and on empowering them to be more effective in teaching and preaching toward a "return to sanity" in religious discourse.

Introductory elements will allow leaders to explore differences and commonalities in their faith traditions and review the role of religion in precipitating and ameliorating conflict. More advanced work will include case studies of religious conflict in the public square and practice in developing community ritual.

Educational and inspirational programs for the general public/campuses will explore differences and commonalities in Abrahamic faiths; examine the role of faith in conflict, both as a contributing factor and as a reconciliation resource; and consider ways that each faith supports pluralism, tolerance and cooperation.

General audiences will be encouraged to consider strategies for countering local misperceptions or other tensions between religious communities. Our hope is to inspire and to motivate local efforts which demonstrate solidarity and mutual concern for the other.

Campus workshops will ask students to reflect on the campus as an interfaith community and on issues in their home communities. Participants will be encouraged to consider strategies for defusing any tensions on campus as well as for bringing a better interfaith understanding "home." This program will encourage the creation of cooperative efforts on the campus and enhance those which may already be in existence.

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