Interfaith Trips from the Midwest to the Mideast

 The basic premise driving the work of the International Interfaith Initiative is that religious differences do not have to be the cause of conflicts. Religious differences can be the sources of creative solutions to difficult problems. This view informs the trips the Initiative leads to the Middle East. Jews, Muslims, and Christians from Central Indiana travel together to the Iraqi refugee camps in Jordan, to schools in the West Bank of Palestine, to constructive dialogues in Jerusalem between Muslims and Jews.

The goal of III's trips is not only to place ourselves at the service of interfaith efforts to achieve peace and meet the needs of the poor in one of the world's most troubled regions ... although that is an important goal. We serve as ambassadors for American groups — for congregations, schools, and clubs — that wish to identify potential partners in the Middle East.  

International Interfaith Initiative collaborated with The Village Experience to host the second annual Middle East Journey from December 27 to January 9th 2010. Middle East Journey was a delegation of conscientious citizens from diverse faith and vocational backgrounds who are traveled to the Middle East to learn about and participate in programs that are effectively building a better future for the region. This year’s delegation included a dynamic group of individuals that represents the rich religious diversity here in Central Indiana. Among the 11 participants were the Catholic Chaplain at Butler University, the Jewish education director at Congregation Beth-El Zedeck, two members of 91st Street Christian Church, a Hindu Masters student at UIndy and the daughter of one of the leaders of Al Huda Mosque in Fishers. Also traveling were a civil rights attorney and a woman who has dedicated her life to reduce recidivism in our community.

Read about the adventures and discoveries of the group on the trip’s blog: http://indymideast.blogspot.com. And come back to www.interntionalinterfaith.org to learn about how this trip will continue to transform lives in the Midwest and the Mideast.   

International Interfaith Initiative Conferences

 In its few years of existence, the International Interfaith Initiative has achieved national renown for its innovative conferences fostering creative dialogue between groups and individuals that do not often talk to one another. At a time when many international and domestic conflicts seem driven by religious differences, the concept “interfaith” appeals to many as a way of finding common ground. The International InterfaithInitiative believes that when our faith motivates us to come together in open dialogue and an honest effort to find solutions to common problems, adherents of differing religious traditions can discover answers that none of them would have imagined alone. 

III's 3rd Annual Fall Conference exploring “The Confluence of Faith and Politics,” held on October 8-9 at the Indiana War Memorial, was a great success. Over 100 students, faculty, community and religious leaders sat down to share a meal and discuss ideas about making Central Indiana a place that truly values interfaith cooperation. Many more people heard a one time only public conversation between the Brothers Hamilton, the Hon. Lee and the Rev. Richard. Together the two brothers represent more than a century of service to the public, in the political arena and in the pulpit. 

Other highlights of the conference:

·                A forum exploring the relationship between religion and politics facilitated by religious historian Scott Appleby, director of Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at Notre Dame, and Jay Hein former director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives.

·                A discussion of the implications of the Iraqi refugee crisis for Indiana and the Middle East with Carlene Miller, executive director of Exodus Refugee Immigration Inc. and Charlie Wiles, director of the International Interfaith Initiative

·                Personal narrative from Nuha Al Shaalan an Iraqi refugee living in Indianapolis

·                Keynote address from Ambassador Wendy Chamberlin, president of the Middle East Institute and one of the world’s leading experts on the Iraqi refugee crisis.

·                Following the conference in Indianapolis, Amb. Chamberlin and Charlie Wiles joined members of Provocate for a trip to Bloomington, where Amb. Chamberlin spoke to the Indiana University School of Law and to a dinner of Wells Scholars. 

Read more about the conference… Planning for the 4th International Interfaith Initiative's Conference, scheduled for April 2010, is under way. The topic: Religion and Science Confront Nuclear Nonproliferation and Disarmament. III wants you to be part of this important conference. For more information, keep visiting the International Interfaith Initiative website, or contact Charlie Wiles. Want to know more about the previous III conferences?·                Read about the March 2008 symposium on "Faith, Civil Society, and International Relations" here.·                Read about the 2008 symposium featuring the legendary Father of Peace Studies Johann Galtung here.   

Interfaith Dialogues

 From the day it began, the International Interfaith Initiative has sought to stimulate honest and open exchange between people of different faiths. Examples of recent dialogues that the Initiative has organized and promoted include: the Sacred Places Tour, which in October brought diverse crowds seeking discussion and education to eight places of worship around Indiana; an interfaith luncheon at the annual conference of the Muslim Alliance of Indiana featuring a conversation between an Israeli rabbi and the highest Muslim cleric in Jerusalem; and a musical and artist celebration of religious originality at Marian University. 

The International Interfaith Initiative's Sacred Places Tour in October introduced hundreds of Central Indiana residents to eight places of worship, illustrating what a magnificent variety of faith traditions are in our midst. Each congregation offered an insightful tour and discussion about its own unique tradition. This year the tour included Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Congregation Beth-El Zedeck, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Masjid Al Fajr, Native American Spirituality at the Peace Learning Center, Tibetan Mongolian Buddhist Cultural Center, Sikh Satsang of Indianapolis, and the Hindu Temple of Central Indiana. In 2010 we will look to expanding the tour by including other congregations in our community. We were also able to gather over 100 lbs. of food to contribute the Interfaith Hunger Initiative. Read more here. 

October 23 at the Muslim Alliance of Indiana's annual conference, the International Interfaith Initiative joined several local Jewish groups to sponsor "The Other Peace Process: Interreligious Dialogue in Israel in the Service of Peace," a discussion between Kadi Mohamad Zibdeh and Rabbi Ron Kronish. As Kadi of the Muslim Sari'ah court, Mohamad Zibdeh is the senior Islamic cleric in Jerusalem. Dr. Kronish is the founder of the Interreligious Coordinating Council of Israel, a group dedicated to building up discourse between the different sides in Israel and Palestine. To hear the Kadi and the Rabbi describe what is happening in Jerusalem — outside the attention of most of the world's news media — was illuminating. As significant perhaps was the fact that Indiana Jewish and Muslim groups cooperated with each other to open this dialogue to the people of Indiana ... it is another sign of the potential for interfaith partnerships to make a difference. Read more here. 

The Interfaith Iraqi Refugee Project

 The goal is simple: with guidance from professional refugee agencies we are creating an interfaith network to extend a helping hand to families as they integrate into and enrich our community. The approach is unique: we want to use our religious and cultural differences intentionally to strengthen this initiative. The ambition is enormous: by helping refugees from Iraq settle in Central Indiana, we may learn how to help some of the two million Iraqi refugees now eking a living in Jordan and Syria. 

Since the US-led campaign “Operation Iraqi Freedom” began in March of 2003, the threat of violence has caused over 2 million Iraqis to flee the country. Another 2.5 million have become internally displaced. These numbers represent nearly 20% of Iraq’s pre-war population. It is difficult to comprehend the trauma inflicted on a family forced to flee its home and community, often carrying no possessions, without the means to secure a living. Most of the Iraqi refugees survive day by day as undocumented “visitors” in neighboring Syria and Jordan. The massive influx of destitute families has created immense strains on these countries, which already find it hard to provide clean water, food, healthcare, and a decent education to their own citizens. 

Recently the State Department has been allowing more Iraqi refugees to enter the United States. The number of Iraqi refugee families currently living in Indianapolis is growing faster than anywhere else in the US. Exodus Refugee Immigration and Catholic Charities are local organizations helping these newly arrived families work through this major transition … their resources are strained, and much of the assistance they can provide is only temporary, lasting just six months. Together we will:

·                Provide sustainable housing for the families

·                Establish a fund to assist with educational expenses for their children

·                Set up a social network to help the refugee families integrate into the community and improve their employment prospects

·                Explore the prospect of a “micro-enterprise” to provide sustained employment and

·                Make use of this local opportunity to provide humanitarian assistance to Iraqi refugees living in Jordan and Syria. 

If you want your congregation to be part of the Iraqi Refugee Project, contact Charlie Wiles.