CLEVELAND, Ohio, Sept. 21, 2001 (PRIMEZONE) -- The United Church of Christ and its related seminaries released the following statement today to President Mushaarraf of Pakistan.
Dear President Musharraf:
We the Presidents of the Seminaries of the United Church of Christ
and of the national Church are writing to you today to say that we
agree with your statement that, "It is terrorism America fights, not
Islam." We pledge today that our churches and our seminaries will
engage in intense and serious study of and dialogue with Islam and
encourage all other Americans to do so.
The United Church of Christ has historically been committed to
interreligious dialogue. Judaism, Christianity and Islam in
particular are faiths rooted in common histories and common texts. We
must join together to increase understanding and to reduce the kind
of ignorance that fuels violence.
We send our prayers to the people of Pakistan.
Yours sincerely,
John Thomas, President and General Minister,
the United Church of Christ
Susan Thistlethwaite, President, Chicago Theological Seminary
William Imes, President, Bangor Theological Seminary
William McKinney, President, Pacific School of Religion
Wilson Yates, President, United Theological Seminary of
the Twin Cities
Peter Schmiechen, President, Lancaster Theological Seminary
David Greenhaw, President, Eden Theological Seminary
Benjamin Griffin, President, Andover Newton Theological School
-0-
CONTACT: United Church of Christ
Ron Buford, PR Manager
(216) 407-1470
bufordr@ucc.org