bobjots : redux

There is an official website for this document at www.acommonword.com. There are some additional links there with published responses from both Christians and Jews. I am encouraged by this initiative but I do have some concern that there doesn't seem to be space for grassroot responses from the Muslim community.

The responses from the Church that I've been able to catch up to date are listed here:

• The Most Rev and Rt Hon Dr Rowan Williams
  Archbishop of Canterbury, Leader of the Anglican Communion
  

  "The theological basis of the letter and and its call to "vie with each other only in righteousness and good works; to respect each other, be fair, just and kind to another and live in sincere peace, harmony and mutual goodwill", are indicative of the kind of relationship for which we yearn in all parts of the world, and especially where Christians and Muslims live together. It is particularly important in underlining the need for respect towards minorities in contexts where either Islam or Christianity is the majority presence."

• The Rev Mark S Hanson
  Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America & the President of the Lutheran World Federation
  

  I encourage everyone everywhere to read the beauty of these passages found in the sacred texts of the Abrahamic faiths, which signify God's vision for how and whom we love in a broken world. This common vision for Jews, Muslims, and Christians signifies fidelity and fellowship in a world where conflict offends our common heritage as children of God.

• Dr Shanta Premawardhana
  Associate General Secretary for Interfaith Relations, National Council of Churches, USA

  This initiative will give new impetus and urgency to our work of Muslim-Christian dialogue .. use this to highlight to the broader American public what moderate Muslims are doing to counter the rhetoric and actions of extremists

• The Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia
  General Secretary, World Council of Churches
  

  .. significant in that it is signed by such a large group of Muslim leaders and scholars from around the world, which makes it unprecedented. Such a rare unity of purpose gives a lot of hope as to what people of faith can achieve together

• The Rev Joel Edwards
  General Director of the Evangelical Alliance

  I welcome any movement from the Islamic world that is directed at peaceful engagement between faiths. This is a new and important development, and I would like to echo the Bishop of London’s challenge against cynicism and the victimisation of Muslims .. In this dialogue, tolerance must mean a non-negotiable commitment to mutual respect, but also allow a Muslim to say that Allah is God’s prophet and a Christian to claim salvation is found in Jesus alone.

There has been some focus on trends in giving in church over the last few weeks. I think one reason we may balk at this is due to the treatment this issue has been engaged in our past church experiences. The Sarcastic Lutheran takes a strong hard look at what we actually ought to consider.

Apparently we are supposed to not talk about sin enough. How's this to help reduce the deficit?

A reflection on the problems of Zionism by a woman of Jewish descent. She wonders aloud where the shalom is.

Looks like we Christians aren't the only ones who have a monopoly on missing the point

Lim Kar Yong takes a critical look at some of the programmes our churches use to promote evangelism. He quotes Pearlie who feels that:

I see evangelism as living a life as a community, sharing our lives with others...It is a giving of ourselves to one another, and that by living out Christ in us, our lives can rub off on others that they too will come to see and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ

I find it hard to understand how we so often fail to see this.

Apparently I got linked on their website. I am flattered and humbled.