Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, March 1987, pages 15-16

Religion and the Middle East

By the Rev. L. Humphrey Walz

Interfaith Dialogue Group Travels to the Middle East

On the initiative of the World Muslim League, the National Council of Churches (NCC) recently sponsored a whirlwind three-week tour of the Middle East for 11 American ecumenical and denominational leaders. These leaders had candid and illuminating discussions with religious and political leaders in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Syria, Israel, and Cyprus. Tow of the travelers also visited Lebanon.

"I was most struck not only by the rich potential for Christian-Muslim dialogue but also by the urgency for it," said the Rev. Eileen Lindner, Associate General Secretary of the NCC, upon returning from the trip.

Although they traveled to the Middle East to further interfaith dialogue, everywhere the travelers went they were confronted with the fallout of the US-Israel-Iran-contra arms scandal. As a result of trading arms for hostages with Iran, the Rev. Arie Brouwer, NCC General Secretary, believes that the US will probably not "play a credible role in the Middle East peace process until ...two years after a new president is elected and a new administration formulates a policy."

Consequently, exchange of information and consultations between non-governmental Christian, Muslim, and Jewish groups and individuals become more important than ever.

Religious Tourism

Many American clergymen, enlisted by travel agencies working closely with the government of Israel, have earned free trips to that country by rounding up 14 or more church members to accompany them. Geographically they "walk where Jesus walked," but spiritually they establish no contact with indigenous Christians who trace their faith and their families back to New Testament times. American Christians visit Christian shrines but not Christian congregations, Christian "holy" sites but not contemporary Christian charities. These modern-day Christian pilgrims return home with a view of the cradle of Christianity more in line with the thinking of Yitzhak Shamir than with the Christian Gospel.

There are American attempts—and I'd like to hear of more—to give pilgrims more spiritually challenging exposures. One such British-based enterprise is conducted by the Jerusalem and Peace Service, based at 13 Goodwin Street, London N43HQ, England. A Muslim-Christian-Jewish venture with Palestinian and Israeli connections, it sets up five of its 20 slated annual tours on an ecumenical basis. These not only include visits to the traditional Biblical and historical sites but also Christian parishes, leaders, and institutions. Participants look at present realities through the eyes of Bishop Kafiti in Jerusalem, the Rev. Abu al-Assal in Nazareth, or Father Elias Chacour in rural Galilee. Such personal contacts between Western visitors and local Christian leaders generate a healthy mutual awareness and consciously-shared identity.

First-hand exchange of viewpoints with Zionist and Neturei Karta (anti-Zionist) Jews, Golan and Galilean Druze, Muslims from the Red Crescent, Palestinians in refugee camps, and everyday folk in their homes round out an illuminating person-to-person, full-spectrum experience.

Jerusalem and Peace Service also offers "general," "cultural," and "women's" tours. The cost for hotels, transportation, and meals is approximately $400 (depending on the rate of exchange) for 11 days. For us in America, the major problem is finding a comparable air fare to get us there.

American groups sponsoring similar person-to-person trips to the Middle East include: Catholic Near East Welfare Association, 1011 First Avenue, New York, NY 10022; New Outlook, 150 Fifth Avenue, Room 911, New York, NY 10011; Americans for Middle East Understanding, 475 Riverside Drive, Room 771, New York, NY 10115; and the Palestine Human Rights Campaign, 220 South State Street, Room 1308, Chicago, IL 60604.

"Religion and Violence in the Middle East"

"Religion and Violence in the Middle East" was the theme of a two-day national Winter Assembly of the Church of the Brethren at its Windsor, Maryland Service Center, not far from the nation's capital. One of America's historic peace churches, the Church of the Brethren has operated refugee services in the Holy Land for decades.

Featured speakers included the head of the Brethren's own Washington office, the Rev. Leland Wilson, as well as persons identified with contrasting viewpoints: Ms. Nina Crullers, a Palestinian teacher and lecturer, and Irwin Black, Past President of the Synagogue Council of America. Providing an embracing framework for the theme was the banquet speaker, Ms. Grace Halsell, author of Journey to Jerusalem and Prophesy and Politics. If you would like to purchase either of these titles, please see AET's book catalog in the middle of this issue of the Washington Report.

The Rev. L. Humphrey Walz, D.D., retired Associate Executive of the Presbyterian Synod of the Northeast and founding editor of The Link, is active in Christian-Jewish and Christian-Muslim dialogues.