From here:
CALGARY – A unique Imam in Residence program is being launched at St. Martin’s Anglican Church in October in conjunction with the Al Madinah Calgary Islamic Assembly.
“This type of program does help us understand each others’ beliefs and traditions. There’s more misunderstanding and misinformation (out there),” says Imam Syed Soharwardy, with the Muslims Against Terrorism group and with the Islamic Supreme Council of Canada, who is the Imam in Residence for the program.
“We are bringing congregations together. It’s not just the imam and pastor talking. It is the grassroots congregation coming together to have food together, to be together. It’s a very good thing that even children participate, families participate, women participate. It removes the barriers between people.”
The Imam in Residence program takes place October 17-19.
[…..]
“It was just a really enriching experience to see what we had in common and to learn things about each other – to have a chance for us in a very intentional setting to sit down and really learn about other faiths,” says Brubaker Garrison.
The program includes:
Friday, October 17th, 1:15 p.m. – Services at Genesis Centre of Community Wellness (gymnasium) with conversation afterward.
Saturday, October 18th, 10:00 a.m. – “Qur’an and Its Different Interpretations” & 1:00 p.m. – “Islamic Sharia and Muslims in the Western World: Issues, Limitations, and Enforcement” at Knox Presbyterian Church
Sunday, October 19th, 10:00 a.m. – Worship at St. Martin’s with the sermon offer by Imam Soharwardy
It’s hard to overlook the fact that the “learning” is all one-sided: Rev. Brubaker Garrison and her congregation seem to be hearing a lot about the Koran and Sharia law but the imam isn’t being told much at all about Jesus, his divinity, atoning death upon the cross, resurrection and the fact that he is the only way to God the Father. If Brubaker Garrison actually believed that herself, she would probably be less eager to encourage her congregation to absorb the finer points of Sharia law.
Syed Soharwardy, whose sensibilities were outraged by the Western Standard ‘s publishing of the Mohammed cartoons, filed a human rights complaint against Ezra Levant. As a result, Ezra, unlike Rev. Brubaker Garrison, doesn’t get along too well with the imam:
Well at least they are getting religious training. It just isn’t Christian.
The fox is in the hen house, but then again the wolves in sheeps clothing have already taken up residence, and removed their coverings, and the hen house is no longer a hen house, but a whore house. Forgive me O Lord for saying that, but I can’t help but thinking that is so for this former Church of Christ. May God have mercy on the leaders who have abandoned the Lordship of Christ and perverted the House of the Lord.
One may take the imam out of the mosque; but not the mosque out of the imam;
a spiritual principle once applicable to the Reformed Church, English and Scottish branches. Alas, poor Cranmer; alas, poor Knox!! No longer. ‘Knox’ (!) Calgary’s Incumbent also is in the vanguard of the multi-coloured sin against GOD. Will that be a subject of dialogue?
When the Incumbents are permitted to preach The Gospel IN the mosque, let us know.
I reckon that if they were serious about inter faith conversations and communion, then there would be a strong movement to have Billy Graham or someone similar preaching at the Grand Mosque in Mecca during Muslim prayer hours on a Friday
There is always the possibility that the congregation will not show up on October 19.
Will someone please explain to me why anyone still thinks that the AcoC is still Christian???
The Gospel is still clearly preached in my ACoC church.
I took a look at the links in the article and it does appear to be a two-way discussion since the imam will attend the service at St Martins on the Sunday.
Frankly, I don’t see the big deal. There are literally hundreds of Jewish-Christian dialogues. Does this make any church involved in these types of events non-Christian as well?
Ed, I agree that the Gospel is still preached in SOME ACoC churches. But I don’t see where you see a two-way discussion in the article. Has Rev. Brubaker Garrison been invited to preach at the mosque? (I suspect she would not even be allowed to speak at the mosque).
I have no doubt that Imam Syed Soharwardy accepted this “role” as “Imam in Residence” as a way to proselytize wishy-washy Christians.
The video is funny in an excruciatingly embarrassing way. Levant is so aggressive. Good for him – I’m too polite.
Hi Michael D
Thanks for your balanced response in not throwing all of the ACoC out the window. Many of us in it are faithful believers. I know that many wonder how we can remain faithful despite the “liberal” or “heretical” views can some say the denomination has. My response is the same way that I remain faithful in society – I focus on Jesus, not the organization.
In the Calgary Herald article, there is a link to the actual event. I clicked on it and read the full details of what is going to happen. It says
Sunday Worship
Imam Soharwardy will join in our worship and offer the sermon at St. Martin’s Sunday worship.
Here is the link: http://www.stmartinscalgary.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/imam-brochure-final.pdf
(After re-reading this, you are likely correct that it is more one-sided than balanced). In any case, my question remains: what is so wrong about dialogue? It happens all the time between Jews and Christians. This is not really any different).
“what is so wrong about dialogue?”
A couple of points in response to this question:
1) Dialogue is a two way flow of information. What appears to be happening at St. Martins is a one way for of islam being presented to Christians.
2) I am not aware of Jesus entertaining “dialogue”. He does not seem to be willing to listen to the false and wrong teachings of others.
It isn’t dialogue. He will be in the pulpit!
Evidently the gospel is not preached in your church.
All Christian pulpits are the exclusive property of Jesus Christ;
Whose Royal prerogative to Call to them is His Alone;
and Whose clerical collar is the sign of being Christ’s Called/collared servant of His Gospel;
thereby all Christian pulpits are the primary locus for the proclamation of only His Gospel
+ Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15;I Corinthians 15:1-4 (+defined).
The Judaic, not Islamic, root + Romans 9-11 of His Gospel may lend itself to dialogue; but not in His pulpit.
“…I marvel that ye are so soon removed from Him that Called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another;
but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert The Gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that+ which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” + Galatians ch. 1.
Serious.
Thank you for taking the discussion from “probably no harm is being done,” to “Here is the urgent responsibility of the Christian Church in general and of ministers/pastors in particular.” Well said, Abigail!
Like Abigail said…
I just watched the video and I just read an article about the same man pg pg19 al-Ameen muslim newspaper too. It took me six months to read the Qur’an 4pgs/day read all the comments and everything.
Ok, Syed Soharwardy, an IMAM & ISCC Islamic Supreme Council of Canada mentions he attended but was not the one who started the meeting but was there.
There was a Hezbolla Flag there too
At 911 New York Trade Ctr was done by al-Qaeda
I’ve read the Bible around 15 times before reading the Qur’an once
I wonder if he “the imam” told them that the Muslims believe that the Christians commit the sin of shirk “unforgivable sin” every time we recite the creed, therefore we are all damned.