AUGUST 18, 2003

9/11
Two years later, local interfaith efforts bear fruit

The Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks inspired a burst of interfaith efforts. Since then, wars and violence in Iraq and the Middle East have prompted strong words and increased wariness among some Christians, Muslims and Jews in the United States. Despite that, it is clear that the initial interfaith worship services, open houses and dialogues after 9/11 sowed seeds of lasting relationships. Leaders and observers of interfaith efforts say that is most evident in grass-roots efforts to tackle community problems, such as poverty, crime, homelessness and health care.

Christian, Muslim and Jewish leaders in Northern California have joined forces to try to ensure a living wage for janitors in the San Jose region. In Northbrook, Ill., members of a Jewish temple used a nearby mosque for prayers while their synagogue was under construction. In Tucson, Ariz., an interfaith organization worked with the city's mayor to implement a "Child Friendly/Family Friendly Strategy" that included a $4 million increase in city funds for after-school programs and summer youth employment.

Interfaith leaders say the terrorist attacks strengthened existing interfaith ties while attracting new participants who recognized a need for healing. Some say Muslims have become more willing to join interfaith efforts. Deep differences exist, as is evident in some denominations' belief that it would compromise their faith to worship or work with interfaith groups and that efforts to promote tolerance require unacceptable compromises. Interfaith organizers say that success often lies in letting people's faith - whatever it is - bring them to the table, where problems are tackled but religious differences are not the focus.

Questions for reporters
• How are religious groups of different faiths working together in your community?
• What local issues are they focusing on? What obstacles have they encountered, and how have they addressed them?
• What do city and community leaders say about interfaith groups in the area? Do they say their effect has been positive or negative?
• Talk to religious groups that do not participate in interfaith efforts. How do they say the events of Sept. 11 changed the way they interact with other religious groups in the community?
• Check on groups that participated in worship services or dialogues immediately after 9/11. Are they still participating in interfaith efforts? How has their participation changed?
• Ask interfaith alliances how their membership and focus have changed since Sept. 11.
• What do people who have worked on interfaith projects say they have learned about other faiths? How do they say that has affected the way they treat people in their community?
• Are local youth involved in any interfaith efforts? What do they say they have learned?
• How are religious organizations in your community going to commemorate the second anniversary of the attacks, both individually and together?
• The nature and success of interfaith efforts vary by region. How do initiatives in your community compare to others? What factors are involved?

Why it Matters
Communities in the United States are becoming more religiously diverse. At the same time, the government is encouraging faith groups to address social problems. Religion is both a healing and a divisive force in local communities, as well as in international conflicts.

Click the map for interview sources in your state and region

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National sources

CHRISTIAN
• The National Council of Churches, founded in 1950, is the leading force for ecumenical cooperation among Christians in the United States. The council's 36 Protestant, Anglican and Orthodox member denominations include more than 50 million people in 140,000 local congregations in communities across the nation. Contact Carol Fouke, director of media relations, 212-870-2252, cfouke@ncccusa.org.
• Bishop Stephen E. Blaire of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Stockton, Calif., is chairman of the Bishops' Committee for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The committee is responsible for holding dialogues with leaders of other faiths. Contact 209-466-0636.
• The Rev. Michael Kinnamon is the Allen and Dottie Miller Professor of Mission and Peace at Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis. He is author of The Vision of the Ecumenical Movement and How it Has Been Impoverished By Its Friends (Chalice Press, 2003) and has served on the staff of the World Council of Churches. He has also worked with the National Council of Churches and was general secretary of the Consultation on Church Union. Contact 314-918-2588, toll-free 877-642-5931, or mkinnamon@eden.edu after Aug. 21, 2003.

MUSLIM
• Dr. Sayyid M. Syeed is secretary-general of the Islamic Society of North America, the largest umbrella organization for the nation's Muslims. Contact 317-839-8157, ext.222.
• Iftekhar A. Hai is director of interfaith relations for the United Muslims of America, a California-based nonprofit organization dedicated to providing an effective voice for Muslims in U.S. politics. He has led interfaith cooperation efforts nationally and in the Northern California region. Contact 650-872-2578, umah82@hotmail.com.
• The American Islamic Congress is a Boston-based group that formed after the Sept. 11 attack. It works on building interfaith dialogue with several organizations on the local and national levels. Contact Executive Director Zainab Al-Suwaij, 617-621-1511, zainab@aicongress.org.

JEWISH
• The American Jewish Committee has a full-time department of interreligious affairs at its New York headquarters. On a global level, it works through the Harriet and Robert Heilbrunn Institute for International Interreligious Understanding and domestically with initiatives targeted to Muslim and Christian relations. Contact Kenneth Bandler, media relations, 212-751-4000, ext. 271, PR@ajc.org.

SIKH
• The Washington, D.C.-based Sikh Council on Religion and Education (SCORE), a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to fostering positive images of Sikhs in America, is active in many interfaith activities. Contact 301-949-8439, info@sikhcouncilusa.org.

INTERFAITH ORGANIZATIONS
• The Interfaith Alliance represents more than 50 faith traditions and has more than 150,000 members in 38 states. It works locally and nationally to promote the role of religion in public life "through encouraging civic participation, facilitating community activism and challenging religious political extremism." Contact President Welton Gaddy, 202-639-6370.
• Karen Olson is founder of Family Promise (formerly National Interfaith Hospitality Network), which works to mobilize different faith groups in communities to help low-income families. Based in Summit, N.J., Family Promise offers a list and links to its local networks across the nation. Olson says small numbers of Muslims took part in Family Promise's projects before 9/11, but Muslims now often account for about 20 percent of participants. Contact 908-273-1100, info@familypromise.org.
• Ron Young is executive director of the U.S. Interreligious Committee for Peace in the Middle East, a national organization of 2,500 American Jews, Christians and Muslims that is based in Stanwood, Wash. The committee carries on programs nationwide on dialogue, education and advocacy in support of U.S. policies in the Middle East. Contact 360-652-4285, usicpme@aol.com.
• The North American Interfaith Network is a nonprofit association of interfaith organizations and agencies in Canada, Mexico and the United States. Contact Vice Chairman Kay Lindahl, 949-661-3087, Kay@sacredlistening.com.
• The Interfaith Center of New York is an educational nonprofit dedicated to understanding and cooperation among faiths. Program director Matt Weiner can talk about interfaith efforts the center has participated in and how they have changed since 9/11. Contact 212-685-4242, ext. 31, Gotoku@aol.com.
• Elinor J. Pierce is research director of the Pluralism Project, based at Harvard University. The center studies the nation's growing religious diversity and lists 200 interfaith organizations on its web site. Contact 617-496-2481.
• The Association of Interfaith Ministers is a nonprofit professional organization that acts as a clearinghouse of interfaith information.
• The Interfaith Youth Core is a Chicago-based group that works to bring together youngsters of different faiths to engage in social action projects and discover how their different faiths inspire social justice. Contact Communications Director April Kunze, 312-573-8826, april@ifyc.org.

Background

• The National Council of Churches developed a program after the 9/11 attacks to help churches put on open houses for the local Muslim community.
• Read a May 22, 2003, Beliefnet article on Christian evangelical dialogue with Muslims.
• Read a March 13, 2003, Beliefnet article on interfaith coalitions working together for affordable health care.
• A report was released last year on key findings from the American Religious Identification Survey of 2001, conducted by the Graduate Center at City University of New York.
• See an interactive map created by USA Today to illustrate findings from the American Religious Identification Survey of 2001.