Conference Seal
Quick News From Jane
Jane Fisler Hoffman, Interim Conference Minister
Dear Friends in Christ,

Our global community is already dangerously divided and fear is always on edge so I am deeply concerned about some organization's effort to further stir fear and division.  Please take a moment to read John Thomas' email telling us about this film and resources to address it .  I am so grateful to our national UCC leaders (Lydia and Peter named below are simply outstanding) for resourcing us on this important matter.  Please join me in prayer for our Muslim sisters and brothers who may endure further discrimination as a result of this film.

In Christ,
 
Jane  
Letter from John Thomas
Friends:
 
You may already be aware of the massive distribution of a DVD titled Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West.  It was distributed by mail and by insert to newspapers to more than 28 million outlets, and we have learned that thousands of additional copies will be mailed to local congregations/pastors and others in the coming week.  The film is quite provocative, especially through violent images and discussion about Islam.  Despite a brief disclaimer at the beginning and the end that this film is not about most Muslims who are peaceful, the impact of this 77-minute film on perspectives of Islam and Muslims will certainly be negative.  I want you to be aware of this film because you may receive it and/or inquiries about it from local church pastors in the coming weeks.
 
Late last week at the semi-annual meeting of the National Council of Churches' Interfaith Relations Commission, UCC national staff Lydia Veliko and Peter Makari viewed the film with ecumenical colleagues.  The Commission was very concerned about the film and drafted a message about it.  The NCCC will release it early this week.  You can check their website, www.ncccusa.org, for the text of that message.  As you know, the United Church of Christ has affirmed its relationships with the Muslim community (http://www.ucc.org/assets/pdfs/89-gs-muslim.pdf).  It also participated actively in the National Muslim-Christian Initiative (http://globalministries.org/news/mee/national-muslim-christian-init-1.html), and ecumenical dialogue with national Muslim leadership.  The member churches of the National Council of Churches have also released a response to the document A Common Word sent to leaders of churches throughout the world last year by Muslim scholars.  You can see that text, which Peter and Lydia participated with other ecumenical colleagues in drafting, at http://ncccusa.org/news/081008commonwordresponse.html.
 
If you have pastors or lay leaders who ask, there are two resources about Islam that you might helpful:  "What is Islam?" (http://www.globalministries.org/mee/resources/what-is-islam.html), a primer prepared by Derek Duncan, staff on Global Ministries; and a website about Muslims in the United States called ChangeTheStory.net. 
John Thomas,
General Minister and President