Religions for Peace national executive member Dr Ian Fry recently participated in Interfaith Dialogue on Responding in Faith in Christian-Muslim Dialogue, in Nagpur, India.
The Commission on Unity, Mission and Evangelism of the National Council of Churches in India, organized an interfaith evening by holding a dialogue on Responding in Faith in Christian Muslim Dialogue by a world renowned dialogist, Dr Ian Rex Fry, Australia. This interfaith evening was jointly hosted by the Church of North India, Nagpur Diocese, India Peace Centre, Trinity Living Light Fellowship and Nagpur Pastors’ Fellowship on the 8th Oct 2013 at the Chatterton Hall of the All Saints Cathedral, Nagpur.
Rev. Anand Michael a senior priest offered an opening prayer and the Rev. Dr. Roger Gaikwad, General Secretary, NCCI extended an ecumenical welcome followed by an introduction by the Rev. Dr. Solomon Rongpi, Executive Secretary, Commission on Unity, Mission & Evangelism, NCCI.
The Rt. Rev. Dr. Paul Dupare, CNI Bishop in Nagpur in his presidential address invited all communities and churches in particular to open in accepting and recognizing the neighbours of different faiths and ideologies. No religion is closed and embraces everyone the same way every one is expected to live in order to create communities of all. Further he said, no faith either should discriminate or stigmatize other in the names of faiths.
Dr. Ian Rex Fry, in his lecture said, the Abrahamic covenant is the base and focal point for Muslim-Christian dialogue. Further he said that the Abrahamic faith communities are such as Islam and Christianity are subject to a community and context specific and the divine covenant, but each having a common obligation. Those are to enable all peoples to better understand and respond to their relationship with the sole and absolute Divine Creative Authority, and to acknowledge the responsibilities that are consistent with that relationship and required to enable all humanity to live in peace and harmony and security for whatever may be the divinely determined term of its existence. The circumstances that resulted in their development as three covenanted communities, separate and identifiable, each subject to a community-specific divine covenant but in conflict with each other and with other faith communities. That the circumstances of an inversion in the relationships between two great power blocs are consistent with the application of the penal clauses of each of the divine covenants. The nature of dialogue, reassessment and cooperation that is necessary to offset the consequences of the misunderstandings, conflict and division that have made it impossible for any covenanted community to fulfill its common obligations until this point. Therefore he said dialogue is nothing but a faith expression.
Dr Ian Fry recently participated in Interfaith Dialogue on Responding in Faith in Christian-Muslim Dialogue, in Nagpur, India
Rev. Dr. Roshan Jambhale a pastor and Dalit theologian, Prof. Dr. (Ms) MrinaliniFadvanis a Secularist and an Academician and Prof. Dr. Mohamad Yusuf an Islamic Scholar responded to the lector. All these respondents were giving emphasis to consider for a dialogue of life where everyday each and every one would recognize and accept every faith and ideologists as they are. Unless we opt of dialogue for life and every faith and ideology to promote the same they said. Mr. Kasta Dip, Director, India Peace Center proposed the vote of thanks. There were 65 participants from various faith and ideological backgrounds and professions including Jains, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians and communists.
Dr Ian Fry with representatives of the National Council of Churches in Nagpur
