Religious leaders join hands to take on worldwide woes
Christians, Jews and a Muslim from the Los Angeles area who went on a study trip to Rome, the Vatican and Jerusalem say they have to work together to fight hunger, disease and violence.
Religious leaders should lead the way in solving the world's persistent problems, such as hunger, disease and violence, by reaching out to -- and working with -- people of other faiths, Los Angeles area Christian, Muslim and Jewish leaders say.
"It is increasingly clear to some of us that the world's problems can't be solved simply politically," said the Rev. Jerry Campbell, president of Claremont School of Theology, after returning this week from a nine-day study trip to Rome, the Vatican and Jerusalem.
Campbell traveled as a member of the Los Angeles Council of Religious Leaders, and the trip was designed to promote understanding and appreciation of the complexity of the Middle East. It was the second such trip for the council and was co-sponsored by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles and the Board of Rabbis of Southern California.
"It's not about converting or changing one another," Campbell said. "It's about a dialogue -- conversation and common efforts on the problems we all agree are shameful."
Campbell expressed the hope that Los Angeles -- a microcosm of global diversity -- would become a "model city for the world," where people of faith would serve humanity with "love and respect" for each other's viewpoints.
He and several members of the delegation -- priests, rabbis, pastors and lay leaders -- said meetings with an array of experts working on peace, interreligious issues and the mission of the religious institutions had renewed their hope. But the discussions have also reminded them of the challenge of handling those within their faith traditions who oppose interreligious collaboration, they said.
"Sometimes there is more conflict and difficulty living with each other within your religious group than . . . relating to each other in the other religious groups," said Pasadena-based Bishop Mary Ann Swenson, who oversees 390 United Methodist congregations in Southern California, Hawaii, Guam and Saipan.
The bishop noted with joy how naturally the diverse group of Catholics, Protestants, Jews and a Muslim became a community. "It was very, very special," she said.
Nur Amersi, the lone Muslim in the delegation, said the group's effort is an example of what is possible. "We became a family," said Amersi, executive director of the Afghanistan World Foundation's Los Angeles office.
