Interfaith flourishing
The Uniting Church in Australia and the Executive Council of Australian Jewry have reaffirmed the value of contact and cooperation with the 30th meeting of the “National Dialogue” in Melbourne.
Pic Includes Josie Lacey, Jeremy Jones, Peter Wertheim, Rabbi John Levi, Rabbi Ralph Genende and Jessica Taft
With formal sessions on the different understandings and significance of “Exile” and on “Key Issues in Public Statements on Christian/Jewish relationships”, the delegates also shared experiences and reflections on diverse national and international issues of significance to specific members and interfaith dialogue generally.
The Dialogue, hosted by the UCA at the Centre of Theology and Ministry in Melbourne, was Co-Chaired by Rev. Dr John Squires for the UCA and Jeremy Jones AM for the ECAJ.
Rev Professor Howard Wallace and Rabbi Dr John Levi AM made formal presentations on “Exile”, with the papers leading to a wide-ranging discussion of historic and contemporary Jewish and Christian self-understanding.
Rev. Squires facilitated discussion on statements and declarations on Christian / Jewish relations, identifying key features, the challenges confronted by those formulating declarations and the impact of statements on Jews and Christians.
“Having been part of the Dialogue since its very first session, it is rewarding to see the depth of our relationship and the common commitment to learning and to self-exploration”, Jeremy Jones said.
“Each meeting reinforces the benefit of sharing knowledge, arguing about matters close to our hearts and thinki8ng together about the challenges faced by all people of Faith and Goodwill,” Rev. Dr Squires added.
In addition to the Co-Chairs and presenters, the participants were Rabbi Ralph Genende, Josie Lacey OAM, Peter Wertheim AM and Jessica Taft (ECAJ) and Revs Elizabeth Raine, Glenda Blakefield, Lauren Mosso, Matthew Willson and Bob Faser (UCA)
