PRELUDE, May 2003



FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:

BLAME THE METHODISTS

As our nation lurched toward war, two legislators in Washington walked out on a prayer offered by a Muslim, citing their "patriotic" objections to him opening the session of the state legislature. They evidently did not know that Muslims have been in this land far longer than their own ancestors--or most of ours. They also paid no attention to what the imam actually said: he prayed for our nation's success in its struggle with terrorism. Then, in an equally stupid display of bigotry, Virginia Congressman James Moran (D-Virginia) claimed American Jews were responsible for our war with Iraq: "If it were not for the strong support of the Jewish community for this war with Iraq, we would not be doing this."

Hardly a single major Jewish organization or leader expressed eagerness to march to Bagdad. Public opinion polls showed the same range of sentiment among Jews and Gentiles. If anything, Jews were more conflicted than goyim: they recognized Saddam was truly evil back in the early 1980s when U.S. administrations were arming him, but they also feared that if this war goes badly or unleashes terror around the globe, they will be blamed, no matter what the truth may be.

The myth persists that Jews dictate domestic and foreign policy. There is a bit of truth in this half-truth. The Jewish community has suffered persecution for so long that it has had to develop political savvy to survive, but they certainly do not run the government. Not one Jew has been elected President or Vice-President. Jews cannot even play golf in many country clubs where those who are really powerful make deals. Support for Israel is a factor in this war, but it is American goyim, Protestants in particular, who are far more confident than Israelis that removing Saddam will usher in a peaceful, democratic, pro-West Middle East. Israel, like Palestine, is burdened with supporters whose zeal exceeds their wisdom. With friends like these, who needs enemies?

So who is behind this war? You need look no further than my own people, the United Methodists. Our church leaders opposed an invasion of Iraq, but laity march to their own beat. There are only eight million of us, but both President Bush and Vice President Cheney are ours as have been an unreasonable number of their predecessors. If you need to blame someone for dragging the nation into war, blame us.

Shalom/Salaam/Shanti/Pax,
Tom



News from the Long Island Multi-Faith Forum

Alison Cornish, LIMFF Intern

At a recent conference on Interfaith Education and Dialogue held in New York City, one speaker wondered out loud if, in fact, interfaith education was happening all around us, if we would just open our eyes.

Professor John Berthrong of Boston University School of Theology conducted two informal survey-experiments, one with colleagues, and another with students. At a gathering of 34 of his colleagues in theological education, he asked how many were either themselves in an interfaith partnership, or had children who were married or partnered with someone other than their own faith. Of the 34 women and men at the meeting, 32 raised their hands.

As part of a class Professor Berthrong was teaching to theological students, he made the following assignment: go to the congregation you are currently serving, and have conversations with your congregants about their spiritual practices and religious study that fall outside their "home" tradition. The students returned to their class with a wealth of stories that they found as evidence of individuals practicing across religious traditions, such as Christians practicing Zen meditation, Jews studying yoga.

Stories like Professor Berthrong's testify to the fact that multifaith religious education is happening all around us. But his stories also highlight both the necessity and the challenges that he, and others, at the conference called us to consider. Professor Wesley Ariarajah put it this way: The time has come for a basic understanding of our neighbors. By this, he means not just what are the attributes of their faith tradition, but "what does it mean to me that my neighbor is a believing person?" He encouraged us to think about every place that religion is taught from confirmation classes to the seminary as the locus of interfaith understanding and intention. Only then will we be able to take on the very difficult questions such as how can we teach with openness and commitment without making all religions the same, or face fears of coercion or conversion thereby learning as much about ourselves as others.



IDEAS YOU CAN USE:

Equal Exchange Coffee

The Missions Committee at Bellmore Presbyterian church recently served "Equal Exchange" during coffee hour, distributed brochures about this gourmet brand and invited the congregation to buy fair-trade organic coffee, tea, and cocoa.

First endorsed by Lutheran World Relief, Equal Exchange has now gained the support of the American Friends Service Committee, the Presbyterian Church (USA), the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, the United Methodist Committee on Relief, Brethren Witness, and nearly 5,000 houses of worship.



DID YOU KNOW?



OFFERED/NEEDED

Offered:

Mortgage Assistance for Military Personnel
The Long Island Housing Partnership, a Not-for-Profit to which the LICC belongs, has launched a mortgage assistance program to help military personnel on active duty avoid foreclosure. The LIHP already had a program to help those who had suffered job loss, medical problems, and such to hold onto their homes. With the call of National Guard and Reserve units, they have extended the Homeowners Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program to military families, many of whom may be facing temporary hardships due to the war with Iraq. These "HEMAP" loans of up to $20,000 can run for up to 5 years at 3% interest. Call the LIHP at 631-435-4710 for further info.

Interfaith Education
The Long Island Multi-Faith Forum's "Building Bridges" program can be presented to youth fellowship groups, confirmation classes, and Sunday School children. The Forum has recently recruited and trained a number of teens and young adults to help young Long Islanders understand their neighbors better. To request a presentation, call the LICC at 516-565-0290 or email licchemp@aol.com.

Financial Education
John Naporkowski from Washington Mutual would be happy to do a "basic banking" presentation to your congregation or civic group to help people better understand their options for personal finances. He can be reached at 212-353-6246.

New Videos in the LICC Lending Library:
"Peter & Paul & the Christian Revolution"
"Into the Arms of Strangers: Stories of Kindertransport" Oscar-winning documentary about the rescue of 10,000 children during the Holocaust.

Elderly Day Services on the Sound
A not-for-profit, social model day care facility, offers care for the elderly and much-needed respite for caregivers, along with support and referral services, helping the frail elderly to live at home with loved ones. EDSS is located in Northport and is open year round, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Transportation is available. Professional staff provide individual and group therapy, as well as a caregivers support group, which is open to the community. For further information or to schedule a visit to the program, call Maureen Paradise at 631-261-6603.

A walker, a cane, a bath chair, bed pads, and other shut-in supplies.
Call Rick Ricard in Dix Hills at 631-423-2057.

Locust Valley Reformed Church has about two dozen used choir robes to give away.
They are beige and in pretty good shape. Call Pastor Fred Mueller at 516-676-6130.

Faith Lutheran Church in Syosset has at least 5 oak pews to donate, along with kneelers and hymnal racks, each seating 6 or 7 people.
Call Margaret Shopenhauer at 516-921-3330 between 9:00 and 4:00.

Retreat Site
St. Anthony's Church in Oceanside has a small retreat center with 12 private single rooms and one double and room in their meeting space, dining room, and chapel for at least 40 people. Want to learn more? Come on May 4 at 5 p.m. or email Brother Bill at taborretreats@juno.com.

Needed:

Compassionate Clergy
AIDS Interfaith Long Island (an organization the LICC helped start) is updating its "Friendly Clergy and Pastoral Support Resource Directory." Those who are HIV+ and those who have lost a loved one to AIDS often fear they will not find acceptance from their pastor. Here is chance to demonstrate your courage and compassion. If you are clergy (or a chaplain, campus minister, pastoral counselor, pastoral care worker, pastoral volunteer, or the equivalent in your faith community) and would like to be listed as someone willing to talk with those who are infected or affected by this disease, e-mail Barbara Strongin (strongfrie@aol.com) or snail-mail her (Barbara Strongin, Chair AIDS Interfaith Long Island, c/o FEGS, 6900 Jericho Turnpike, 3rd Floor, Syosset, NY 11791) with the following info:
The Rev. Athalene Newsome needs church furniture (chairs, communion table, pulpit, lectern, etc.), an organ, and drums for a new church in Roosevelt. Call 516-379-5225 if you have any to donate.

A Building for Purchase
Little Flock Pentecostal Church is seeking a building (or vacant land) to purchase, big enough to seat 250 people in worship and park at least 70 cars. Contact Paul Matthews at 516-616-7756 or 551-4716, pmat007@msn.com or pmatthews@diagnostixs.com.


JOB OPENINGS:



LONG ISLAND COUNCIL OF CHURCHES
ANNUAL MEETING MAY 1, 2003

11:30-2:00 - Temple Beth David, 100 Hauppauge Road, Commack

The theme for this year's Annual Meeting is "Spiritual Health in a Time of Stress: Taking Care of Ourselves so We Can Care for Others." A panel discussion will explore the difficulties of balancing self-care with the imperative to provide spiritual and emotional support for others, how the pressures of caring for others impacted caregivers' spouses and children, and how church staff dealt with the often overwhelming needs of those impacted by the September 11th terrorist attacks.

Panelists and topics will include:

Join us to learn how you can take better care of yourself and still effectively care for others in the aftermath of the September 11th terrorist attacks, how the Long Island Council of Churches is providing spiritual and emotional support for caregivers, and how we have given direct assistance to hundreds of economically displaced World Trade Center clients and their families throughout Long Island.

The price of this year's meeting and luncheon is $35.00. Please complete the reservation form below and return it with your check to:
        Long Island Council of Churches
        1644 Denton Green
        Hempstead, NY 11550



RESERVATION FOR ANNUAL MEETING AND LUNCHEON 2003

Name ___________________________________________________

Address ____________________________________________________________

City/State/Zip _____________________________________________________________

Telephone ________________________________

Number attending _________________

Total amount enclosed _______________________



Caring for Caregivers Seminar

"Preparing to Work at a Critical Incident Site"
Baldwin, Long Island, NY

What:
First Presbyterian Church of Baldwin and Church World Service Interfaith Trauma Response Team (ITRT) will offer a seminar to help prepare faith leaders and caregivers on meeting the long-term challenges stemming from traumatic events such as that of September 11, 2001 and April 19, 1995. The "Preparing to Work at a Critical Incident Site" training seminar covers the nature and scope of public trauma, the responses by the faith community to public trauma and preparing appropriate responses to meet the emotional and spiritual needs of faith communities and those persons traumatized by crisis events.

The seminar presenters are professionally trained leaders from Oklahoma City with extensive experience stemming from the tragic event of April 19, 1995, and sixteen months of workshop and training seminar presentations in the NYC and Washington D.C. areas.

The seminar is open to leaders of all faiths providing spiritual and emotional caregiving needs to their congregations and communities.

There is no cost to attend the seminar.

Where:
First Presbyterian Church
717 St. Luke's Place
Baldwin, Long Island, NY

When:
Tuesday, May 13, 2003
        9:00 am - Registration
        9:30 to 12:00 - Seminar Part I
        12:00 to 12:30 pm - Light lunch provided
        12:30 to 3:30 pm - Seminar Part II

Sign Up:
If you plan to attend, please register prior to the date of the event. Please send your name, your e-mail address, or fax number and phone number to:
        Bill Sage, Coordinator
        CWS Interfaith Trauma Response
        Register via e-mail to: wsageo@aol.com;
        Or fax to: (212) 288-6906
        Or telephone to: (212) 288-6857
Your registration will be confirmed by reply.


The Long Island Council of Churches is a 501.c.3 not-for-profit. Donations to support our work are always appreciated and are tax-deductible.

Long Island Council of Churches
1644 Denton Green
Hempstead, NY 11550
voice: 516-565-0290
fax: 516-565-0291
email: licchemp@aol.com
Web: www.ncccusa.org/ecmin/licc