The invitation

Many Christians meet or know people of other faith traditions through the activities of daily life. Even in communities where contacts with people of other religions do not take place, church members are aware of the growing religious plurality in the United States. This study guide, Interfaith Relations and Christian Living, invites small groups of Christians to explore what is involved in living as Christians with Muslims, Buddhists, Jews, Hindus, traditional religionists or people of yet other religions in today’s world.

The initiative to begin study may come from any of many possible sources in your community. In every case, however, a small planning group should be formed. The planners should include someone who has teaching familiarity with Christian scripture and tradition (a pastor or priest, Christian educator, or experienced layperson) and at least one other person. The planners will schedule, recruit for, and lead the study. This guide is addressed to the planners who will take responsibility for next steps.

The resources

Interfaith Relations and the Churches: A Policy Statement of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. was adopted for the council’s guidance and as "a source for guidance, reflection, and action" for its member communions. The Interfaith Relations and Christian Living study guide enables Christian congregations and local ecumenical groups to use the policy statement as a resource for their own reflection and possible action.

The study design

The basic model provides plans for six or seven weekly meetings of a group of Christian adults or young adults in a congregational setting, each session extending for approximately one and one half hours. Each session, as outlined, has three main components:

1. Exploring shared experiences of group members and reflecting together. The group asks, What is our own starting point as we begin this session?

2. Exploring scripture and ideas of the policy statement. The groups asks, What are our questions, and what can we learn?

3. Reflecting upon responses within the group. It asks, What do we discern as our Christian responsibility?

The study suggestions repeatedly allow opportunity for questions to be expressed. While new learning can be facilitated through providing for these, it will be important to plan judiciously so that the questioning does not overwhelm the group or diminish time available for exploring answers. Groups may well conclude the study with a sense that questions about Christian discipleship among people of other faiths remain.

The study design includes the option of planning one of your sessions as a visit to a "congregation" of another faith, in order to observe respectfully their religious practice and to engage their members in conversation. A good visit will require careful planning and some flexibility of scheduling, possibly allotting extra time. In some cases, a Christian congregation or ecumenical group will already have established relationships with a local community of another religious faith. But in many cases it will be essential that one or more of the planners make a prior visit to the community which will be visited, to build some minimum degree of trust and to communicate clearly about the intention of the visit and what is desired. If a group visit is not feasible or appropriate, omit it from your planning.

Rather than using the suggestions for these sessions as presented, you may create a locally-designed plan. For example, a local group might stretch the study over a number of months or compress it into one or more days. Some groups may wish to restrict each session to an hour and will need to select from among the possibilities outlined. Brief suggestions for adaptation are offered at the end of this guide.

Getting Ready

1. Identify the members of your planning group. If several congregations will study together, the leadership team should be drawn from these local church bodies. A more broadly ecumenical study, to be offered to the wider Christian community or to member congregations of a church council, may best have a leadership team drawn from the major "families" of Christian traditions involved. (Do not feel restricted to participation from Christians whose churches are part of the NCCC. Your group may include Pentecostals or Catholics, for example.)

2. Obtain copies of the policy statement, Interfaith Relations and the Churches, and this study guide (by downloading, photocopying, or ordering; see information below). Make sure all planners have perused the materials in advance.

3. Arrange for the planners to meet. Review this study guide, and decide what format for study you will adopt. Select elements you will use as presented. Plan modifications you want to make.

4. If a visit to a religious community outside the Christian tradition is to be part of the study, start planning it. One or more of you should make an appointment with the leaders of the community you will ask to host your visit. Talk with them at the site about the visit’s purpose. Be sensitive to their willingness to receive you. Be ready to discuss the design, date, and time of your visit. Review the section of this study guide devoted to an interreligious visit for help in planning this part of the program.

5. Publicize your plans. Use verbal announcements, print notices, and other creative avenues to recruit attendees you hope to attract. A clear description of the purpose and content of the study should be part of the publicity, together with details about time, place, and sponsorship. Pre-register participants. Seek a stable group of regular attendees since the study will be cumulative.

6. As the size of your group becomes clear, modify plans to accommodate the expected number. Arrange furniture appropriately in the room of your choice. A small group should be organized in a circle formation that facilitates discussion; you may be able to allow more time for individual contribution than suggested. A large group will require more formal seating, but you can break into subgroups in order to provide time for each person to speak.

7. Plan for the opening and closing times of worship or prayer for each session. Since these times are very brief, they will be most effective if careful preparations are made in advance. They will set the framework within which your explorations will occur.

8. Contact the NCCC Interfaith Relations Office, your denominational offices, or your local ecumenical council for help with planning, as needed. (The NCCC office may have suggestions for special leadership in some situations. See contact information at the end of this booklet.)

9. Obtain materials needed.

a. Copies of Interfaith Relations and the Churches: A Policy Statement of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. for participants. Additional copies, as needed, of this study guide, Interfaith Relations and Christian Living (These are available in print at the Interfaith Relations Office, National Council of Churches, 475 Riverside Drive, Room 870, New York, NY 10115 [phone 212-870-2560 or fax 212-870-2158]. The printed materials may be reproduced in whole or part for congregational, group, and individual use if appropriate credit is given. Resale of any reproduction is prohibited unless you have obtained prior permission of the copyright holder.)

b. A board or easel and a large newsprint pad and markers

c. Bibles for the use of your group (Quotations in the policy statement and this guide are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible.)

d. Resources for the opening and closing worship or prayer periods—for example, copies of songs, hymnals, responsive litanies

e. Materials to familiarize the group with the community to be visited and to orient participants about the etiquette for a visit, if this is in your plans (A copy of How to Be a Perfect Stranger or a similar resource will provide the help you need. See Suggested Resources.)

e. Copies of denominational statements (cf. Recommendation IV, paragraphs 1 and 2 of the NCCC policy statement) and of other resources for reference or study, for use by interested members of the group

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