MAINLINE & LIBERAL CHRISTIANS:

ABOUT JEWISH CONVERSION TO CHRISTIANITY

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Policies of mainline and liberal Christians towards proselytizing Jews:

In recent decades, a "third wave" of academic research into the life and beliefs of Jesus has been led by mainline Christian, liberal Christian, and Jewish theologians. They are beginning to appreciate the depth of the relationship between Jesus' teachings and the beliefs of various groups within Judaism during the 1st century CE. There is increasing dialog with Jews by non-conservative Christian theologians interested in discovering the roots of their own faith.

The Presbyterian Church, the United Methodist Church, and the Roman Catholic Church -- have entered into dialog with American Jews, while discontinuing any efforts to convert them. They have gone beyond rejecting anti-semitism, and beyond simple tolerance. They now value Judaism as a "sister" religion with whom they have much in common, and from which they have much to learn. The dialog is conducted between the two religions as equals in a spirit of honest seeking.

Ground-Breaking Developments in the United Church of Canada:

The United Church of Canada, is the second largest Protestant denomination in Canada and perhaps the most liberal large faith group in the country. It is similar to the United Church of Christ in the US. It has jokingly been referred to as a church which specializes in organizing circular firing squads. This is because of its history of courageously tackling the really tough questions: ordination of women in the 1930's; ordination of gays and lesbians in the 1980's; and a deep dialog between the church and Judaism in the 1990s.

In the very late 1980's. the United Church's general council was petitioned to come to terms with its past anti-Semitic history and to mend fences with the Jewish community. ₁ A subsequent study produced a report: "Bearing Faithful Witness: United Church-Jewish Relations Today." It was submitted in mid-1997 for approval by the general council. It was released to the public in 1998-MAY.

The report is unusually frank for Christian faith groups in North America. It calls for the church to:

Reactions to the report were predictable:

The Right Rev. Bill Phipps, moderator of the Church commented: "Christianity does not supersede Judaism...We are not picking up where they left off." He said that the document urges people to "live your life fully. Try to make Jesus Christ meaningful and attractive to people...but don't cast aspersions or criticize other faith traditions." Rev. Phipps notes that Scripture has been often interpreted in a way that leads to anti-Judaism. For example, when referring to Jesus criticisms of Judaic practices of the 1st century CE, Christians must remember that "he wasn't standing outside of the Jewish community being critical, he was doing it from within."

Peter Wyatt, general secretary for theology, faith and ecumenism for the United Church indicated that no formal apology to the Jewish community is planned. "Jewish people indicated that wouldn't necessarily be helpful, and it's not something they're looking for."

Reference:

1. Joan Breckenridge, "United Church Reaches out to Jews," The Globe and Mail, Toronto ON, 1998-MAY-23, Pages A1 & A10.

Copyright © 1998 to 2004 by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance
Latest update: 2004-OCT-30
Author: B.A. Robinson