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Imam-Priest Dialogues in the Philippines Produce Impressive Results |
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Written by Marites Africa and Global Staff
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Tuesday, 06 November 2007 |
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Page 3 of 3
This enthusiasm carried throughout the entire workshop, which consisted of different activity modules. In one module there was an invitation to share “Visions of Peace Among Religions,” an invitation which all of the Priests and Imams eagerly responded to by working together in small groups to come up with a creative expression of their shared vision. Eight groups of imams and priests took turns in presenting their vision through creative drama, and those who bore witness to it knew that it was a moment in history that was filled with the light of joy and hope.
At the end of the day, after the priests and imams expressed their commitment to interfaith dialogue and relationship-building, they approved a motion to meet again on November 12 to discuss the agenda of organizing themselves and creating an Imam-Priest Conference of the Philippines that would complement the work of the Bishops-Ulama Conference in Mindanao.
Says Marites, “I am very encouraged and inspired by the response of our priests and imams to this pilot dialogue project, and I look forward with hope to long-term and sustainable support from those who believe in what we are doing.”
On October 30, leaders of various sectors of society attended the Awarding Ceremonies that was hosted by the Peacemakers’ Circle in honor of the imams and priests who participated in the dialogue training workshops. Among them were Gen. Ben Dolorfino (Commander of the Philippine Marine Corps), Gen. Verzosa (Deputy Chief of the Philippine National Police), Sec. Gen. Isabel Tobias (Presidential Council for Values Formation), Robin Abdul Aziz Padilla (popular movie actor and respected Muslim convert), Bishop Antonio Tobias and Bishop Deogracias Yniguez (Catholic Episcopal Commission on Ecumenical Affairs), Mr. Quinton Devlin of the Australian Embassy, Mr. Stephen Ashby and Jomar Ascano of the U.S. Embassy, and Dr. Stephen Rood of the Asia Foundation.
The second level of dialogue training will engage the participants in reaching out to their respective members in the grassroots Muslim-Christian communities in Metro Manila, and share with them what they have learned about dialogue and relationship -building. Here, Muslim and Christian religious leaders will partner with secular leaders in the community in promoting the ways of peaceful dialogue in their respective locales.
News of the success of the workshops yielded requests from Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, and other parts of the Philippines for help in conducting similar workshops in their parts of the region.
As a way of furthering the work that has already been started, the Peacemakers’ Circle CC, in partnership with the Institute of Islamic Studies of the University of the Philippines, will offer training modules on Muslim-Christian Dialogue for Nation-Building in Metro Manila in April-May 2008. This is a pilot program that is hoped to launch a first-of-its-kind Interfaith Peacebuilding Institute in the county. This is another of those dreams that, says Marites, are “made a size too big so that we can grow into them.”
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 25 November 2007 )
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