First meeting of Greater Lafayette Interfaith Leaders

Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Baha’I leaders discuss ways to support the local Muslim community and build stronger interfaith relationships

On February 2, twenty-seven local religious leaders met in Trinity’s Fellowship Hall to talk about ways that we can build stronger relationships between faith communities in greater Lafayette. Ruth and Marc Smith called the meeting in response to the executive order on immigration and the ways that this policy and the general political climate are having day-to-day impacts on our Muslim neighbors.  

The executive order on immigration, particularly the halt in refugee resettlement, counters beliefs that many of us hold. A United Methodist bishop from Minneapolis, like many other community and faith leaders,  released a statement condemning the order. He wrote: 
The biblical witness is clear and unambiguous. Walls are unbiblical. Hospitality is biblical. Denying one’s neighbor is unbiblical. Welcoming the stranger is biblical. It is not surprising that Judaism, Christianity and Islam teach the reign of God as a banquet to which all peoples are invited. We are to welcome the  sojourner, love our neighbor and stand with the most vulnerable among us. These very values from our  sacred texts and faith traditions are currently reflected in the mandate of the U.S. Refugee Admissions  Program and must not be usurped by any executive order.  

His statement goes on. But how can we, as individuals, welcome strangers at a national level, if we are not equipped to welcome them at a local, daily one?  

We challenge our faith communities to strategize ways to welcome the sojourner, love our neighbors, and stand with the most vulnerable among us, here, in greater Lafayette. Today, it is our Muslim neighbors that need our support. Tomorrow, it may be someone else. 

At the meeting, two local Muslim Americans shared remarks about how current policies are affecting  Muslims locally and about local and national interfaith initiatives to start our conversation about ways to build better relationships between our faith communities through education, relationship, service, and  political endeavors. 
The meeting was not a political response, rather the focus of the conversation was on ways to strengthen  interfaith relationships and create short- and long-term local initiatives.  

From these conversations groups began meeting to organize:

• Coffee Discussion groups for men and women (One women's group is meeting 4th Mondays at 1 pm at Fuel Coffee Shop -- all are welcome)
• An Interfaith Habitat for Humanity Build
• Increased participation in the University Religious Leaders group and Inter-religious Network of Greater Lafayette (both active on Facebook)
• Muslim Neighbors panels and presentations (see www.muslimneighbors.com for more info) 

Many other ideas for ways to engage in educational, relational, and service-oriented activities were  generated. Less so were LOCAL political responses. Therefore, we plan to host a series of meetings focused on educating religious leaders on issues pertaining to immigration and refugee resettlement and the current state of our local community with regards to immigrants and refugees so that we can engage in a well-informed, critical conversation about what kind of community we, as faith organizations want to promote.  

One of the questions raised was how to respond when we hear disparaging remarks about Muslims,  immigrants, and refugees. For example, if someone makes a comment suggesting all Muslims are supportive of ISIS, point out that no one has suffered more from ISIS than Muslims both because ISIS has killed more Muslims than any other group and because ISIS’ claim to represent Islam fuels negative attitudes and  aggressive behaviors towards Muslims around the world, including here in greater Lafayette. Point out the stereotype and bring the conversation back to local concerns.  

Islam is not a foreign religion, it is a minority religious community in America.  We have a diverse Muslim community in greater Lafayette, and many opportunities to get to know our Muslim neighbors. Take  advantage of local programs such as Islam 101 or Muslim Neighbors, contact the Islamic Center to visit, or join an interfaith discussion group. Meet a Muslim, find out how the current climate has affected them, learn about how they are engaged in the community, and most importantly, recognize them as neighbors.  

If you are interested in getting involved in any of these activities, please contact Ruth Smith (ruthmcsmith1987@gmail.com) for more information and to get connected.