As members of Minnesota’s diverse religious communities, we stand together in strong condemnation of the recent attack on the Muslim Al Maghfirah (MAG-FIRAH) Cemetery in Castle Rock Township (watch news conference at https://fb.watch/8TRU5PrVy-/).

This is not the first incident of such attacks. We join our voices to speak against the desecration of a cemetery of our Muslim sisters and brothers in Minnesota. These threats of violence to a sacred place of burial are deplorable. Such threats are intended to arouse fear and to violate religious feelings. We refuse to be intimidated and to succumb to fear. We stand side-by-side with the Muslim community in courageous resistance to such unacceptable and shameful acts.

We are committed to the ongoing work of building inclusive communities in Minnesota where members of all religious traditions feel safe and supported in their places of worship, and in public spaces, to affirm their religious identities and to practice their faiths without fear. Our freedom to profess and practice our faiths without fear is fundamental to our human rights. Threats and acts of violence against any faith are a threat to us all. We stand in solidarity with, and extend our support to, our Muslim neighbors in resisting intimidation and fear.

Co-signed by:

• Vishal Agarwal, Member of Trustee Executive Council, Hindu Society of Minnesota
• Pooja Bastodkar, President of Hindu Society of Minnesota
• Lee Blons, CEO/President, Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative
• Lee Burdge, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• Becca Buse, Interfaith Leader, Interfaith Youth Core Alumni
• Zan Christ, Multifaith Practitioner and Public Speaker
• Rabbi Norman M. Cohen, Founding Rabbi Emeritus, Bet Shalom Congregation
• Rev. Richard H. Coleman, Wayman African Methodist Episcopal Church
• Rev. Ben Connelly, Minnesota Zen Meditation Center
• Genjo Conway, Mirror Lake Temple
• Charles Curry, Evangelist, Community of Christ
• Curtiss DeYoung, Minnesota Council of Churches
• Tom Duke, Lutheran pastor (ret.)
• John Emery, Executive Director, Islamic Resource Group
• Sosan Theresa Flynn, Guiding Teacher, Clouds in Water Zen Center, St. Paul
• Ram Gada, Founding Member and Past President of the Jain Center of Minnesota
• Hans Gustafson, Ph.D., Director, Jay Phillips Center for Interreligious Studies, University of St. Thomas
• Rev. K.P. Hong, Minister at Unity Church-Unitarian
• Patrice Clark Koelsch, Buddhist Chaplain, Common Ground Community Member
• Bill Konrardy, Anti-racist, United Methodist Church
• Rev. John Matthews, ELCA Clergy and Adjunct Instructor, Augsburg University, Minneapolis
• Shehla Mushtaq, Interfaith Circle
• Julia Nerbonne, Minnesota Interfaith Power & Light
• Joy Persall, Ojibwe Metis
• Mary Pickard, Unitarian Universalist
• Anantanand Rambachan, Emeritus Professor of Religion, Saint Olaf College
• Bradley E. Schmeling, Senior Pastor, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, St. Paul
• Zafar Siddiqui, Board Chair, Al-Amal School
• Rabbi Adam Stock Spilker, Mount Zion Temple, St. Paul
• Prabhat Tekriwal, Hindu Leader
• Rev. Dr. Trish Sullivan Vanni, Pastoral Director, Charis Ecumenical Catholic Community, Eden Prairie

————————————————————————

Minnesota Multifaith Network (MnMN) helps facilitate cooperative efforts like the statement above. Resources like this are shared by MnMN in the spirit of collaborative learning and sharing and not as an endorsement or sponsorship of any particular organization or position. Originally posted here: https://mnmultifaith.org/interreligious-statement-of-solidarity-with-the-muslim-community-of-minnesota/ 

Jim Winterer ’71 | March 10, 2010 Events

The Jay Phillips Center for Interfaith Learning is co-sponsoring two upcoming Seders, an annual ritual that retells the story of Passover through ritual, readings and a shared meal.

The Immigrant Rights Freedom Seder begins at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 14, at Mount Zion Temple, 1300 Summit Ave.

This annual event, which comes at a time when the nation is debating immigration reform, is co-sponsored by Jewish Community Action and brings together people from religious, labor and ethnic communities. For more information or register, call (651) 632-2184 or visit Jewish Community Action’s Web site.

The third annual Interfaith Seder will be held from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Sunday, March 21, at the Temple of Aaron, 616 Mississippi River Blvd.

The Interfaith Seder is co-sponsored by the St. Paul Interfaith Network and other organizations. For more information or to register, visit the St. Paul Interfaith Network’s Web site.

The Jay Phillips Center for Interfaith Learning is co-sponsored by St. John’s University and the University of St. Thomas. After many years of fostering Jewish- Christian relations, the center has expanded its mission to promote interfaith learning and friendship among people of various religions.

More information about the Seders also is available by calling the Jay Phillips Center for Interfaith Learning at (651) 962-5780 or visit the center’s Web site.