Jewish-Christian conference helps bridge the divide
Published: October 21, 2024
Author: Dave Bell
Under normal circumstances, representatives of evangelical Christian colleges and leaders of Jewish synagogues near those colleges would have limited opportunities to interact.
However, a recent conference at Greenville University brought together representatives of four Free Methodist universities nationwide and members of the Jewish communities near those schools.
At that three-day Jewish-Christian Relations Conference, participants sought ways to bridge the religious and cultural divide between the two faiths and find common ground on which to work together in the future.
“I hope we’ve kick-started something we can continue,” said Aubrey McClain, an associate professor of theology and the Shapiro Chair of Jewish-Christian Studies at GU. “We want to keep the momentum going and talk about programming we can do in the future.”
McClain (pictured above) noted that Greenville University is the only Protestant evangelical university she’s aware of that hosts events to bring together Christians and Jews. But she’s not satisfied with a one-time event; she wants to see conferences such as the one held in Greenville replicated in other communities around the country.
“I would like to see this become something that the Free Methodist denomination would get behind,” McClain said. “It is a unique way we can begin to repair old wounds and stand by people who have endured so much persecution.
“Such interfaith gatherings don’t require participants to reduce their beliefs to the lowest common denominator,” she added. “Instead, we invite each group to bring their beliefs to the table. We’re convinced that because we have a relationship, we can trust each other and learn from each other.”
Prior to joining the GU faculty, the Oklahoma native studied at Jerusalem University College and lived in Israel. With that background and because of recent events in Israel, she felt the time was right to host a Jewish-Christian conference.
“As Christian institutions of higher education, it is our privilege to teach students to think critically, reflect deeply, and cultivate mature Christian character,” she said. “In a divisive time, we have a unique opportunity to embody neighborly love by modeling authentic dialogue and collaborative problem-solving with the Jewish community. By addressing the historic divisions and the current issues, we can help our students become thoughtful leaders. We hope this experience both enriches their faith and deepens their theological reflection.”
The Jewish-Christian Studies program at GU was established to teach students about Judaism and Christianity’s interconnected past, present, and future, to combat antisemitism, and to promote dialogue and reconciliation between Jewish and Christian communities. In addition to relevant coursework, the program offers many co-curricular opportunities for students to grow in their faith by learning about Judaism and interacting with members of the Jewish community.
The conference was co-hosted by Rabba Rori Picker Neiss (pictured at top), the senior vice president for community relations at the Jewish Council for Public Affairs in New York City. She previously was the executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis and has collaborated for several years with the GU Jewish-Christian Studies Program.
In addition to Greenville University, participating Free Methodist schools included Spring Arbor University, Roberts Wesleyan University, and Seattle Pacific University. Each of those schools brought faculty and students, and were accompanied by representatives of the Jewish community in their city.
As the host school, several students from Greenville University participated in the conference. Three of those students spoke to the group about the impact the event had on them.
Mark Nguyen, a native of Vietnam and former Buddhist, called the conference “an amazing experience,” and said he gained valuable insights about the relationship between Christians and Jews. He is a senior and a leader in the GU Interfaith Club.
Alea VanDeVelde, a sophomore from Quincy, Illinois, and member of the GU Interfaith Club, said the conference “made me think.” She said she “grew up in a bubble in the Midwest” and enjoyed the opportunity to interact with the Jewish participants.
Similarly, Olivia Peters, a 2024 GU graduate, said that learning more about Jewish traditions and practices “broadened my perspective.”
The conference began with a Thursday evening reception, included a full day of programming and discussions on Friday, and concluded with an assessment discussion Saturday morning. Topics addressed during the conference included Jewish-Christian engagement strategies, a discussion of the current conflict in the region surrounding Israel, thoughts on addressing antisemitism, and a brainstorming session on future projects and conferences. The Jewish clergy prepared a Shabbat dinner for participants on Friday evening.
“Our Jewish participants were impressed with the people they met here – particularly with the warmth of the students,” said McClain after the conference. “They also were encouraged by the willingness of the Free Methodist participants to build bridges and address the antisemitism that has surfaced recently.
“It was a valuable experience for the participating students,” she added. “They learned how to connect meaningfully with people from different backgrounds. That is a needed skill in today’s world.”
See the following link for a reaction to the conference from one of the Jewish participants. https://www.greenville.edu/news-media/news/2024/10/16/kol-nidre
