"Bringing Common Word to Common Action:
Conference of Muslim-Christians Leaders of Asia"
   
Jakarta, February 25 - March 1, 2013
   

The conference of Muslim-Christian Religious Leaders of Asia held in Jakarta from February 25 to March 1st 2013 brought together 134 participants from sixteen countries of Asia. The four days of intensive sharing and interactions intend to bear concrete and palpable steps to the spirit of the dialogic journey in which many Asian Muslim and Christian leaders are now engaged in.

Though continental, the Jakarta conference is still one of the grass-root, ecumenical and interreligious initiatives aimed at contextualizing the "Common Word." Asian Catholics have been present through the FABC (Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences) and locally through the representatives of the KWI (Konfrensi Waligereja Indonesia); the different Asian Christians denominations were conveyed through CCA (Council Churches of Asia), and locally through the CCI - PGI (Persekutuan Gereja-'Gereja di Indonesia). Muslims for their side were represented through organizations such as ICIS (International Conference of Islamic Scholars), Muhammadiayah, and Nahddatul Ulama (N.U).

The interfaith composition of the organizing committee bore witness to the values of dialogue and inclusion of the other as well the harmony that can be attained when unity is not perceived as uniformity and differences are rather seen as potential richness. Moreover, some clear objectives of the conference transpired from the outset of the program. It willed to offer an atmosphere conducive to building up friendship and mutual appreciation built on interreligious and ecumenical motives. Concretely, it aimed to help participants familiarize with the Letter of 138 Muslim Scholars to Christian leaders, to explore ways of understanding it from the religious and cultural perspectives of Asia. The immersion and group discussions were eye openers to venues and existing efforts to live the message of loving God and loving the neighbor. The sharing was to serve as an inspiration in defining concrete and achievable areas of collaboration among Christians and Muslims. In this way the four days were to culminate into concrete interreligious actions: "enough with words, the time for the language of action is at dawn!" In fact, a tacit consensus among the participants of "Bringing the Common Word to Common Action" has been that it was time to call off words and discourses and move forward with concerted and concrete actions in line with a conduct that bear witness to the shared and fundamental golden commandments of loving God and loving the neighbor.

   
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