At the invitation of the Memphis Interfaith Community, the CCJU organized and presented a conference in February 1997, that local journalists called "historic" and "destined to change the course of interfaith relations in Memphis."

Regular meetings of clergy have become commonplace in most areas in  recent years.   However, to participate in a small, select and totally honest gathering where black and white, Christians and Jews could speak openly about their separate beliefs, their doubts, their fears seemed to surprise even the seasoned clergy.  No one "watered down" beliefs or apologized for them.  The challenges of fundamentalism and relativism were discussed.

To understand and find ways of cooperating with one another became the goal, not theological agreement.  One presenter said, "We have also come to learn that, even in disagreement, we can look at our commonality, not as some public relations ploy, but as a way to do God's work on this earth."

Another presenter said, "Our belief that God does not take back the choice He made means that we view his covenant with Israel as an on-going reality, one that is not opposed to our belief in the truth of the Christian covenant."

Perhaps the most intense discussion centered on the controversial resolution adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention, representing 15.6 million members, stating that the Convention would direct its "energies and resources toward the proclamation of the Gospel to the Jews."  The resolution was loudly criticized by Jewish and mainline Christian leaders who viewed this resolution as a blatant attempt to convert Jews to Christianity.  Baptists present at CCJU's Memphis Symposium said that resolution was misrepresented and misunderstood by the media.  The resolution was not speaking about conversion but   evangelism, about sharing the good news of Jesus Christ.

The most anti-Semitic thing I could do would be to have the good news and fail to share it,"   said one participant, who also said he "repudiates all religious prejudice and intolerance."

And so the discussion went-honest, open, uncompromising, yet always respectful and reverent toward the other.
Remarks by Dr. Adrian P. Rogers, Rabbi Harry K. Danziger, Dr. Fred C. Lofton, Rev. J. Peter Sartain and Rabbi Jack Bemporad are now available through the CCJU office.

For a free copy of the remarks given at the CCJU Memphis Symposium February 1997, please complete the form and email or FAX to:

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