At the first level inter-religious dialogue is a dialogue, that is, a conversation on a common subject between two or more persons with differing views, the primary purpose of which is for each participant to learn from the other so that he or she can change.  In dialogue each partner must listen to the other as openly and sympathetically as he or she can in an attempt to understand the other’s position as precisely and, as it were, as much from within, as possible.  Such an attitude automatically includes the assumption that at any point we might find the partner’s position so persuasive that we would act with integrity, we would have to change our own position accordingly.  That means that there is a risk in dialogue:  we might have to change, and change can be disturbing.  To have such [inter-religious dialogue] it is not sufficient that the dialogue partners discuss a religious subject.  Rather, they must come to the dialogue as persons somehow significantly identified with a religious community.  […] Only thus can the whole community eventually learn and change, moving toward an ever more perceptive insight into reality.
(From Leonard Swidler’s foreword to Jewish Monotheism and Christian Trinitarian Doctrine: A Dialogue by Pinchas Lapide and Juergen Moltmann; Fortress Press, Philadelphia, 1981.)

Resources

Developing Criteria for Congregational Interfaith Dialogue:
By the very nature of life in Toronto Conference, we as The United Church of Canada, are in increased contact and interaction with faith communities that are non-Christian.... The need has been expressed

Interfaith Resources Link

Multi-Faith Inclusion Network, dedicated to ensuring respect and inclusion for people with developmental disabilities in the faith community of their choice, and to encourage their faith communities to be receptive and appreciative of their contributions...click for more info

INTERFAITH DIALOGUE

Christian - Muslim dialogue: That We May Know Each Other The United Church of Canada has developed a document for study. www.united-church.ca/twmkeo/

Christian - Jewish dialogue: Bearing Faithful Witness - Bearing Faithful Witness study guide and Bearing Faithful Witness final statement.

ECUMENISM

Mending the World, a United Church document on whole world ecumenism affirms that "We are on a journey of recognizing and realizing the call of God to join with God's other servants from other communities of faith and commitment. www.united-church.ca/mtw/

STATEMENTS

Interchurch Interfaith Committee of Toronto Conference, The United Church of Canada, welcomes His Holiness the 14 th Dalai Lama to Toronto.

A statement from the President of Toronto Conference on behalf of Toronto Conference of The United Church of Canada condemning recent arson fire at Pickering Mosque. Release Thursday April 1, 2004 (pdf) .

York Presbytery: United Church in York Region Condemns Anti-Jewish Activities.

Canadian Council of Churches A church leaders’ letter against anti-Semitism to the churches of Canada, the Jewish community in Canada, and to all people of good will… issued December 2003 (pdf).

Toronto Conference Anti-Racism Task Group and Interchurch Interfaith Committee condemn incidents of racism and anti-Semitism. Release Tuesday May 14, 2002 (pdf).

A Message from Rev. Debbie Johnson, A Message from Rev. Debbie Johnson, President of Hamilton Conference, The United Church of Canada, on the Kitchener Cemetery Violence