An Imam on the Cathedral Staff

Next Sunday, Nov. 14, the imam of the Islamic Center of Ahl Al-Beit, Ibrahim Kazerooni, will be installed on the staff of Denver's historic St. John's Episcopal Cathedral. Eric Gorski writes in today's Denver Post that "a new chapter in interfaith relations will be written" with this step, certainly in Denver and perhaps nationally. To which I add: perhaps anywhere on the globe.

Kazerooni, 46, an Iraqi immigrant and a Shiite, will serve as interim director of the church's "Abrahamic Initiative," a project to build bridges among Christians, Jews, and Muslims. He will not receive a salary for of the Abrahamic Initiative, but will have his tuition paid at the Iliff School of Theology, where he is pursuing a master's degree.

Comment: This move by the Episcopal church is ecumenical and constructive. I would, however, feel a lot better about it if some mosque in like spirit hired a pastor – an idea that at this moment borders on the absurd. (November 11, 2004)

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