WASHINGTON — Prominent religious leaders representing Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh faiths honored the Detroit faith community at a gathering in Washington, D.C. for its efforts to build bonds between the Jewish and Muslim communities.

The Washington gathering was organized by the members of the interfaith campaign Shoulder to Shoulder: Standing with American Muslims; Upholding American Values, at the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C. to remember the September 11th tragedy and recognize to ensure that all Americans are free to worship however they desire.  The New York Avenue Presbyterian Church is the same church in which President Abraham Lincoln sought spiritual comfort and guidance as he worked to unify the country in the midst of the Civil War. The religious leaders who gathered here today were inspired by the example of Dr. Phineas D. Gurley (pastor of New York Avenue Presbyterian Church during Lincoln’s presidency, who worked with Lincoln to ensure all Americans would be treated fairly) to continue their effort to end discrimination against Muslims.

Richard Nodel, president of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Metropolitan Detroit, spoke at the gathering about the Detroit community’s efforts.

The Jewish Community Relations Council of Metropolitan Detroit has led the effort to build a bond with the Council of Islamic Organizations of Michigan.  During Nodel’s tenure, the two organizations have come together to serve others and stand in solidarity.  Most prominently, the JCRC and CIOM drew more than 100 Jewish and Muslim volunteers to mount two interfaith health fairs, where medical professions of both faiths donated their time to serve Detroit residents without health insurance.

“At a time when anti-Muslim sentiments are dominating headlines across the country, and elected officials are legislating through fear, there are hundreds of stories of local communities like Detroit choosing to celebrate our nation’s unique religious diversity,” said the Rev. Richard Cizik, president of the New Evangelical Partnership for the Common Good and a founding member of Shoulder to Shoulder.  “As religious leaders, we recognize that we do not have to compromise our own religious beliefs in order to defend the rights of others. Detroit was one of four faith organizations across the country recognized for outstanding efforts to end anti-Muslim sentiment.  Other communities honored at the gathering were Arlington Heights, Ill.; Boise, Idaho; and Corvallis, Ore.

Shoulder to Shoulder is comprised of 26 national religious, faith-based and interfaith organizations that have pledged to work together to promote acceptance and understanding and to end anti-Muslim bigotry.  It was launched one year ago following an emergency interreligious summit to present the faith community’s response to the rise of anti-Muslim sentiment at the height of controversies over an Islamic center near Ground Zero and threats to burn the Qur’an by Terry Jones.  For more info, visit www.shouldertoshouldercampaign.org.