For the past 13 years, Interfaith Partners of South Carolina (IPSC) has enjoyed a warm association with the Peace and Integration Council of North America (PICNA), supporting each other in our mutual mission of building a peaceful society through engagement with faith-based congregations and organizations. Our shared goals have made IPSC and PICNA natural allies and partners for programs, and during occasional difficult community issues. Two memorable events of early years were IPSC events held in Newberry, South Carolina. PICNA represented Islam in an outdoor festival called “Gathering of Faiths,” hosted on the grounds of Clayton Memorial Unitarian Church. The following year IPSC held a performance at the historic Newberry Opera House. Each religious group represented by IPSC, including Muslims belonging to PICNA, offered the Islamic call to prayer, music, readings, movement and song to display the richness of our traditions. By 2013 these initial events had expanded into a large event attended by about 2000 at the conference center in Columbia. Our interfaith partners with IPSC also stepped forward to support Muslims when a state legislator in 2015 proposed legislation which was Islamophobic, issuing a statement which included this message: "We affirm our solidarity with our Muslim friends here in South Carolina, whom we have come to know as peaceful, community-minded, law abiding citizens," the statement said. "We abhor the vilification they and their religion now suffer in the rhetoric of political candidates and others who spew misinformation, hate and fear." When the U.S. president in 2017 issued an executive order, the so-called “Muslim travel ban,” IPSC again took action with a press conference at the S.C. State House to make clear its position of support for Muslims in South Carolina. The community issue which drew international attention to South Carolina also provided an opportunity for IPSC and Muslim groups like PICNA to intervene in a highly positive way. The mayor of a local town had posted Islamophobic comments on his social media. After being contacted by interfaith and Muslim individuals, he proved to be open to conversation, and even attended a special program and Eid feast at Masjid Noor-Ul-Huda in Columbia. Through this partnership—interfaith individuals who the mayor already knew and trusted, plus the kind invitation of the mosque to get to know Muslims in the area—what started as hateful public speech was turned to a friendly encounter and new friendships. For these and many other reasons, IPSC regards PICNA as a vital element of our South Carolina society. We look forward to our continued collaborations. And we are grateful for PICNA’s support of interfaith, robust participation, and dedication to a stronger, more harmonious statewide community. – by Holli S. Emore, MDiv, Chair Interfaith Partners of South Carolina.
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
Our Vision
To be a catalyst for world peace and harmony in society Our Mission Strive for peace, harmony, goodwill and understanding between people of all faiths and cultures, facilitate interfaith dialog and enlighten society about true Islamic values and principles Our Core Values Peace Love Moderation Integration Knowledge Archives
January 2025
Categories |