Muslim Prayer at the General Assembly?
Given
that the Church of Scotland is following the same trajectory as the PCUSA, (rejection
of Scriptural authority, embracing homosexual marriage for office-bearers,
refusing to affirm the exclusive nature of salvation by faith alone in Christ
alone, etc), how long before we have a Muslim offering “prayers” in general
Assembly? Five years? Ten years? Sooner?
At
the close of the afternoon plenary on Wednesday, June 22, the Stated Clerk of
the General Assembly, Rev. Gradye Parsons, offered an apology. He said that he
had become aware that some had found the prayer on Saturday offensive. Parsons
said that sometimes mistakes can be made in ecumenical relationships and stated
it was not intentional. “It was never the intention to offend anyone, and we
offer an apology to those who were offended.”
Here,
in part, is the prayer that caused
offence:
“Allah
bless us and bless our families and bless our Lord. Lead us on the straight
path – the path of all the prophets: Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Moses, Jesus and
Muhammad,” and so went the prayer offered up by Wajidi Said, from the Portland
Muslim Community, as part of the “first order of business” during the opening
plenary session of the 222nd General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA).
The video of the time of first
plenary session can be viewed here. The time of remembrance begins at the 6:45
mark and the prayer to Allah starts at the 14:04 mark.
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