Philosophy

The Charleston Congress of Religions was formed in the early 1990s by former Police Chief Reuben Greenberg, and a large number of Charleston clergy.

The Charleston Congress of Religions, composed of denominations of Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists and many other religious perspectives, celebrates their similarities and developes respect for their religious differences through personal friendship and by reaching personal understandings of each other and their religious perspectives.

History

The Beginning
"Why can't Jews, Christians, and Muslims work together instead of against each other?"

In the Fall/Winter of 1993 Muslim Imam Abdul Mohamed Ali stayed up all night looking for a message he could deliver to the Jews. He had a small obscure opportunity the next day at the Temple Emanuel synagogue breakfast to say something about his world, their world, our world.

The next morning a group of Muslims had breakfast at Synagogue Emanuel with a bunch of Jews. Ali had been up all night looking for direction. He found it in the wee hours of the morning on cable news watching Jewish kids and Muslim kids talk hate towards each other.

His words were simple, direct, and to the point. He looked at his Muslims, the Jewish adults, and a group of Hebrew School children.

"Why can't Jews, Christians, and Muslims work together instead of against each other? We all came from Abraham." Charleston's black Jewish police chief, co-chair of the Minion breakfast with Shirley Comen, Shirley, Rabbi Ed Friedman, and the Imam discussed Ali's talk.

Greenberg spoke first. "Imagine! Christian, Muslim, and Jewish Clergy sharing a podium talking about Abraham"

Within two weeks clergy from throughout the area began meeting to understand and learn from and about each other. They formed the Charleston Congress of Religions. This went on for five years.

Those at the initial meetings were Greenberg, Shirley Comen, Rabbi Ed Friedman of Temple Emanuel

The Middle
The group called a meeting at Temple Emanuel. Chief Greenberg, Rabbi Friedman, Imam Ali, and Shirley Comen were joined by Episcopal Bishop Salmon, Rabbi Holz, Mormon Skate Leader Steve Baughman, Catholic Priest Parker, Unitarian Rev Collins, and a number of other Charleston clergy.

Everyone was in favor of having a Jewish, a Christian, and a Muslim clergy member on a podium talking of Abraham. But questions arose immediately. "Who would speak for the Jews?" "Who would speak for the Christians?" "Which Imam should represent Islam?" The Unitarian's wanted to know "where do we fit in here?" It was decided to get to know each other at monthly meetings. What had started as a simple event turned into a multi year social organization known as the Charleston Congress of Religions. A temporary chair would conduct meetings for two monthly sessions and then pass the temporary chairpersonship to another clergy member.

Friendships developed. A new respect among the clergy was evident as Jacqueline, Tony, B.J., James, Achim, Hakim, and Dakpa replaced Unitarian, Jew, Hindu, Catholic, Presbyterian Muslim, and Buddhist. When a state school board member, during debate on the posting of the Ten Commandments led him to make the statement "Screw the Buddhists and Kill the Muslims" Rabbi Tony Holz called the Congress back into session and the Congress collectively issued a strong response to the Governor in a letter signed by a good number of Charleston clergy.

Now
After a hiatus of several years, the Charleston Congress of Religions is back by popular demand. With a mission that is more relevant than ever, the CCOR needs your help. Please contact us to help make the vision of a diverse world at peace a reality.