Strasbourg (Fides Service) - The Islam in Europe committee, established by the Council of European Bishops' Conferences (CCEE) and the Conference of European Churches (CEC) in 1987 to resource and encourage the churches in their relations with Muslim co-citizens across the European continent, completed its present five year mandate at its final meeting in Strasbourg, from 13 to 16 March 2003.
The committee was mandated to advise the churches by providing information and guidance for Christian communities on different aspects of Christian-Muslim relations; this it has done by producing two documents: one on interreligious prayer ("Christians and Muslims: praying together?") and the other on guidelines for dialogue ("Meeting Muslims?") these texts will soon be available at the web sites CCEE www.ccee.ch and KEK www.cec-kek.org.
The committee also has to task of promoting contact with Muslims. The committee's most important meeting was the conference in Sarajevo on 12 to 16 of September 2001, which met in the shadow of 11 September, when scholars and representatives of Christian and Muslim organisations discussed the theme "Christians and Muslims in a Pluralistic Europe"; to exchange experiences and information from the different countries, after which the committee issued two letters ("The education of young Christians and Muslims in a pluralist Europe" reflections and texts) and a hand book on Christian Muslim dialogue and "The role of the Christian churches in a pluralistic society, as seen by the Muslims of Europe", in 2001).
At the end of its final meeting in Strasbourg, the committee discussed the implications of the present Iraq crisis and the consequences of a possible war, as well as the continuing conflict in the Holy Land. It says it is encouraged by active collaboration between Christians and Muslims in initiatives for peace against war. The members says: "This committee continues, along with many others, to pray, work and hope for justice and peace, especially in Iraq and the Holy Land." (Fides Service 2/4/2003 EM lines 42 Words: 684)