The 139th General Assembly held last June welcomed several ecumenical and interfaith guests. One of those guests was Roopnauth Sharma, a Hindu pandit from Mississauga, Ont. His address was though enlightening by some, and offensive by others. The Record’s July/August issue included concerns from a commissioner on the floor of the assembly, along with the Moderator, Rev. David Sutherland’s response. This month, we’ve included some thoughts from Carol Wood, convener of the Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations Committee, which invited the pandit to speak, and Rev. Stephen Kendall, principal clerk of the PCC. Their answers were prepared in a jointly-crafted response.
Presbyterian Record: Why was Roopnauth Sharma chosen as a guest?
Carol Wood and Stephen Kendall: The responsibilities of the committee expanded in 2004 to be inclusive of interfaith and ecumenical relations.
Interfaith visitors over the years have included representatives of Muslim and Jewish faiths. The committee thought it would be important to educate ourselves about faiths beyond the Abrahamic traditions. This began with a Buddhist representative and has continued this year with our guest from the Hindu tradition.
We are also aware that the United Church of Canada currently has a task group working on “United Church Hindu Relations Today.”
PR: What did you (and/or the committee) think about his address?
CW & SK: We were glad that he spoke honestly about his faith and as part of his comments helped us to see how sometimes Christians are perceived by those of other faiths. Pandit Sharma spoke from his experience. When a person speaks from the vantage point of being a minority in a post-Christian culture, the experience is naturally different from that of most Presbyterians. This is why ongoing interfaith dialogue is so valuable and important.
PR: Were you surprised by the assembly’s reaction, and in particular, the feelings that were voiced by Rev. John Fraser on the floor?
CW & SK: No comment.
PR: Why do you think the Pandit’s comments made some people uncomfortable?
CW & SK: We are quite sure that most commissioners were very glad to hear Pandit Sharma’s address and were able to hear much that was valuable in it. Building interfaith relationships is both a challenge and an art.
The purpose of having ecumenical and interfaith visitors is to learn and to grow. We are learning and need to continue to learn that there is sometimes a deep pain about centuries of the kind of evangelism or missionary activity both in Canada and beyond, that devalued cultures and religious traditions that are older than Christianity. In Canada, we have acknowledged our corporate regret for years of mistreatment and misunderstanding of Aboriginal people. This has been a slow and painful process that has caused us as a Church to re-examine our motives and the outcome of what was intended for good, but which brought about much harm. True, respectful interaction is bound to value honesty and sometimes be uncomfortable.
PR: Is there anything you’d like to add?
CW & SK: The words from Living Faith seem very important and wise as we seek to better understand our neighbours:
9.2.1 Some whom we encounter belong to other religions and already have a faith.
Their lives often give evidence of devotion and reverence for life. We recognize that truth and goodness in them are the work of God’s Spirit, the author of all truth. We should not address others in a spirit of arrogance implying that we are better than they. But rather, in the spirit of humility, as beggars telling others where food is to be found, we point to life in Christ.
9.2.2 We witness to God in Christ as the Way, the Truth, the Life, and invite others to accept from him the forgiveness of God. We are compelled to share this good news.”
Certainly, the Reformed faith is central to who we are as Presbyterians. We do have good news to share. Sharing also involves listening and a willingness to hear another person’s point of view, to receive their joy and their pain, and to try to sit in the circle with Christ who invited us to examine our own lives before judging another’s actions.
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Pandit Roopnauth Sharma’s address to the General Assembly
