The NZCCJ Conference 2012 aimed to develop a regional (Australia and New Zealand) response to the International Council of Christians and Jews Twelve points of Berlin, a charter for Jewish Christian relations.
Audio from the conference is now online:
Dr Deborah Weissman, ICCJ President’s opening address on The Twelve Points of Berlin
Dr Paul Morris’s response
Dr Marianne Dacy’s response
Specific responses by Christian, Jewish, and Muslim groups, led by Elizabeth Smaal, Janet Salek, Sultan Eusoff, and Murray Darroch
Guest Speakers:
- Dr Deborah Weissman, President of the International Council of Christians and Jews
- Dr Marianne Dacy, an Australian Sister of Our Lady of Sion and Secretary of the Australian Council of Christians and Jews
- William Szekely, the President of the New South Wales Council of Christians and Jews
- Prof Paul Morris, Chair of Religious Studies at Victoria University of Wellington
- Dr Margaret Mayman, Senior Minister at St Andrews on the Terrace (Wellington)
- Sultan Eusoff, the Chief Executive of the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand.
Conference Programme
| Saturday 12th May 7pm | Welcome, conference opening, drinks and nibbles. Havdalah: Sam Hart |
| Sunday 13th May 8.30am | Prayers |
| 12noon | Registration |
| 12.30pm | Lunch |
| 1.30pm | Prayers |
| 2.00pm | Keynote speech, Dr Debbie Weissman President ICCJ |
| Responses | Professor Paul Morris Dr Marianne Dacy |
| 6.30pm | Prayers |
| 7.30pm Conference dinner | Entertainment Rick Sahar |
| Monday 14th May 7.30am | Prayers |
| 9am Response groups | Call to Christians: Convenor: Rev’d Dr Margaret Mayman |
| Call to Jews. Convenor: William Szekely | |
| Call to others: Convenor: Sultan Eusoff | |
| 10.30am | Coffee, snacks etc |
| 11am | Reconvene |
| 12.30pm Lunch | Lunch |
| 1.30pm | Reconvene |
| 3.30pm | Afternoon tea |
| 4pm–6pm | Plenary |
| 6.00pm | Prayers, thanks and farewells |
| Tuesday 15th May 7.30am | Prayers |
| 10.00am –12noon | NZCCJ meeting with Australian guests |
About the Twelve Points of Berlin
The International Council of Christians and Jews (ICCJ) was established following the Holocaust to increase understanding between Christians and Jews. One of the founding documents of the ICCJ was the “Ten Points of Seelisburg” (1947), which outlined a path for future relations between Christians and Jews. In 2009, as the culmination of over 60 years of dialogue and debate, the ICCJ issued the “Twelve Points of Berlin” to recommit the religious communities to working together in the 21st century and beyond.
The document calls on Christians and Christian Communities to
- combat religious, racial and all other forms of anti-Semitism
- promote interreligious dialogue with Jews
- develop theological understandings of Judaism that affirm its distinctive integrity
- pray for the peace of Jerusalem
In the same vein, the document calls on Jews and Jewish Communities to
- acknowledge the efforts of many Christian communities in the late 20th century to reform their attitudes toward Jews
- re-examine Jewish texts and liturgy in the light of these Christian reforms
- differentiate between fair-minded criticism of Israel and anti-Semitism
- offer encouragement to the State of Israel as it works to fulfil the ideals stated in its founding documents, a task Israel shares with many nations of the world
The document also specifically invites Jews, Christians, Muslims and all people of faith and goodwill to respect each other and accept each other’s differences and dignity, and to:
- enhance interreligious and intercultural education
- promote interreligious friendship and cooperation as well as social justice in the global society
- enhance dialogue with political and economic bodies
- network with all those whose work responds to the demands of environmental stewardship