CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM

CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM. The year 2013 was the third year of interfaith discussion sponsored by Children of Abraham. There was no cost or registration needed to attend. Each session began with a speaker, a scripture reading or a panel representing Christianity, Judiasm and Islam. The end of the session came with the audience breaking into small groups to discuss the presentation. (1)

In an article in the Telegraph Herald in 2015, the goal of this organization was stated as being to break through the misinformation and fear surrounding religions by building personal relationships locally. The Dubuque organization worked to promote interfaith dialogue between the world's three largest religions--Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. (2) The local founder was LORAS COLLEGE professor John Eby.

Activities to bring members of the three faiths together included a rally against religious intolerance in March 2015. Protesting violence in the name of religion, participants marched to the UNIVERSITY OF DUBUQUE to LORAS COLLEGE, CLARKE UNIVERSITY, and WARTBURG THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. The group them stood alone University Avenue with signs. The activity ended with six speakers speaking of personal experiences and decrying acts of violence against other religions. (3)

In 2018 about four hundred ELEANOR ROOSEVELT MIDDLE SCHOOL seventh graders who have been studying the three religious attended a panel discussion with four representatives from Children of Abraham. The goal of the activity was to help students expand upon what they had learned in the classroom. Each of the panelists shared how their religion was important to them. (4)

Among the prominent members of the organization has been Lindsay James who announced her candidacy for the Iowa House of Representatives in 2017. James, a pastor at [[WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH][ and an adjunct instructor at the University of Dubuque, served on the Dubuque County Iowa State University Extens8on & Outreach Council, City of Dubuque Community Development Advisory Commission and the board of Children of Abraham. She also chaired the religious affairs committee of the Dubuque Chapter of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE (N.A.A.C.P.) and was the director of the Peace and Justice Institute at Loras College. (5)

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Source:

1. "3rd Year of Children of Abraham Dates Set," Telegraph Herald, October 12, 2013, p. 13

2. Ingram, Audrey, "Children of Abraham," Telegraph Herald, September 30, 2015, p. 1A

3. Reber, Craig, "Pleading for Peace, Faith-to-Faith," Telegraph Herald, March 10, 2015, p. 1A

4. Hinga, Allie, "Group Teachers Students to Respect Other Religious Faiths," Telegraph Herald, January 26, 2018, p. 3

5. Montgomery, Jeff, "Dubuque Pastor to Run for Iowa House," Telegraph Herald, May 9, 2017, p. 3