Orthodoxy and Islam: An Uncommon Opportunity?

Orthodox communities have lived side-by-side with Muslim communities for centuries.  Given this historical experience and today’s imperatives vis-à-vis pluralism, it seems that the Orthodox would have much to contribute to Christian-Muslim dialogue, either separately or ecumenically.  In the United States, this contribution has been minimal, even though, for example, Orthodox churches have had opportunity for immediate access to Christian-Muslim dialogue for some three decades through the National Council of Churches. Today there are renewed opportunities for meaningful Orthodox-Muslim engagement.  The Muslim letter “A Common Word between Us and You,” in essence a call to Christian-Muslim peacemaking, offers one such opportunity.  Christian responses have been largely positive, and rightly so, though perhaps formulaic in their political correctness.  US churches opted for more intentionality, by seeking through the NCC to respond ecumenically, ecclesially, and theologically to issues raised in the letter.  The heart of the NCC response is this theological premise:  we believe in a God who has been revealed as Trinity, and in whose image we were created to live in genuine relationship with one another. This response, which did have Orthodox input, resonates greatly with Orthodox sensibilities.  Might the Orthodox fully embrace this work, and then build on the foundation it provides as we seek to craft our own response?  What insights might we offer from historical experience that could, in a separate response, further Christian-Muslim relations overall, as well as prove constructive in situations where Orthodox-Muslim relations are especially tenuous?  This paper seeks to answer such questions