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Christian-Jewish and Culture Dialogues Held in July

Immanuel Community Church in New York City hosted several interesting discussions in the month of July. Prominent evangelical Christian leaders and Jewish rabbis met earlier in the month at the offices of Olivet University to discuss their shared concern about the rise of secularism in American society and the decreasing influence of churches and synagogues on critical areas of culture, such as the media. Another discussion included the work of a Christianity Today reporter who also reports on various churches in the City. 

The Rev. Dr. Paul deVries, senior pastor of Immanuel Community Church and an Olivet faculty member, facilitated a discussion between the Jewish community and Christian community on July 10 at Olivet. The discussion was part of ongoing monthly dialogue between Christians and Jews that is held alternatively at churches and synagogues in the New York area. It was the first time the discussion was held at Olivet’s in New York location.

Dr. deVries, who is the founding President of New York Divinity School, was joined by Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, who serves as Executive Director of the New York Board of Rabbis; Rabbi Yaakov Kermaier, former President of the New York Board of Rabbis; Rabbi Craig Miller, treasurer of the New York Board of Rabbis; as well as evangelical Baptist leaders from Texas.

Participants from both communities voiced their mutual concern for the corrupt media and culture that are a by-product of Hollywood and observed that there is political support for the rising secularism in the U.S. They also agreed that interaction between religious institutions and their local communities is crucial to influencing people, rather than simply trying to enforce religious ideas. 

Several days later, Dr. deVries also led the discussion with Dr. Tony Carnes, a senior writer of Christianity Today and founder of A Journey Through NYC Religions (www.NYCReligions.info), and with other evangelical leaders at Olivet on the church’s role in engaging culture.