"A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song"
-Chinese Proverb

The Minnesota Council of Churches has a program called, Respectful Conversations which opens the doors to communicate across difference on areas of disagreement. The program tries to frame the topic and design some questions for attendees to meet with trained facilitators, to have a conversation in a spirit of empathy for those with there is strong disagreement.

If you are interested in a Respectful Conversation to bless your community, contact Jerad at (612) 230-3211.

Since the start of the project, MCC had over 1500 people throughout Minnesota who have gathered together for a Respectful Conversation on important, often divisive issues in our community. This month MCC will hold their first one in an Islamic Center! Now is your chance to join the conversation as participants from the Islamic Center of Minnesota and the Minnesota Council of Churches adopt the Respectful Conversation model, a method of discussion promoted by Minnesota Council of Churches and designed not to change minds, but soften hearts.

In conversation with MCC, we have chosen a conversation about Drones and Violence.

Conversations across differences and disagreement can sometimes be emotional and challenging, pick-a-side and fight-it-out discussions that leave us feeling worse about the people we disagree with, and sometimes worse about ourselves. But there is a way to talk that feels open, honest and impartial, where you can actually be heard and learn about the people with whom you disagree.

We have designed some questions that we will use to help us explore this topic across our differences and disagreements. We will share the questions with participants at the conversation itself, to allow each the experience of searching for themselves for the answer, and to build empathy.

Join us for refreshments and discussion and RSVP today!

Please read the this article on Respectful Conversations and see this video for further information.

When
May 18, 2014
2:00pm – 4:00pm

Where
Islamic Center of Minnesota
1401 Gardena Ave. NE
Fridley, MN 55432

Parking
Participants in the Muslim Christian Dialogue are invited to park on the street, in the parking lot of the Islamic Center of Minnesota or in the parking lot of Totino Grace High School directly across the street.

Please foward to friends and family and spread the word.