The landscape that the Christian Community finds itself in today in North America is pluralistic and diverse. Christians are called to love neighbour. The neighbour today in Windsor-Essex is as likely to be a Muslim and he/she is to be an Anglican. To be faithful in striving for peace and unity among all people and respecting the dignity of every human being means living in relationship with people of other faiths without a view to conversion. Is it possible for a Christian to deepen faith by becoming closer to those who live a faith different than his/her own? God has called us to be a people who welcome and embrace diversity as expressed in the story of Babel when God was displeased with singularity and created a climate of many. Leviticus reminds us to remember human interconnectedness. “Any immigrant who lives with you must be treated as if they were one of your citizens. You must love them as yourself, because you were immigrants in the land of Egypt; I am the LORD your God.” Using a model of Christian education through two events that allow for learning, engagement, and dialogue, it is hoped that change can be accomplished by unfreezing the narrow attitudes and ignorance of the past, entering the change stage of educating parishioners about other faiths and re-examining the baptismal covenant, and then begin re-freezing the attitudes of Christians with a mind for deepening their faith by engaging those of other faiths. Through written feedback and interviews the value of these events will be assessed programmatically and substantively.
