Canadian church urges end to proselytizing of the Jews

TORONTO, June 3 (JTA) — Canada’s largest Protestant denomination has called upon its members to stop attempting to convert Jews to Christianity and to recognize that Christianity is neither superior to nor a replacement for Judaism. “Christianity does not supercede Judaism,” said the Rev. Bill Phipps, moderator of the United Church of Canada, which claims more than 700,000 members. The call is contained in a report, “Bearing Faithful Witness: United Church-Jewish Relations Today,” which must still be debated and approved within the church. It acknowledges the close links between the two religions and calls upon churches to stop interpreting scripture in ways that might lead to anti-Semitism. Jewish officials here are praising the report. It “is deserving of the highest of accolades,” said Rabbi Reuven Bulka, chairman of the Religious and Interreligious Affairs Committee of the Canadian Jewish Congress. The report “opens up, in terms of honesty, a whole new chapter in interreligious relations,” Bulka said. “This is the way to redress the past.”