Wellington Council of Christians and Jews

Welcome to the Wellington Council of Christians and Jews.  Our council brings together Christian and Jewish Communities in a common effort to overcome the evils of prejudice, intolerance and discrimination between people of different of religions and ethnicity.  We are affiliated to the New Zealand Council of Christians and Jews, and the International Council of Christians and Jews.

Here on our web site, you can find out more about the council, join the CCJ, download publications, listen to recordings of our past public meetings, or contact us.

News:


  • The Wellington Council of Christians and Jews Presents:
    A Public Sacred Text Stud - Our Core Beliefs
    Jewish, Christian and Muslim perspectives

    Wednesday 5 December 2012 at 7.30pm
    Temple Sinai, 147 Ghuznee St, Wellington
    Entry by koha, all are welcome

    Speakers

    • Rabbi Adi Cohen - Jewish - Wellington Progressive Jewish Congregation
    • Vanessa Borg - Christian - Catholic lay person, Wellington Focolare movement
    • Rehanna Ali - Muslim - Wellington Masjid

    Come along and hear perspectives on the core beliefs of the three Abrahamic religions, using original texts from the Torah, the New Testament, and the Koran.

    The three talks will be followed by a panel discussion and light refreshments.

    For more information, contact Dave Moskovitz, dave@ccj.org.nz, 027 220 2202

    [Read More ...]
     

  • The Wellington Council of Christians and Jews is pleased to be hosting the NZCCJ 2012 conference, which aims to develop a regional (New Zealand and Australia) approach to the Twelve Points of Berlin. The conference will be held 12-15 May 2012 in Wellington.

    Full details of the conference are available on the conference web page. Tickets can be purchased on line at our ticketing site.

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  • The Wellington Council of Christians and Jews held its public symposium on "Activating the Charter for Compassion in our Religions and Wider Society" on Wednesday 13 July 2011 at the Kilbirnie Mosque.

    Rabbi Adi Cohen (Jewish), Nick Borthwick and Daniel Eyre (Christian), and Aarif Rasheed (Muslim) all gave their perspectives on the subject. Read on for audio recordings of their addresses, and summaries of their key points.

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  • The Wellington Council of Christians and Jews Presents a Public Symposium on

    Activating the Charter for Compassion in our religions and wider society

    Wednesday 13 July 2011 at 7.30pm
    Wellington Islamic Centre / Masjid
    7-11 Queens Drive, Kilbirine

    Karen Armstrong’s Charter for Compassion launched just over a year ago, and has received tremendous support globally. A simple document of 300 words, it reaffirms the “golden rule” – that we should treat other people as we would like to be treated – and expands this into the basis for building a compassionate world based on justice, equity, respect, nonviolence, diversity, and ultimately to enlightenment, a just economy, and a peaceful global community. This symposium will examine how we can translate these thoughts into action.

    Speakers:

    Aarif Rasheed – CIDE – The Centre for Interfaith Dialogue and Education (Auckland)
    CIDE’s vision is to encourage “all community groups and individuals to participate in sincere and respectful discourse and dialogue and the inculcation in them of mutual respect and love towards other people.” In addition to his work at CIDE, Aarif is a Referee at the Disputes Tribunal, a Trustee at the Rasheed Memorial Trust, and an active member of Auckland’s Muslim community.

    Rabbi Adi Cohen – Wellington Progressive Jewish Congregation
    Recently arrived from Congregation Brit Olam in Israel where he was the congregational rabbi, Adi has taught courses in Jewish Law and Ethics, special education, and worked as a storyteller.

    Nick Borthwick and Daniel Eyre – NZ Catholic Bishops committee for Interfaith Relations
    Daniel has a double degree in law and theology, and Nick works for Caritas, the Catholic agency for justice, peace and development.

    For more information, contact Dave Moskovitz – dave@ccj.org.nz – Tel 027 220 2202

    Download the flyer

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  • The Summer 2011 issue of Massah, the journal of the New Zealand Council of Christians and Jews, is now online and available for download.

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  • The Wellington Council of Christians and Jews held a public meeting on Wednesday 20 October 2010 on Abraham's challenge from God to sacrifice his son from Jewish, Christian and Muslim perspectives. The event was very well attended with over 120 people from all backgrounds in the audience.

    Read on to see summaries of the talks, and listen to the recorded audio of the evening.

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  • The Wellington Council of Christians and Jews Presents
    A Public Sacred Text Study

    The Binding of Isaac / Ishmael: Jewish, Christian and Muslim Perspectives

    Wednesday 20 October 2010 at 7.30pm
    Myers Hall, Wellington Jewish Community Centre
    80 Webb St, Wellington
    Entry by koha, all are welcome

    Speakers:

    • Rabbi David Alima - Orthodox Rabbi, Wellington Hebrew Congregation
    • Rev Jenny Chalmers - Anglican Priest, St Marks Carterton; WCCJ Co-Chair
    • Sheikh Mohammed Amir - Imam, Wellington Islamic Centre

    The binding of Isaac (in the Jewish and Christian traditions) or Ishmael (in the Islamic tradition) is a turning point in each of our religions, with fascinating similarities and differences in interpretation between the three Abrahamic faiths. Come find out more about the ongoing impact of this pivotal event over 3,000 years ago.

    The three talks will be followed by an panel discussion.

    For more information, contact Dave Moskovitz, 027 220 2202

    Download the flyer

    [Read More ...]
     

  • The Executive Board of the International Council of Christians and Jews issued a statement today expressing alarm over an "increasing polarization in the discourse between Jews and Christians and also within each community," when it comes to the Israeli‐Palestinian conflict. Based on reports from ICCJ members around the world, "extreme viewpoints seem to be increasing in popularity, while efforts toward moderation or compromise are rejected as disloyal or naive."

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  • The Winter 2010 issue of Massah is now online and available for download

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  • National Council of Christians and Jews Conference
    Saturday July 3 and Sunday July 4, 2010
    Wesley Hall, St Johns College, 202 St Johns Road, Meadowbank, Auckland

    Theme: Christian-Jewish Dialogue: Encouraging Development, Emerging Challenges

    Keynote speaker: Rev Dr John Pawlikowski OSM, Professor of Ethics and Director of the Catholic-Jewish Studies Programme at the University of Chicago, Past President of the ICCJ and for over forty years a leading figure in Jewish-Christian relations worldwide. With Dr Paul Morris, Professor of Religious Studies, Victoria University of Wellington.

    Featuring also Mona Williams, New Zealand’s foremost professional story-teller, speaking after dinner on Saturday and after lunch on Sunday.

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  • The Wellington Council of Christians and Jews Presents a Public Symposium

    How Our Religious Traditions Inform Economic Policy

    Wednesday 9 June 2010 at 7.30pm
    Myers Hall, Wellington Jewish Community Centre
    80 Webb St, Wellington

    Speakers:

    • Hon Chris Finlayson, Attorney General
    • Dr Prue Hyman, Adjunct Professor, Victoria University of Wellington
    • Imam Afroz Ali, President, Al-Ghazzali Centre for Islamic Sciences and Human Development (Sydney)

    The three talks will be followed by an panel discussion, and a farewell to founding member Rabbi Chaim Dovrat

    Download the flyer.

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  • Victoria University of Wellington and the Wellington Council of Christians and Jews Present a Public Seminar

    Christians Muslims and Jews in the Middle East: Is religion the problem or the solution?rosen

    Rabbi David Rosen
    International Co-President, World Council of Religions for Peace
    Former President, International Council of Christians and Jews
    Former Chief Rabbi of Ireland

    8pm, Wednesday 25 November 2009
    Council Chamber, Victoria University of Wellington
    Moderator: Archbishop John Dew
    Chair: Professor Paul Morris

    [Read More ...]
     

  • The Spring 2009 issue of Massah, the Journal of the New Zealand Council of Christians and Jews, is now available for download.

    [Read More ...]
     

  • The Wellington Council of Christians and Jews Presents

    From Seelisberg to Berlin and Beyond
    A Workshop on Jewish-Christian Relations
    With Prof Paul Morris, Religious Studies Department, Victoria University of Wellington

    Tuesday 16 June, 7.30pm at
    The Wellington Jewish Community Centre
    80 Webb St, Wellington

    Jews and Christians met at Seelisberg in 1947 in an attempt to forge Jewish Christian co-operation after the Shoah (Holocaust). The International Council for Christians and Jews was created at this meeting and a ten point document, the Ten Points of Seelisberg formed a basis of understanding between Christians and Jews.

    Sixty two years later the ICCJ issued a further document, the Twelve Points of Berlin which acknowledges changes and reforms Christians have made in their attitudes to Jews. But in the light of increased anti-Semitic acts in Europe, and local actions at the beginning of the year, have Christians really reformed?

    Prof. Paul Morris will begin the evening with an over view of the effect of the Seelisberg document and an analysis of the twelve points of Berlin and we'll discuss in workshops whether the two documents have affected relationships between Christians and Jews in New Zealand, and what the future might hold for Christian Jewish relations.

    [Read More ...]
     

  • The International Council of Christians and Jews has announced its 2009 conference to be held 5-8 July 2009 in Berlin, with the theme "A Time for Recommitment: Jewish-Christian dialogue 70 years after the war and Holocaust". For programme information: [Read More ...]
     
  • Massah 26 now online - 18 March 2009

    The Summer 2009 issue of Massah, the Journal of the New Zealand Council of Christians and Jews, is now available for download. [Read More ...]
     

  • The Executive Board of the ICCJ wishes to express its profound dismay at recent developments in relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the Jewish community. The Catholic Church has led the way for many decades in seeking to reverse centuries of dismissive theologies and hostile attitudes toward Jews, promoting honest and open conversation based on mutual respect and equality as co-heirs in covenant. Ironically, the most recent disturbing event has occurred near the fiftieth anniversary of the summoning of the Second Vatican Council by Blessed Pope John XXIII. We refer to last week’s lifting of the 1988 excommunications of four bishops illicitly consecrated by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. [Read More ...]
     
  • ICCJ Statement on Gaza - 14 January 2009

    We, the members of the Executive Board of the International Council of Christians and Jews, are deeply distressed and saddened by the current round of violence in the Middle East. We have always affirmed our commitment to the survival and security of the State of Israel. At the same time, we grieve for the loss of innocent lives on both sides. [Read More ...]
     

  • At a Special General Meeting held on 4 December 2008, the council has adopted a revised constitution to bring it into compliance with Charity Commission rules. [Read More ...]