Archbishop Robert Duncan of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh (Anglican) and Pentecostal Bishop Joseph Garlington of Covenant Church of Pittsburgh in Wilkinsburg, led the congregation in noon prayer, swaying together to the songs as they prayed aloud above the music.
Karen Phillips, an administrative assistant from Greensburg, told the congregation that she felt the history of conflict between many G-20 nations.
“Each one has built a wall. They know how to walk into a room and greet one another, but in their hearts, the walls are up,” she said. “I pray that true feelings and emotions will be exchanged, and that in that exchange there will be healing.”
I’ve met Pastor Joseph Garlington in person and I’m a longtime member of the Diocese of Pittsburgh under Bishop Duncan. I’m very , very pleased to hear about these two men who follow God under Jesus Christ praying together about the state of the world….
How can Christians and Buddhists pray together, what God or gods are they praying to?
#2: They hold hands and sing om-baya.
Or was that the Hindus? Never mind, coming to an Episcopal church near you…
In light of the two comments posted above, I re-read the article. It doesn’t seem to speak of Christians and Buddhists praying together. Rather is speaks of a variety of faith groups in the Pittsburgh area praying in their own way about the same concern. Certainly while its a very good thing that Joe Garlington and Bob Duncan can come together from two quite different ways of worship and lift the same concern to God, the story does not really say they or any of the other Christian groups mentioned are praying with any other faith group. Perhaps while this article speaks to a positive amount of being open and cooperating with other believers, it also makes us aware of the limits of the possibility of praying together?