Indiana faith groups gather to show unity against genocide in Sudan Aug. 25, 2004 By Daniel R. Gangler* INDIANAPOLIS (UMNS)-Leaders from Jewish, Christian and Muslim faith communities prayed together Aug. 25 during a midday vigil to raise public awareness about reports of growing genocide in Darfur. The vigil was part of the national day of conscience sponsored by the Save Darfur Coalition, composed of the National Council of Churches and 70 other faith-based, humanitarian and secular organizations. The Save Darfur Coalition sponsored a live Webcast and more than 3,000 people had an opportunity to ask questions of a survivor of the Darfur genocide. The Webcast originated from a refugee camp in Chad, just across the border of Sudan. The vigil at Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis was organized by the Rev. Darren Cushman-Wood, senior pastor of Speedway United Methodist Church. He said the purpose of the vigil was to raise public awareness about reports of growing genocide in Darfur and to request the international community to take immediate and decisive action to stop the killing, the rape and the destruction of villages, and to assure that humanitarian relief reaches all those in need. Sayyid Syeed, secretary general of the Islamic Society of North America based in Indianapolis, told the two dozen participants that in order to understand what was happening in Sudan, ISNA recently sent a delegation there to meet with government leaders, opposing political parties and the survivors of this human tragedy. He pledged the cooperation of the Islamic community in offering "prayers, relief and proper political solutions." He further said, "I am both thankful and hopeful for religious solidarity on Sudan." The Rev. Angelique Walker-Smith, executive director of the Church Federation of Greater Indianapolis, said the federation has played an active part in speaking out against the genocide and civil war in Sudan. On Aug. 10 the federation adopted the interfaith unity statement on Darfur, where 80,000 Sudanese people have died as part of the genocide and 2.5 million have died in civil wars over the past 20 years. Walker-Smith, who spent the summer of 1983 in Sudan, said, "This situation is totally out of control." She called on Hoosiers of faith to support relief aid to the Sudan and encouraged the churches of Indianapolis to include prayers and reflections for Sudan during weekly worship services. Speaking on behalf of the Jewish Community Relations Council, Rabbi Jon Adland, senior rabbi of Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation, said his faith group is approaching a holy time in the Jewish year "when we remember our own history of genocide." He said, "we cannot be complacent about our crime of indifference and sins of silence about Sudan." Each speaker offered a prayer for the people of the Sudan from his or her own religious tradition. In early May 2004, Indiana’s U.S. Senator Richard Lugar, a United Methodist, and other legislators passed Resolution 99, which called on the Sudanese government to allow relief workers and human rights monitors in Darfur. The resolution calls on the United Nations to take strong action if the government of Sudan does not comply. Recently, a $300 million humanitarian aid package was introduced in the Senate for the people of Sudan. *Gangler is director of communication, Indiana Area of the United Methodist Church. News media contact: Kathy L. Gilbert, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
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