This Methodist Leader is Helping People Find Common Values in Cross-Faith Friendship
by Becca Pugh
Two cultural moments near the turn of the 21st century brought Dr. Jessica Smith into an awareness that she was living in an interfaith world. She recalls seeing the 14th Dalai Lama speak during an event in the ’90’s. “His smile was the most amazing thing. I just remember his presence in my life at the time and thinking to myself, 'what a beautiful person.'" The rising of the Dalai Lama in popular culture coincided with 9/11 when Jessie was a senior in college. Both of these events shifted the perspectives on reality for many people.
While certainly Jessie was aware in high school that her classmates practiced different religious traditions other than her own, those differences were often covered over and not discussed in any meaningful way. During seminary, however, she began encountering real religious differences between whole communities, not just individuals.
"At that time, I didn't realize how much 9/11 impacted me, but it was such a pivotal moment in American life. I realized that if I was going to be a faith leader, then it was essential I understood the difference between violence that's proclaimed under a certain religion, versus the religion proper. This was the real difference that propelled me into engagement across faith lines on a very basic level."
She spent one year working with a refugee girl from Bosnia who was Muslim. They didn't talk much about faith during that year, but at the end of it the girl wanted to show Jessie her family's Qur'an. It was such a simple moment, but it showed Jessie the power of friendship, which in her mind is so distinct because it's one of the forms of love (Greek: phileo) that is based on complete mutuality.
“Friendship is one of those things that you have to constantly renew the agreement of that mutuality, because there's no other kind of purpose for the relationship other than the friendship itself. It's really a discipline to continue in friendship with those who are different from us."
When building interfaith relationships and community, Jessie finds it extremely important to come together to name and practice the common core values that are shared among faith groups - values like caring for creation and the earth, civic responsibility, community, and concern for the common good. When we come together to name these values, it helps us counter the temptations of individualism, materialism, and private interest, which are not really the major tenants of most faith traditions. Jessie also recognizes that being a Christian in America means that she is free to practice her faith tradition as she understands it without being challenged, but that's not the case for everyone. This is why we must come together for the common good.
When asked about her favorite aspect of interfaith relationships, Jessie answers,
"One of my favorite things about interfaith engagement is the hospitality of other traditions. I love being received by other communities, because they're so welcoming and hospitable…. There has always been a sense of hospitality no matter which faith community I'm going into."
May we all lean into hospitality, common core values, and learning from each other, especially in these heartbreaking yet hopeful times.
Dr. Jessica M. Smith was on the panel for our interfaith conversation in September 2019 about Mariam/Mary, Mother of Jesus. She serves at the General Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church. She also cares for the ongoing spiritual life of Simpson Chapel at the United Methodist Building on Capitol Hill. She holds a Ph.D. in theology from Emory University.
