I believe the best way to improve relations is to get to know people at a more personal level. Rather than researching the different Christian traditions, speaking with and getting to know someone from that different tradition would help considerably. This would permit me to ask questions, learn the meaning behind the traditions, and cause me to explore my own faith traditions. It would be helpful if my church partnered with a Near East church to bridge the gap and foster an environment of understanding. This would be beneficial to both churches and forge relationships outside our local community. I would like to understand the history of the Christian tradition to gain a better understanding of the turbulence they encountered which may have shaped their traditions. I look forward to traveling to the Near East. During that trip, I hope to speak with Christians from other traditions and build some lasting connections.
