Jewish Federation to honor Presbyterian with award named for a Catholic bishop

To make things even more ecumenical, the Presbyterian minister and former director of the ecumenical Capital Area Council of Churches (CACC) is about to receive the Bishop Howard J. Hubbard "From Fear to Friendship" award for his interfaith efforts -- and the award comes from the United Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York.

"What a wonderful recognition!" Rev. Lamar said enthusiastically. "I'm very honored and grateful."

Bridge-builder

In fact, at his first parish assignment in Connecticut, he helped to form the Milford Council of Churches, then reached out to African-Americans, the Jewish community and others in that area.

The minister came to the Albany Diocese in 1958. He noted that the seeds of ecumenism had taken root here as early as the 1920s, when three fires in Albany churches resulted in a Jewish temple allowing other congregations to hold services in its space. To this day, Rev. Lamar said, the four congregations of different faiths still hold a joint Thanksgiving service in Albany.

Interfaith efforts

BY the 1980s, he recalled, the ecumenical scene in the Capital Region had advanced to the point where three interfaith pilgrimages -- to Israel, Rome and Geneva -- were held. Rev. Lamar and his wife, Marion, went on two of the trips and were amazed at the bond that developed among the 100-or-so pilgrims.

The minister boasted of the many ecumenical accomplishments he's seen in the past 40 years. For example, Chapel House, the chaplaincy at The University at Albany, was created jointly by the CACC and the United Jewish Federation. The annual Crop Walk to raise funds to fight hunger is also an ecumenical event.

More to do

"The real challenge is not just when things are hunky-dory, but when we have significant differences," he remarked. "We've learned how to live with differences, such as the differences between Catholics and Protestants on human sexuality issues."

Other challenges have included different Christian, Jewish and Muslim views on the Middle East, racial issues and poverty, he said, adding that no one faith tradition can solve society's ills.

While ecumenical relations are at a good stage, Rev. Lamar said congregations shouldn't rest on their laurels. The question they need to keep asking, he noted, is "how do we begin to understand each other and maintain our authenticity, our own faith traditions, while worshipping with people of other faith traditions?"

Common interest

"We're always looking for a new generation of clergy and laypeople to take on these tasks," he stated. "That's always a challenge."

The minister said humbly that he believes he's receiving the From Fear to Friendship award "for just kind of being around during some of these important times." However, he added that he'd like to add another "F" to the award's title: "From Fear to Friendship in Faith."

"Fear is never going to be completely eliminated," he said. "Fear of the other -- of something that's different, that's new, of something that might replace your own place in the culture: We are constantly working around that fear, out of our friendship."

(The award recognizes the historic step Bishop Howard J. Hubbard took in 1986 by apologizing to the Jewish people for cruelty by Christians throughout history. In 2000, the Bishop was the first recipient of the award named for him. The award will be presented Oct. 8, 7:30 p.m., at Congregation Ohav Shalom, Albany. Call 783-7800.)

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