Source: The Houston Chronicle
On October 30, 1999, The Houston Chronicle published an article on the 16th Annual Workshop on Christian-Jewish Relations, a forum held every two years to broaden communication and understanding between the two religions. This year's workshop was held in Houston and attended by 350 people. Jay Rock, a Presbyterian and director for Interfaith Relations of the National Council of Churches in New York, discussed the different Christian approaches to viewing salvation that can either accommodate or complicate interfaith relations. "Some people think salvation is only available through professing Jesus Christ. Some say salvation is totally in the hands of God. Others understand it in a more general way, saying God is in the process of saving the whole world and, if you're part of that process of healing, you're part of salvation." Garland Pohl, an ecumenical officer for the Catholic Diocese of Galveston-Houston, pointed out that many mainstream Christians have attempted to emphasize Jesus as a Jew, which he says is, "...really helpful in the reconciliation process." Rabbi James Rudin, director of interreligious affairs for the American Jewish Committee in New York, wanted to emphasize the "tremendous gains" in interfaith relations and called on Christians and Jews to "develop a theology that affirms pluralism."