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Answer:
Although congregational policies may differ by congregation, there are
a number of Reform responses that address this question:
* In [5]American Reform Responsa #10 (1982)
[[6]http://www.ccarnet.org/cgi-bin/respdisp.pl?file=10&year=arr],
it is asked if congregational membership can be extended to the
non-Jewish member of an interfaith marriage. The conclusion of
that responsa is that it should not; only the Jewish member should
be considered a member for purposes of being a congregational
leader, for it is inappropriate for non-Jews to lead the
congregation.
Some Reform congregations include non-Jewish spouses in family
memberships (i.e., the non-Jewish spouse may be a member if the
Jewish spouse is a member). Some congregations, as part of the
overall autonomy of Reform, do permit the non-Jewish spouse to
participate in some rituals. Most congregations reserve some
religious roles for only Jewish members, and most congregations
reserve the leadership roles, such as election to the board of
trustees, or the holding of other offices for the member who is
Jewish.
* A [7]1979 Responsa
([8]http://www.ccarnet.org/cgi-bin/respdisp.pl?file=6&year=arr)
says:
From Babylonian times onward, public prayers for rulers of the
country, parallel to those for scholars and students in the
academies, were included in the liturgy and have remained there
ever since. These rulers, of course, were pagans, Moslems, or
Christians. We, in modern times, have gone a number of steps
further than this. For example, we regularly recite the names of
non-Jewish dead in the lists of deceased read before the Kaddish.
In most cases, these are relatives of converts; although the
convert is not duty-bound to mourn for his parents, he should be
encouraged to do so out of respect (Yad, Hil. Evel 2.3; Radbaz to
Yad; Sh.A., Y.D. 374.5; and many subsequent authorities). We have,
however, also added the names of notable Christians from time to
time. In addition, we have participated frequently in interfaith
services, which have generally been associated with national
holidays or events; these have usually been non-liturgical in
character, i.e., consisted of Biblical readings and various prayers
without following the strict order of the service. Furthermore, we
have invited non-Jews, including ministers and priests, to address
our congregations during our public services. This practice has
been widespread in the Reform and Conservative movements. Thus,
there is no doubt that we have included priests, ministers, and
non-Jewish participants in our services in a manner not known
heretofore. In addition, nowadays, because of intermarriage we find
the non-Jewish parent involved in a Bar/Bat Mitzvah. It would be
appropriate to have that parent participate in some way in the
service, but not in the same way as a Jewish parent. For example,
he or she should not recite the traditional blessing over the Torah
which includes the words "asher bachar banu." It would be well if
he/she recite a special blessing, perhaps akin to the words
suggested by Solomon B. Freehof: "Praised be Thou, Lord our G-d,
King of the Universe, Who has given His sacred law unto all His
children that we may learn, observe, and serve Him in
righteousness" (Current Reform Responsa, p. 91).
We have, therefore, gone much further than any generation before
our time by permitting non-Jews a larger role in our public
services; this is part of a more open and friendly interreligious
attitude which the Reform Movement has encouraged and led. Yet,
these steps have remained within definite limits. We have not
included non-Jews, no matter how friendly, in the essential
elements of the service. If we follow the line of reasoning which
divides between the essential service and supplemental prayers and
statements, we may conclude that Christians, Moslems, and other
non-Jews who fall into the category of Benei Noach may participate
in a public service in any of the following ways: (1) through
anything which does not require specific statement from them, i.e.,
by standing and silently witnessing whatever is taking place (e.g.,
as a member of a wedding party or as a pallbearer); (2) through the
recitation of special prayers added to the service at
non-liturgical community wide services, commemorations, and
celebrations (Thanksgiving, etc.); (3) through the recitation of
prayers for special family occasions (Bar/Bat Mitzvah of children
raised as Jews, at a wedding or funeral, etc.). All such prayers
and statements should reflect the mood of the service and be
non-Christological in nature.
In many Reform congregations, intermarried couples now have more or
less the same rights as non-intermarried couples in terms of
congregational membership. The key element is "couples"; membership is
based on the family unit, not the individual. Often, the non-Jewish
partner serves on temple committees, but usually those committees do
not include those related to religious practice and ritual (for
example, a finance or employment practices committee). A survery
conducted by the Commission on Reform Jewish Outreach shows that 88%
of Reform Temples allow gentiles to count as Reform Jews by being
synagogue members if they are married to Reform Jews; 87% of Reform
Temples allow gentiles to serve on synagogue committees, but only 22%
of Reform Temples allow gentiles to have an aliyah to the Torah.
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