Eden Prairie Local News
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Friday, June 2
    • About
      • About EPLN
      • Team
      • EPLN in the News
      • Policies
    • Contact
    Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn
    Subscribe
    Eden Prairie Local News
    • Home
    • Schools
    • Business
    • Sports
    • Public Safety
    • City
    • Calendar
    • Donate
    • Subscribe
    • More
      • Construction
      • Outdoors
      • Politics
      • Health
      • Spirituality
      • Community Service
      • Legacy
      • Obituaries
      • Arts
      • Family
      • Holidays
      • Letter to Editor
      • Listen
      • Jobs
    Eden Prairie Local News
    Home»Community Service»Retiring Rev. Quie: Breaking down silos, bringing EP people together
    Community Service

    Retiring Rev. Quie: Breaking down silos, bringing EP people together

    Mark WeberBy Mark WeberJune 21, 2021Updated:June 22, 20213 Mins Read
    The Rev. Joel Quie is looking forward to helping break down Eden Prairie silos after retiring as church pastor. (Photo by Mark Weber)

    The Rev. Joel Quie says he looks at the next step in his life sort of like this: He’s standing on a dock that extends out into a lake. He knows the water will be wet, and cool, but many details remain unknown.

    “I think the next chapter is, I’ve got to jump in,” he says.

    It’s a good bet the next chapter in the life of Quie, who at the end of June is officially retired after leading Prairie Lutheran Church the past 25 years, will involve gathering together people from different backgrounds to, well, mostly talk.

    This is what he did June 9 in holding a public dialogue event with Abdulhamid Sheekh, director of the Eden Prairie Islamic Center. It was two longtime coffee buddies sharing, in a friendly and respectful manner before an audience of about 30 persons, observations about their respective heroes, Jesus and Muhammed.

    Advertisement
    Ad for Washburn-McReavy

    And this is the type of gatherings he’s been thinking about for a long time, and passionately for about the past year. “George Floyd was a spark for this” he said. “It disoriented me. I was shocked, broken.”

    Abdulhamid Sheekh and Pastor Joel Quie held a Christian-Muslim dialogue event June 9 at the Eden Prairie City Center. (Photo by Mark Weber)

    The murder of Floyd moved him to demonstrate for racial justice in Washington, D.C. last year and upon his return explore some sort of vigil event that would elevate that theme but also honor the good work of local police officers. After all, as a youngster growing up in the Washington area – his dad, Al, was a U.S. representative and later governor of Minnesota – his childhood offered a close look at social protests and marches around racial equality, the Vietnam Way, and other issues.

    Alas, COVID-19 restrictions dampened the vigil plan, but he’s got other ideas percolating as he begins to look at life beyond pastorship. Many involve using the extensive Eden Prairie network he’s built over the last 25 years to challenge and discuss what keeps us apart, even as we share Eden Prairie in our addresses.

    His view is that, as diverse as Eden Prairie has become in recent years, “we have siloed very effectively,” gathering only with people who are similar in just about every respect. Let’s break down some of those silos, he reasons.

    “My bias is, people are good, so let’s just get people together. Let’s leave the legislative to others.” It’s what he offered in the June 9 dialogue with his friend Abdi: We’re trying to uncover the commonalities, find the differences, “and keep talking,” he said, and also “listen deeply.”

    It’s a process that doesn’t always happen, he adds. Maybe it should.

    Be Informed
    Sign up for the FREE email newsletter from EPLN
    Subscribe

    Comments

    Comments aren’t allowed on our site, but we do offer several ways to provide feedback, and have your voice heard. If you believe the story has an error, or would like to get in touch with the author, please contact us. If you would like to respond directly to this article, we welcome and encourage Letters To the Editor. You can find details on how to submit a letter on our contact page.

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Previous ArticleEP’s trash Drop-off Day is a speedy success
    Next Article The health assistance journey: Patience and persistence to find options

    More to READ

    4 Mins Read

    Onward Eden Prairie shows a path forward to ending homelessness for young women

    May 11, 2023
    4 Mins Read

    Summer happenings at the Eden Prairie Library

    May 11, 2023
    8 Mins Read

    Local students excel in EP Optimist Club’s Oratorical Contest

    May 8, 2023
    Subscribe to get EPLN in your inbox for FREE!
    Recent Articles

    Five injured, including firefighter, in blaze that engulfed two EP houses

    June 2, 2023

    Award-winning robotics team hosting open house June 3

    June 1, 2023

    EPHS empowers seniors through micro-internship program

    June 1, 2023

    Eagles softball runs section win streak to four, advance to finals

    June 1, 2023

    From Schooner Days to happily ever after

    June 1, 2023
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    Eden Prairie Local News is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization EIN 85-4248265 | Copyright © 2020-2023
    • About
    • Policies
    • Jobs
    • Contact
    • Advertising
    • Subscribe
    • Donate

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.