The Institute for Christian & Jewish Studies emerged from the momentum generated by the Ninth National Workshop on Christian-Jewish Relations held in Baltimore in 1986. Leaders in business, law, higher education, and the religious community believed we in the Baltimore area had the ingredients of interest, organizing skills, and a sense of need for interfaith cooperation to develop an organization that would bring Jews and Christians together in an ongoing relationship that would benefit the whole community. The question was who would translate this vision into concrete, effective reality. A multi-tude of people caught the vision -- truly an amazing constellation of Baltimore people who were ready to do a new thing. Yet key leaders, people known and respected in the community, are what it takes to mount a new venture such as the Institute.

Charles Obrecht, Richard Berndt, and Bernard Manekin stepped forward to be those leaders. A Protestant, a Roman Catholic, and a Jew, all lay people, provided exactly what was needed, and they became co-chairs of the Board of Directors. After several years Rick Berndt stepped aside and George Bunting joined the leadership team. These are people who do not merely lend their names to worthy causes and go on about their business. This quartet of quality gave their knowledge, time, and financial resources in an extraordinary expression of dedication.

From its infancy no one knew if the ICJS would be anything more than a two-year experiment. Many members of the Board spent countless hours in planning sessions, evaluation, and building strategies to continue being true to our mission yet open to present and future opportunities. Although many were involved in this process, it was the wisdom and involvement of Charlie, Rick, Bernie, and George that blended the vision and reality that led us to higher ground.

No member of this quartet had anything to prove about him-self. Each was already highly regarded in his own profession, faith community, and in the Baltimore region. And none of these people needed more to do to fill their schedules. Their involvement grew out of a shared vision of bringing Christians and Jews together in a venture that could make a difference in Baltimore and could become a model for any community where Jews and Christians live and work.

A person might think the Institute is for a select group of intellectual or wealthy people. That myth is put to rest over and over again. Indeed, our programs reach hundreds and hundreds of people across a spectrum from scholars to people in prison, high school students to seminarians, committed con-gregants to curious inquirers.

A tribute to these four remarkable people must refer not only to their collaborative efforts, but also touch on their individual contributions. Charles Obrecht lives and breathes the Insti-tute. He would be the first to say that the ICJS is the product of many people, lay and clergy, and he would be right. But what he would not say is that without Charles Obrecht there probably would be no Institute. Charlie is the one who per-suaded Rick Berndt, Bernie Manekin, and George Bunting to join him as co-chairs of the Board. His energy and centered focus are awesome. Try to say "No" to Charlie and you soon discover what an irrepressible force is. In all my adult life I have never met a person so passionate about getting something done, and then being smart enough to enlist other leaders to help, all the while steering the course and shunning the limelight. Zeal and humility mark the character of this remarkable man.

Bernie Manekin is one of the few people I know who can listen to Charlie spin forth an idea to which he is totally committed, and then quietly, after an appropriate pause, suggest, "Now, Charles, have you thought of looking at it this way ...?" Often, not always but often, Bernie's perspective and the way he would share his wisdom would help adjust the career of Charlie's ideas. Sitting with Bernie through many committee and board meetings, I came to admire and respect him greatly for his common sense, his sage advice, his deft sense of timing on whom to contact and when for financial contributions.

Rick Berndt brought to the Institute a network of leaders and friends within the Roman Catholic community, an essential di-mension of the Institute's support and mission. In addition, Rick's quick mind and intellect, his insight into problem-solving, and his management skills made him a key person in the early development of the Institute. Honored by Pope John Paul II in 1994 with the St. Gregory medal, the highest honor a lay-person can receive, Rick served the Institute with the same extraordinary dedication that led the Pope to recognize him.

George Bunting agreed to take on the role of co-chair only if Charlie would continue as primary leader of the Board. When it became evident that for the future of the Institute an endow-ment fund would be essential, George was one of the first people to make a significant and generous gift. Always a wise counselor with solid business acumen and an understanding of how organizations function effectively, George plays an impor-tant role in the leadership team of the Institute.

Over the past fourteen years, these four people have been instrumental in ICJS' preeminence in providing a forum and pro-gram for lay and clergy, scholars and inquirers to explore, study, question, and collaborate in discovering a path to transcend enmity and suspicion among Christians and Jews, a path that leads to mutual understanding and appreciation. Each of these four leaders believes wholeheartedly in the mis-sion of the ICJS, yet none of them is a theologian by training. They give unstintingly of their time, wisdom, and resources to support the Institute, and they are involved in virtually every aspect of its work.

Successful people who also are risk-takers can be a rare breed. The Institute's co-chairs are among that rare breed. They caught sight of what could be, and they made it happen, sometimes taking educated leaps into the unknown and untried.

Charles Obrecht, Richard Berndt, Bernard Manekin, George Bunting -- the effectiveness of the ICJS in continuing to pursue its mission is a living and vibrant tribute to who you are and what you give. For that and for you, we all will ever be grateful.

The Rev. Robert P. Patterson was a member of the ICJS Board from 1987 through 1999. He has retired as Rector of The Church of the Redeemer in Baltimore.