Peace lies at the heart of both Muslim and Christian faiths, yet animosity and conflict often characterize the relationship between the two. This is due, in part, to misunderstandings and a lack of listening to the other. Therefore, dialogue across the religious divide is critical to making and sustaining peace. It is time, for the sake of the world and for the glory of God, to start talking.

PATHWAY GUIDES

Garry Bailey and Derran Reese

GUIDEBOOK

Click below to flip through a digital guidebook, view recordings of each session, and explore resources to extend your learning. Additionally, the session videos are accessible in the Summit 2020 playlist on the Siburt Institute’s YouTube channel.

SESSIONS

CHRISTIAN AND MUSLIM KERYGMA FOR BUILDING PEACE IN LEBANON

Martin Accad and Muhammad Abu Zayd

Martin has been leading peacemaking initiatives in Lebanon for years. Come hear why he thinks “kerygmatic peacebuilding” is so essential to the Christian faith and how he has creatively engaged with his Muslim neighbors in pursuit of peace. Muhammad, who is the head judge of the Sunni religious court of the city of Sidon in South Lebanon, will join him. Martin and Muhammad have worked together for over 10 years in dialogue and peacemaking efforts.

HOW INTERFAITH ENGAGEMENT HAS SHAPED MY FAITH: A Muslim and Christian Perspective

Libby Harrison and Teizeen Mohamedali

Teizeen and Libby grew up together in Kenya. Teizeen, who is Muslim, now lives in the United States, and Libby, who is Christian, lives in East Africa. Both are committed to their faiths and to being people of peace in their contexts. Come hear how their efforts at building bridges across religions have shaped their respective faiths – and their friendship.

TWO FAITHS, ONE FRIENDSHIP: How Christian and Muslim Dialogue Makes Peace

John Barton, Michal Meulenberg, and Maria Khani

In this session, the founders of Two Faiths, One Friendship will introduce the work of their organization and discuss their experiences working together with Christians and Muslims to build friendships and communities of peace.

WHY PEACEMAKING AND INTERFAITH ENGAGEMENT MATTER IN TEXAS AND BEYOND

Anas Daghmoumi and Dan McVey

Anas is a civil rights activist, immigration officer, and frequent participant in interfaith dialogue in Abilene and the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Dan is a teacher and former missionary who has promoted peace in such places as Texas, Ghana, South Africa, United Kingdom, Greece, and China. Together, they will articulate why peacemaking and interfaith engagement matter to them as a devoted Muslim and Christian.

WHAT INTERFAITH PEACEMAKING MEANS FOR THE CHURCH TODAY

Garry Bailey, Derran Reese, Martin Accad, and John Barton

This final session will begin with a time of discussion among pathway speakers and participants, facilitated by Garry and Derran. Then Martin and John will close with practical tips and suggestions for how individuals and churches can be peacemakers across the Christian-Muslim divide in their local contexts.

Speakers and Pathway Guides

MARTIN ACCAD

Martin Accad is the chief academic officer at the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary (ABTS) in Beirut, Lebanon, and has directed ABTS’s Institute of Middle East Studies since its establishment in 2003. He has published numerous articles and book chapters in the fields of Islam and Christian-Muslim relations – most recently a book on theological dialogue, conflict, and Christian-Muslim relations.

GARRY BAILEY

Garry Bailey (Ph.D.) teaches in the Conflict Management and Organizational Development programs at ACU and attends the Highland Church of Christ, where he chairs the Peacemaking in the Muslim World initiative. He writes, presents, and consults about ways to manage conflict and promote peace with a primary focus on addressing bullying. He and his wife, Janet, have two children.

JOHN BARTON

John Barton is director of the Center for Faith and Learning at Pepperdine University, where he also serves on the faculties of Seaver College’s Religion and Philosophy Division, and GSEP’s graduate program in Social Entrepreneurship and Change. His areas of interest and research include African philosophy, ethics and philanthropy, and Christian and interreligious studies. John currently serves as president of Kibo Group, a nonprofit which pursues poverty alleviation in East Africa.

ANAS DAGHMOUMI

Anas Daghmoumi grew up in Tangier, Morocco, in a traditional Muslim family, where he memorized Quran and mastered fundamentals of the Maaliki school of thought. He has been a guest lecturer on Islam for the past 15 years in different universities, mosques, and churches. Anas owns his own Texas-based company, is married to a teacher, and has two beautiful kids.

LIBBY HARRISON

Libby Harrison is a mother tongue literacy specialist working with Development and Literacy Partners International. She graduated from ACU in 2005 with a B.A. in English before receiving her M.A. in language development from Dallas International University. For the past 11 years she has lived with her family in war-torn North Africa working with refugees from minority language communities. She and her husband have three young children.

MARIA KHANI

Maria Khani is a Syrian American who was born in England and has lived in many countries around the world including France, India, Syria, and Holland. From 1996-2016 Maria served as an educator and the chair of the Women’s Committee at the Islamic Institute of Orange County. She is also an active member in three interfaith groups: the Greater Huntington Beach Interfaith Council, the Garden Grove/Stanton/Westminster Council, and the Newport/Costa Mesa/Irvine.

DAN McVEY

Dan McVey has been involved in cross-cultural life, studies, and connections for more than 40 years. Dan and his wife, Brenda, lived in Ghana for 21 years. They are now community members of the Eden Center for Regenerative Culture near Abilene, Texas. Most recently, Dan has focused on teaching classes as an adjunct at ACU. Dan and Brenda have two children and three grandchildren.

MICHAL MEULENBERG

Michal Meulenberg teaches Muslim-Christian relations, conflict transformation, and grassroots peace-building and justice work at Fuller Theological Seminary and Biola University. She co-founded a grassroots Muslim-Christian peacebuilding initiative called Two Faiths One Friendship, which has connected over 2,500 Muslims and Christians. It is her passion to mobilize the next generation to be reconciliation workers like Jesus in their own lives, locally, and around the world.

TEIZEEN MOHAMEDALI

Teizeen Mohamedali is a Muslim American of South Asian descent. She currently lives in Washington with her husband and their two children. She works as an environmental engineer for the Washington State Department of Ecology to reduce pollution in water bodies. She recently started a group to advocate for public K-12 schools in Whatcom County to integrate concepts of social justice, anti-racism, and tolerance into the classroom and school culture.

DERRAN REESE

Derran Reese is the director of experiential learning at ACU and teaches adjunct in the College of Biblical Studies. During his previous work in congregational ministry, he led a peacemaking initiative with a focus on Christian-Muslim engagement. He also worked for the International Rescue Committee before coming to ACU. He and his wife, Ann, have three kids and attend Highland Church of Christ.

MUHAMMAD ABU ZAYD

Muhammad Abu Zayd is the senior judge in the family court of Saida/Lebanon. Since 2007, he has lectured at Jinan University in contemporary Islamic thoughts, comparative religions, personal status laws, and procedures of lawsuits in Islamic courts. He is a member and activist in several Lebanese NGOs concerning culture, education, development, relief, peace building, and reconciliation.