Program & Event Highlights: 2008

A Visit to Jordan
In March the Director had the privilege of visiting the Jordanian Interfaith Coexistence Research Center in Amman, Jordan. They will be one of the Centers, along with Al Amana, hosting groups from the West who wish to learn more about Christian-Muslim relations. Jordan presents an interesting contrast to the Christian population in the Gulf. In the Arabian Peninsula, there is a large Christian population comprised almost entirely of expatriates. In Jordan, the Christian community is largely an indigenous presence that traces its roots to the inception of Christianity. It is interesting to watch the dynamics of how the indigenous and expatriate populations interact with one another. Sadly, the interaction is often not as close as one would expect, and those of us who are sojourners in the region often neglect the role of the historic Church. The expatriate population comes and goes, often forgetting that whatever issues we create will be left for the indigenous church to sort out. On the other hand, the longstanding churches can be resistant to the growing diversity that globalization brings to their doorstep. There is a need for greater Christian unity, and the Centre is working to build bridges, not only between Christians and Muslims, but also between the varieties of Christian presence in our midst. There is some repair work to be done on the bridges within our own faith. For more information about the Jordanian Center, go to www.coexistencejordan.org

Director Attends Yale Conference on A Common Word
In July, the Director attended a conference at Yale University to discuss the implications of the global initiative “A Common Word” (www.acommonword.com). This initiative began in 2007 when 138 Muslim leaders, representing the different schools of thought and geographical centers of Islam, issued a letter to Christian leaders around the world entitled “A Common Word Between Us and You.” Its purpose was to offer a basis between Christians and Muslims upon which the two faiths can relate to each other. The foundation of the document is the shared focus in the Abrahamic faiths on the love of God and love of neighbor. It has prompted global discussion about the nature of Christian-Muslim relations. At the Yale conference, sixty Muslim leaders and sixty Christian leaders, as well as several Jewish leaders, gathered from around the world to discuss implications and next steps for the initiative.

Episcopal Delegation Visits the Centre
In October a delegation from the Center for Interfaith Reconciliation (Richmond, VA) visited Al Amana. They were joined by the Bishop of Northern California. While in Oman, they were able to meet with government officials and religious leaders, and tour Oman to learn more about its heritage and culture.

Jazz for a Cause
On the 13th of November, friends of the Ecumenical Council for Charity (ECC) organized a jazz evening to raise funds for low income migrant workers. Set against the backdrop of the Arabian Sea, the black and white evening, where guests walked down a white carpet scattered with cut outs of musical notes, created a beautiful ambience. The professional jazz musicians, coupled with a sumptuous buffet dinner, ensured that a good time was had by all. Close to $40,000 was raised for the cause, which goes to show that you can have fun while helping others!