The Association of Muslim Chaplains (AMC) and the Islamic Seminary Foundation (ISF) present

March 7, 2015 / 16 Jumaada al-Awal 1436 Yale University | New Haven, CT

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& a r u h S l a n o g Nati n i n i a r T e c i v r e S n I d n a s Imam

d n a e s h t n i a o l t p a s r e d i v o for Ch r P e c i v r y e t S i n r u e h m t m O o C m i l Mus

about The Association of Muslim Chaplains (AMC) and the Islamic Seminary Foundation (ISF) present:

National Shura and In-Service Training for Chaplains, Imams and Other Service Providers to the Muslim Community Saturday, March 7, 2015 / 16 Jumaada al-Awal 1436 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Conference Committee Conference Chair: Chaplain Omer Bajwa, Coordinator of Muslim Life, Yale University Co-Chair: Imam Kashif Abdul Karim, President – Muslim Endorsement Council of CT (MECC) Co-Chair: Imam Dr. Salahuddin Muhammad, President- AMC Conference Dean: Professor Jimmy Jones, President- ISF Associate Dean: Chaplain Matiniah Yahya Track A Dean: Chaplain Shazeeda Khan Track B Dean: Aqil Hashim LCSW Track C Dean: Chaplain Sharif Rosen Research and Strategic Planning Dean: Bonita McGee Conference Operations Director: Abdullah Franklin Auxiliary Services Coordinator: Yunus Mu’min Registrar: Nasiha Adkins Assistant Registrars: Chamali Antoine, Anisa Joyner, Miriam Kanaan Staffing: Masjid Al-Islam volunteers and other volunteers

Location Yale University Linsly-Chittenden Hall (LC) 63 High Street, New Haven, CT 06511-8963 Note: All rooms have guest Wi-Fi, chalkboards, and LCD projectors

Goals

1. Convene annual meeting of the Association of Muslim Chaplains. 2. Provide practical, interactive in-service training for Imams, Chaplains and other service providers to Muslim community. 3. Get feedback from interested stakeholders regarding curriculum development for the effective education and training of Chaplains, Imams and other service providers to the Muslim community. 4. Provide informational updates on Muslim chaplaincy endorsement and Muslim American Islamic seminary development.

Donations

Make all checks payable to: Islamic Seminary Foundation PO Box 8484 New Haven, CT 06531 USA Phone: (203) 376-7189 Email: [email protected] Online Registration site- http://shura1436.eventbrite.com Fiduciary: Masjid Al-Islam (New Haven, CT) Fees - $99 (student/AMC -$60) / Early Bird - $75 (student/AMC-$45) Early Bird Deadline- Feb 28 @ 11:59pm (includes continental breakfast, lunch and breaks) 2

National Shura and In-Service Training for Chaplains and Imams

program Saturday, March 7, 2015 / 16 Jumaada al-Awal 1436

8:00 am | Registration & Continental Breakfast

8:30 am | Opening Plenary | LC 102 Moderator - Prof. Jimmy Jones Opening Du’a/ Quran Recitation- Imam Abdul Hannan, Masjid Al Islam Welcome- Chaplain Omer Bajwa, Conference Chair Association of Muslim Chaplains - Imam Dr. Salahuddin Muhammad, President Islamic Seminary Foundation – Bonita McGee, Vice-President Muslim Endorsement Council of CT- Imam Kashif Abdul-Karim, President Welcome – CT State Senator Gary Holder-Winfield Welcome- Yale Chaplain Sharon Kugler 9:30 am | Session I: Parallel Sessions A. Women - Friendly Masjids: Masjid Development Network | LC 105 Aisha al-Adawiya, Prof Ihsan Bagby, Dr Sarah Sayeed, Moderator – Dr. Shariq A. Siddiqui

B. Book: Before You Tie the Knot: A Guide for Couples | LC 104 Salma Elkadi Abugideiri LPC, Respondent – Imam Refai Arefin, JD, Moderator – Bonita McGee MA



C. AMC -“Thinking Outside the Box”: Expanding Our Understanding of Our Roles and Strategies in Patient-centered Care | LC 103 Dr. Khadijah Matin, Moderator- Jaye Starr - Boz

11:00 am | Break 11:15 am | Session II: Parallel Sessions A. The Bilal Initiative: Understanding and Dealing with Prejudice in the Muslim American Community | LC 105 Atty Roula Allouch, Dr. Altaf Husain, Imam Dr. Salahuddin Muhammad, Co-facilitators – Dr. Zainab Chaudry and Prof. Jimmy Jones; Recorder – Bonita McGee B. Domestic Violence Prevention and Intervention | LC 104 Asma Hanif, RN, MA, Malika MacDonald, Moderator – Chaplain Omer Bajwa C. AMC -Ibn Hazm, Fanon, and Extremist Muslims in the 21st Century | LC 103 Imam Al-Hajj Talib ‘Abdur-Rashid, Moderator- Chaplain Mustafa Boz 12:45 pm | Dhuhr Salat | LC 317

Lunch



Education Fair/ Networking | LC 196

1:15 pm-1:45 pm | AMC Annual Meeting | LC 102 Imam Dr. Salahuddin Muhammad 1:50 pm-2:20 pm | MECC Annual Meeting | LC 103 President Imam Kashif Abdul-Karim 2:30 pm | Session III: Parallel Sessions A. Book: Misquoting Muhammad: The Challenge and Choices of Interpreting the Prophet’s Legacy | LC 105 Prof Jonathan Brown, Respondent – Dr. Shadee Elmasry, Moderator – Chaplain Shazeeda Khan B. Book: Dwell in Tranquility - An Islamic Roadmap to the Vibrant Marriage | LC 104 Imam Usman Akhtar, Tammy Elmansoury MA, Rev Dr. Frederick J. Streets, Moderator- Aqil Hashim, LCSW C. Models for Spiritual Care from the Tradition of Islamic Spirituality | LC 103 Dr. Feryal Salem, Moderator- Dr. Khadijah Matin 4:00 pm | Break &Asr Salat | LC 317 4:30 pm | Session IV - Plenary – “Facing the Future of Islam in America” | LC 102 Moderator- Chaplain Shareda Hosein Speaker: Chaplain Sohaib Sultan – “Shifting Paradigms: Toward a Cooperative Leadership Model for Islam in America.” Closing comments - Prof. Jimmy Jones 6:00 pm | Closing Du’a - Imam Mahmoud Mansour

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biographies Conference Leadership Bios Kashif Abdul-Karim, Conference Co-Chair Imam Kashif Abdul-Karim reverted to the religion of Al-Islam on May 15, 1986 in a community that follows the commentary of Imam W. Deen Mohammed. A Connecticut Islamic prison chaplain from 1987 until 2004, he is currently Resident Imam of Muhammad Islamic Center of Greater Hartford where he is very active in interfaith work. Imam Kashif is secretary for The New England Council of Masaajid, serves on the board of the Council on American-Islamic Relations-Connecticut (CAIR-CT) and is very active in community-wide justice initiatives. He was employed as a Connecticut state Juvenile Parole Officer from 1989 until 2010 and is a graduate of the University of Connecticut. He is founding chair of the board of MECC and was a major designer, organizer and presenter at the first national Shura conference held at Yale University in March 2011/1432. Omer Bajwa, Conference Chair Chaplain Omer Bajwa is Yale’s Coordinator of Muslim Life. He earned his Graduate Certificate in Islamic Chaplaincy from Hartford Seminary and has been engaged in religious service, social activism, and educational outreach for over a decade. Before coming to Yale, he served as the Interim Muslim Chaplain at Cornell University (2007-2008). He received his M.S. in Near Eastern Studies with a specialization in Islamic Studies from Cornell. He also has an MS in Communications from Cornell and a BA in English Literature and Rhetoric from Binghamton University. Chaplain Bajwa is a former Vice President of Education Chaplaincy for AMC and a founding board member of ISF. Aqil Hashim, Track B Dean Aqil Hashim LCSW accepted Islam during the month of Ramadan in 1988. He had graduated from Bryant University in 1984, with a BS in Business Administration. In 1990, he made a career change and entered the field of addiction services and worked as a rehabilitation counselor. It was at this time that he decided to return to school and enrolled at the UConn School of Social Work ultimately graduating with a Masters Degree in Social Work. Subsequently, he earned his licensure with the CT Department of Public Health as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). He continues to work in human services while assuming board member responsibilities with different organizations. He is the former Vice-President of Masjid Al-Islam, the Secretary of MECC and the President of the Connecticut School of Survival, a martial arts organization located in New Haven CT. Jimmy Jones, Conference Dean Prof. Jimmy (James) Jones is former Chair of the departments of African Studies and World Religions at Manhattanville College (Purchase NY) where he is an Associate Professor and advises the MSA. Prof. Jones has been a volunteer prison chaplain with the CT Department of Correction since 1980 and has served as a community based mentor with the Yale New Haven Hospital Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) program. He is former chair of the Board of Masjid Al-Islam (New Haven CT) and has trained, taught and lectured extensively in the US and abroad. Dr. Jones is the President of ISF, advisor to MECC and AMC and is secretary of the national board of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). A marriage counselor for more than two decades, he holds a MA in Religion from Yale Divinity School and a DMin from Hartford Seminary. He is also a member of the Association of Professional Chaplains. Shazeeda Khan, Track A Dean Chaplain Shazeeda Khan has volunteered at the United States Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury CT since 2005 serving Muslim women. In addition, she serves as the Director of Islamic Education for the Baitul Mukarran Masjid of Greater Danbury. Since 2000, Chaplain Khan has served on the board of the Association of Religious Communities (ARC), an interfaith community service organization. She is currently Vice-President and one of the founding board members of MECC. Aside from her community work in the state of Connecticut, she also serves as secretary-treasurer of ISF, a national organization dedicated to the establishment of a world-class Islamic seminary in the United States. Bonita R. McGee, Research and Strategic Planning Dean Bonita R. McGee, Vice President of the Islamic Seminary Foundation (ISF), serves on the board of the Islamic Social Services Association-USA (ISSA-USA), a national organization addressing social issues and promoting social work and related fields in the Muslim Community. She also provides trainings and assessments for communities in need of addressing the issue of domestic violence. Bonita McGee is also a board member and co-founder of the Muslim Family Services of Ohio (formerly the Muslim Women’s Network and Community Services), a social service organization serving the Muslim community in Greater Columbus and surrounding areas. Bonita received an undergraduate degree from The Ohio State University and a Masters in Islamic Sciences from the Cordoba University Graduate School of Islamic and Social Sciences. Salahuddin Mustafa Muhammad, Conference Co-Chair (also Workshop Presenter) Imam Dr. Salahuddin M. Muhammad worked 28 years before retiring from Fishkill Correctional Facility in Beacon NY. He also retired as Senior Imam of Masjid Al Ikhlas, after 26 years of service in Newburgh, NY. Additionally, Dr. Muhammad is also a retired contract chaplain having served 17 years at Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY. He is currently the President of the Alumni Council and Executive Board member of Hartford Seminary, President of the Association of Muslim Chaplains (AMC) , Associate Imam of As Salaam Islamic Center in Raleigh, NC, Adjunct Professor at Wake Tech Community College, Raleigh, NC., and the Adjunct Advisor for The Muslim Student Union (MSU). Also, Imam Muhammad is a member of Muslims for Social Justice (MSJ), and a member of the Muslim 4

National Shura and In-Service Training for Chaplains and Imams

biographies American Public Affairs Council (MAPAC). Masters in Education from Wheelock College. She is Vice President for Community Chaplaincy and Education Chair for AMC. Sharif Rosen, Track C Dean Chaplain Sharif Rosen is the Muslim chaplain and assistant director of the Center for Learning in Action at Williams College (Williamstown MA). Prior to working at Williams, Chaplain Rosen worked at Dartmouth College where he served as Muslim and Multi-Faith Advisor. Chaplain Sharif, who has served as a volunteer prison chaplain, is also a trained sexual assault responder. He earned his BA in history from Loyola Marymount University and later led community relations at the UMMA Clinic in South Los Angeles. For nearly five years, he served as director of student services at Qasid Arabic Institute in Amman, Jordan, where he also studied a traditional Islamic curriculum. He is currently doing graduate studies at Hartford Seminary and is at work on the translation of a treatise on Islamic ritual worship. Chaplain Sharif is Vice-President, Education Chaplains, AMC. Matiniah Yahya, Associate Conference Dean Chaplain Matiniah Yahya is a community chaplain, Master Disaster Chaplain (Islamic Relief) and former full time Chaplaincy Resident at Yale-New Haven Hospital’s Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE) training program (completing a total of 4 units of CPE). In addition, she is is a veteran educator with a wide range of teaching, training and consulting experiences in the US and the Middle East. Chaplain Yahya has been a volunteer hospital and prison chaplain as well as a Muslim marriage and family counselor for more than a decade. Currently on the board of MECC, Matiniah Yahya holds a BS in Human Services from Southern New Hampshire University and a Masters in Education from Wheelock College. She is Vice President for Community Chaplaincy and Education Chair for AMC.

Plenary Presenter Bio

Sohaib N. Sultan Imam Sohaib N. Sultan is the full-time Muslim Chaplain at Princeton University where he directs the Muslim Life Program out of the Office of Religious Life. Imam Sohaib is the author of The Koran for Dummies and The Qur’an and Sayings of the Prophet Muhammad: Selections Annotated and Explained as well as numerous articles for Huffington Post, TIME online and other publications. Chaplain Sultan was the East Zone representative to the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) executive board and chaired the program committee for ISNA’s annual conventions from 2012 to 2014. He is a graduate of the Hartford Theological Seminary’s graduate studies in Islamic Studies and Islamic Chaplaincy.

Presenter Bios

Talib‘Abdur-Rashid Imam Al-Hajj Talib ‘Abdur-Rashid has been the religious and spiritual leader (Imam) of Harlem’s The Mosque of Islamic Brotherhood Inc. for the past 25 years. He is also the Ameer (President) of the Majlis Ash-Shura (Islamic Leadership Council) of Metropolitan New York. Nationally, he is the Deputy Ameer (Vice President) of The Muslim Alliance in North America (MANA). The imam has worked as both a volunteer and paid chaplain in the jails and prisons of New York since 1978. In the late 1980s, he emerged as a pioneering Muslim voice in interfaith relations He is the author of A Muslim Manifesto on Darfur, and Healing Indigenous Muslim Families of African Descent. His next two books Social Justice Writings of an African American Muslim, and Qur’an, Sunna, and the Non-Violent Jihad against HIV/AIDS are projected for publishing in 2015-16. Salma Elkadi Abugideiri Salma Elkadi Abugideiri, is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) in private practice in northern Virginia. She has worked extensively with refugees, immigrants, and Muslim & Middle Eastern families providing a broad range of mental health services. Ms. Abugideiri has authored several publications on the issue of domestic violence in Muslim communities including a chapter in Counseling Muslims: Handbook of Mental Health Issues & Interventions. She has also co-authored a brief guide for helping professionals entitled What Islam Says About Domestic Violence. She provides training and consultation in the areas of mental health and domestic violence in Muslim communities. She has also presented at numerous national and international conferences. She is co-author, with Imam Mohamed Magid, of Before You Tie the Knot: A Guide for Couples. Usman Akhtar Imam Usman Akhtar completed memorization of the Noble Quran in the U.S. Soon thereafter, he studied at the renowned Darul Uloom Zakariyya in South Africa where he completed the traditional six-year curriculum covering the Arabic language, Islamic jurisprudence, Tafseer of the Quran, and Hadith. Upon graduation, he traveled to Egypt’s Al-Azhar University where he obtained further ijazat in Fiqh and Hadith from Sheikh Rafat Fouzi and other scholars. He is currently Imam of the Danbury Masjid where his duties include daily durus, after-school Quran classes, Quran memorization classes, counseling and monthly Halaqahs. Imam Usman is also an instructor at Darul Uloom-New York where teaching Arabic and other subjects. He also is a volunteer chaplain and is pursuing a degree in psychology. Aisha H.L. al-Adawiya Aisha H.L. al-Adawiya is the founder of Women in Islam, Inc., an organization of Muslim women that focuses on human rights and social justice. Ms. al-Adawiya organizes and participates in conferences, symposia and other forums on Islam, Gender Equity, Conflict Resolution, Cross-Cultural Understanding, and Peace Building. She also represents Muslim women’s Non-Governmental Organizations at United National Shura and In-Service Training for Chaplains and Imams

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biographies Presenter Bios Nations forums. Ms. Al-Adawiya coordinates Islamic input for the Preservation of the Black Religious Heritage Documentation Project of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture (New York Public Library). Ms. Al-Adawiya is also the current president of KARAMAH: Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights and a member of Islamic Society of North America’s (ISNA) Masjid Development Committee. Roula Allouch Roula Allouch is a civil litigation attorney practicing in Kentucky and Ohio. She has handled cases in the areas of employment law, civil rights, family law and general civil litigation. She is a graduate of the University of Kentucky College of Law (JD) and is licensed to practice in both state and federal courts in Kentucky and Ohio and before the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Attorney Allouch currently serves as the Chair of the National Board of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). She was also appointed by the Supreme Court of Kentucky to the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s Access to Justice Commission. Refai Arefin Imam Refai Arefin JD serves as the Imam of the Islamic Association of Greater Hartford. Imam Refai also practices as a litigation attorney in Plainville CT. He pursued study of Arabic and Islamic sciences abroad for over ten years at Al-Azhar University and Qortoba Institute in Cairo, Egypt; at Balqa’a University in Amman, Jordan and under traditional tutelage in Fez, Morocco and Damascus, Syria. He has spoken at countless masjids, schools and universities throughout the Northeast U.S. on Islam, its spiritual underpinnings and its role in American society. Ihsan Bagby Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Dr. Ihsan Bagby is currently Associate Professor of Islamic Studies at the University of Kentucky. He obtained a PhD from the University of Michigan in Near Eastern Studies (1986), focusing on classical Islamic Studies and more particularly Islamic legal theory (usul al-fiqh). His dissertation reviewed the classical legal theory of maslahah (the overall purposes of the Law). He is the Chair of ISNA’s Masjid Development Committee which recently organized the 2nd Annual ISNA Masjid Forum and launched the Masjid Development Network which is a loose association of masjid leaders. He serves as a Board member of the Muslim Alliance in North America (MANA) and the Islamic Seminary Foundation (ISF). Locally in Lexington KY, Prof Bagby is a member of the Board of Masjid Bilal and Chair of SHARE Lexington, a Muslim social service center. Jonathan AC Brown Prof Jonathan AC Brown is the Alwaleed bin Talal Chair of Islamic Civilization in the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University and the Associate Director of the Alwaleed bin Talal Center for Muslim Christian Understanding. He has a BA in History from Georgetown University (2000) and a Phd in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations from the University of Chicago (2006). Dr. Brown has studied and conducted research in Egypt, Syria, Turkey, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, South Africa, India, Indonesia and Iran. His book, Misquoting Muhammad: The Challenges and Choices of Interpreting the Prophet’s Legacy, was named one of the top books on religion for 2014 by the Independent newspaper. He has published books and articles in the fields of Hadith, Islamic law, Salafism, Sufism, Arabic lexical theory and Pre-Islamic poetry and is the editor in chief of the Oxford Encyclopedia of Islam and Law. Shadee Elmasry Dr. Shadee Elmasry was born and raised in New Jersey. He began studying the traditional sciences rigorously at age eighteen after a summer in Fes, Morocco. Since then he has studied all over the world including Hadramawt (Yemen), Mecca and Madina (Saudi Arabia), London (UK), Cairo (Egypt) and New Jersey under several luminaries of our time. In addition, Dr. Elmasry has an impressive academic record in Western studies. He graduated with a BA from Rutgers University (NJ) in sociology, religions, and philosophy and went on to receive his masters from The George Washington University. He then received his PhD from the University of London. Currently, Dr. Elmasry has found his way back home as Scholar in Residence and Director of Education and Community Affairs at the New Brunswick Islamic Center in New Jersey. He is also the founder and head of Safina Society. Tammy Elmansoury Tammy Elmansoury earned her Bachelor Degree in History from Rutgers University in 2003. She went on to complete an MA and an MPhil in the History of the Islamic world at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. Her area of study is modern Islamic movement. Since her return to the United States, she conducted various Islamic studies educational programs and has taught history at various colleges. She currently serves as a faculty member at the History Department at Union County College in Cranford, New Jersey. She lives in North Brunswick, New Jersey with her husband and three children. Asma Hanif Chaplain Asma Hanif RN, MA has been a practicing Muslim for over 30 years. She graduated from Howard University and the Medical University of South Carolina and is a Certified Nurse Midwife/Advanced Nurse Practitioner. She teaches workshops on “How to Prevent Breast Cancer through Diet and Self-Breast Exams”, “How to Achieve or Avoid Pregnancy through Fertility Awareness” as well as authored a rape prevention pamphlet entitled, “What A Woman Doesn’t Know Can Hurt Her”. In 1987, she established Muslimat Al-Nisaa,

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National Shura and In-Service Training for Chaplains and Imams

biographies Presenter Bios Wholistic Health, Education and Social Services Center, a faith-based practice and free clinic, in order to provide health services for the underserved and uninsured women and children. She is a member of The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and currently a health care professional on the Washington D.C. Area Ebola Crisis Committee. Altaf Husain Dr. Altaf Husain is a native of Cleveland, Ohio, and a double alumnus of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland having earned his BS in Biomedical Engineering and his MS in Social Work. He received his PhD in Social Work from Howard University in Washington DC. Dr. Husain’s research interests include the mental health and integration of immigrant and refugee families (especially Muslim adolescents) in the United States. He currently serves as the Vice-President-USA of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) and an advisory board member of the Peaceful Families Project. His past service to the community includes serving as a two-term national president of the Muslim Students Association (MSA National) and an executive committee member of the Muslim Alliance in North America (MANA). Malika MacDonald-Rushdan Malika MacDonald-Rushdan is an Irish American Muslim. She embraced Islam in 1995 while working at ROCA Inc. where she gained over 10 years’ experience working with at-risk, street-involved youth. While working at ROCA, Malika co-founded the Al-Huda Society, a multicultural youth and community development project focused on the needs of Muslim families. Malika’s work within the community earned her with the prestigious US Senator John F. Kerry Leadership award. Malika also served as the founding director of Community Organizing for Somerville Community Corporation which earned her a fellowship at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. Subsequently, she joined the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) in the relief division as Assistant Director of the 911 Civil Liberties Project. At ICNA-Relief she developed a successful homeless shelter model, opening the first shelter in 2008 in Jamaica NY. Today she oversees 13 facilities housing homeless women. She is also the first female director of an ICNA-Relief field office. Khadijah Matin Dr. Khadijah Matin currently serves in health care as staff educator, coach and an on-call Muslim Chaplain. Dr. Matin conducts extensive research regarding the role family history plays in shaping identity and community. Recently, in recognition of her works in intercultural dialogue and civic engagement she was appointed as an Ariane de Rothschild Fellow. Chaplain Khadijah serves on the national and Journal editorial board of the Afro-American Historical & Genealogical Society, and boards of the Kansas Institute for African American and Native American Family History; the Muslim Community Network (MCN), and recently was appointed as the VP/Healthcare for the Association of Muslim Chaplains. Khadijah has an MS in Education from Fordham University and a Certificate in Interspiritual/Interfaith Counseling from One Spirit Interfaith Seminary. She earned her D.Min. from New York Theological Seminary in 2012, in Multi-faith ministry. Feryal Salem Dr. Feryal Salem is Assistant Professor of Islamic Scriptures and Law, Co-Director of the Islamic Chaplaincy Program, and Director of the Imam and Muslim Community leadership certificate program at Hartford Seminary. Prof Salem’s research specializes on early Islamic thought with an emphasis on the foundations of Islamic scripture, hadith methodology, and hermeneutics in classical Islamic texts. She received her PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Chicago’s Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations. Committed to furthering Islamic scholarship, Dr. Salem has been actively working within the Muslim American community to establish the Nur Foundation for Sacred Sciences, which focuses on providing opportunities for education in the Islamic sciences for Muslims living in the West. Sarah Sayeed Dr. Sarah Sayeed is a board member of Women in Islam, Inc., a social justice and human rights volunteer organization dedicated to the empowerment of women through knowledge and practice of Islam. She has served on the board in various roles, including Secretary and President, and is currently Board Treasurer. She helped author the booklet, “Women-Friendly Mosques and Community Centers: Reclaiming Our Heritage,” and the report, “Women and the American Mosque: Report No. 3 from the U.S. Mosque Study 2011.” She is also a member of the ISNA Masjid Development Committee. Sarah earned a degree in Sociology and Near East Studies from Princeton University, and an MA and PhD in Communication from the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania. She also holds a certificate in Reconciliation Leadership through the Institute for Global Leadership. Frederick J. (Jerry) Streets Rev. Dr. Frederick J. (Jerry) Streets understands the importance of and the complex role religious beliefs and practices play in our efforts to understand different cultures and international relationships and diplomacy. He served as the Chaplain of Yale University and Senior Pastor of the Church of Christ in Yale from 1992-2007 where he established a model for how institutions of higher education can address and establish policies regarding multi-faith issues from global perspectives in the wider life of the university and community. Throughout his career, he has fostered programs promoting dialogue between Christians, Jews, Muslims and other religious communities. A native of Chicago, Illinois, he is a member of the Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences and has published numerous articles and book chapters addressing domestic and international concerns and is the recipient of many academic and civic awards. National Shura and In-Service Training for Chaplains and Imams

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Our best wishes and Greetings to ISF and all the participants Early Bird Deadline May 1, 2015

about amc Association of Muslim Chaplains A 501 3 (c) IRS tax-exempt organization www.associationofmuslimchaplains.com

Board of Directors

Imam Dr. Salahuddin Muhammad, President Chaplain Matiniah Yahya, Vice President – Community Chaplains Chaplain Mustafa Boz, Vice President – Corrections Chaplains Chaplain Sharif Rosen, Vice President – Education Chaplains Dr. Khadijah Matin, Vice President – Healthcare Chaplains Chaplain Raqeeb Abduljabbar , Vice President – Military Chaplains Chaplain Samsiah Abdulmajid, Secretary Chaplain Shareda Hosein, Treasurer Between the spring and summer of 2011 (1432 AH), a group of experienced and aspiring chaplains, united by a common desire to strengthen the field of Islamic chaplaincy, held a series of discussions. Participants recognized the pressing need for an organization that could provide Muslim chaplains with the opportunity to come to know each other and to mutually support, nurture, and encourage each other’s professional growth in accordance with Qur’anic ideals and by agreed upon practices in the field of chaplaincy in the United States. These individuals further recognized that such an association must be sincere in manifesting the Prophetic traditions of inclusivity, consultation, and consensus, and that the diversity within the Muslim community and within the profession of chaplaincy must be fully represented. The Association of Muslim Chaplains is the product of those discussions. vision Our vision is to serve Allah (God) through facilitating and providing spiritual care, counseling, and Islamic services to all persons on the basis of compassion, neighborly kindness, and community service as emphasized in our Islamic tradition according to the Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). values Our core values are drawn from the Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him): Ikhlas (Sincerity) – our intention is to act fi sabil Allah (for the sake of God)). Nasiha (Good Counsel) – our actions are in fulfillment of our religious obligation to provide nasiha (good counsel). Rahma (Mercy) – our conduct reflects the example of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) who was sent as rahma lil-`alamin – mercy to all the worlds. Haya’ (Dignity) – our deportment demonstrates modesty, respect, honor, good morals and humility toward our own selves and to all others. mission Our mission is to provide mutual support and nurturance for Muslims who are facilitating and providing spiritual care, counseling, and Islamic services within the Muslim community or in public and private institutions.

ethical standards: Members of the AMC are expected to follow the AMC Code of Ethics. The AMC Code of Ethics supports and endorses the Common Code of Ethics for Spiritual Care Professions affirmed by the constituent boards of the Council of Collaboration, which represents the Association of Professional Chaplains (APC), American Association of Pastoral Counselors (AAPC), Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE), National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC), the National Association of Jewish Chaplains (NAJC), and the Canadian Association for Pastoral Practice and Education. This common code of ethics may be referenced at www.acpe.edu/council.htm

SPECIAL THANKS to the many who assisted with Shura1436 including: Administrative Support: Manhattanville College Department of World Religions Facilities: Yale University Chaplain’s Office Graphics: Zenah Hasan National Shura and In-Service Training for Chaplains and Imams

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National Shura and In-Service Training for Chaplains and Imams

about isf Vision for an Islamic Seminary in the US Developed by the Islamic Seminary Foundation (ISF) in consultation with Muslim and people from other faith traditions since Shura 1432 (2011): - An institution that serves as a catalyst and platform for rigorous Islamic scholarship, research and training, firmly based on the Quran and Sunnah, integrating the best traditions of classical Islamic scholarship and Western academic scholarship. - A seminary that seeks to preserve the life-giving guidance of Quran and Sunnah, making it relevant and meaningful to this period of history. - An institution that serves the American Muslim community, addressing in particular the relevant fiqhi issues and questions of the American Muslim community, and the various social and organizational needs of masjids and the American Muslim community. - An institution that serves as a vehicle for cross-fertilization between Muslims and non-Muslims in order to contribute to the general American ethos and to facilitate the civilizational and interfaith dialog which was accelerated in the wake of September 11, 2001. - An institution that strengthens the role of religion in the public square by countering the current negative portrayals of Islam which tend to affect all religions. - An institution that assists in the on-going development of the American Muslim identity, aimed at fostering authentic identities firmly rooted in both the American and Islamic contexts. - An institution that promotes an agenda of social justice and compassion in the world

Islamic Seminary Foundation mission The mission of an American Islamic Seminary in the U.S. is to be a preeminent institution of Islamic higher learning, whose primary purpose is to prepare Imams and Muslim leaders to serve Islam and the American Muslim community, combining rigorous Islamic scholarship with a commitment to strengthening the Muslim community in America and striving for social justice and compassion in the world. goal of the seminary: to train and prepare American Muslim Leaders who are - balanced in their understanding of Islam - confident in their American Muslim identity - committed to the vision of building a vibrant, engaged American Muslim community - trained in the necessary organizational and communication skills in leading the American Muslim community need for an american islamic seminary - Mosques are dramatically increasing in number, and by 2020 there is expected to be 1400 full-time, paid Imam positions. Most mosque leaders prefer American-born Imams who are trained both in the scholarly tradition of Islam and in the skills of serving the American Muslim community, but few exist. - Mosque personnel (youth directors, executive directors) need training in their fields. - Volunteer Imams (largely African American) need to upgrade their Islamic knowledge - Prisons, the armed forces, universities and hospitals have a growing need for Muslim chaplains - Foreign-born Imams need training in the skills of serving an American Muslim community. board of directors Prof. James E Jones, President Bonita McGee, Vice President Chaplain Shazeeda Khan, Secretary-Treasurer Prof. Ihsan Bagby, Member Dr. Shariq Siddiqi Dr Iqbal Unus Advisory Committee Dr. Abubaker Al Shingieti Prof Zainab Alwani Imam Refai Arefin Chaplain Omer Bajwa

Prof Jonathan Brown Dr. Zahid Bukhari Chaplain Shareda Hosein Imam Mohamed Magid Dalia Mogahed Imam Dr Salahuddin Muhammad Prof Sulayman Nyang Prof Tariq Ramadan ImamZaid Shakir Imam Siraj Wahhaj

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about mecc

Muslim Endorsement Council of Connecticut A 501 3 (c) IRS tax-exempt organization

Board of Directors

President: Imam Kashif Abdul-Karim Vice-President: Chaplain Shazeeda Khan Treasurer: Imam Mahmoud Mansour MBA Secretary: Aqil Hashim LCSW Member at Large: Chaplain Matiniah Yahya M.Ed, Interim Staff: Prof. Jimmy Jones, D.Min vision To maintain, reinforce and improve quality standards of spiritual care for people in public and private institutions. mission To provide a structure and process for the official endorsement and support of Muslim chaplains based on Islamic and pastoral principles and to establish a national standard for such endorsement in order to develop consistency and integrity in the field of Islamic chaplaincy. MECC serves to manifest the Qur’anic enjoinment and Prophetic traditions of consultation and consensus as also practiced by the four rightly guided caliphs. It strives to represent the diversity within the Muslim community in Connecticut. history For more than 15 years prior to the establishment of the Muslim Endorsement Council of CT Inc.(MECC), CT Islamic Prison Chaplains and volunteers would meet to discuss establishing a support group for Islamic chaplains and their clients. Such an effort coalesced in March of 2006 when several Muslim leaders in the state of CT in association with the Muslim Coalition of Connecticut (MCCT) decided to look at the issue by establishing a chaplaincy sub-committee. With the advice and support of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR)-CT, the International League of Muslim Women CT Chapter, the Islamic Council of New England (ICNE), the New England Council of Masajid and the New England Muslim Sisters Association (NEMSA), MECC was established in March 2010 (Rabi al-awal 1431). MECC organized the National Shura and Best Practices on Chaplaincy and Muslim Seminary Workshops that was held on March 5, 2011 at Yale University. It was a successful effort to broaden the Muslim and non-Muslim input into these projects as well as increase the Muslim community’s knowledge about the processes of establishing an endorsement entity and a seminary. highlights The committee attempted to contact every Islamic center in CT. It ultimately contacted more than 70% of the approximately 42 centers. The committee made contact with the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc (ACPE), and began encouraging CT Muslims to get clinical pastoral education training. The committee held several statewide meetings where the leadership of the Islamic centers was invited to give feedback and advice on the issue of endorsing chaplains. The Islamic centers elected an endorsing body board in March 2010 (Rabi al-awal 1431), thereby establishing the Muslim Endorsement Council of CT (MECC). MECC was incorporated in March 2011 and applied for and ultimately received federal 501(c)3 tax-exempt status. In the interim, Masjid Al-Islam Inc. in New Haven CT served as the fiduciary agent for the project. In September of 2010, some of the members of the original group saw the need for the establishment of a Muslim American seminary. After consulting Muslim academics, national Muslim organizations and some non-Muslim entities, the decision was made to try to establish a Muslim American seminary as a separate, but related, initiative. The establishment of this national Shura conference in 1432/2011 is based on a process developed in consultation with: Association of Mulim Chaplains (AMC), Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), Graduate School of Islamic and Social Sciences (GSISS), International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT), International League of Muslim Women - New England Chapter, Islamic Center of New London (ICNL), Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), Islamic Relief-USA, Islamic Social Services Association-USA (ISSA-USA), Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), Masjid Al-Islam (MAI), Muslim American Society (MAS)- Freedom, Muslim Alliance in North America (MANA), New England Council of Masajid, New England Muslim Sisters Association (NEMSA)

Contact: Prof Jimmy Jones, President-ISF Phone: 203-376-7189 Email: [email protected]

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National Shura and In-Service Training for Chaplains and Imams

HARTFORD SEMINARY THE LEADER IN GRADUATE INTERFAITH EDUCATION

With roots that go back to 1834, Hartford Seminary is a non-denominational graduate school for religious and theological studies. What makes us unique is our multi-faith environment and our proven ability to prepare leaders for the complex world that surrounds us.

www.hartsem.edu HartSem

77 Sherman Street Hartford, CT 06105 [email protected] 860.509.9500

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

52ND ANNUAL ISNA CONVENTION Chicago, IL. • September 4 – 7, 2015

Contact: Phone: (317) 838-8129 • Email: [email protected] Web: www.isna.net

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