Program & Event Highlights: 2008

Christian-Muslim Relations Goes Grassroots
A new program is being developed by the Director of the AAC, along with his key colleague, Dr. William Sachs of the centre for Interfaith Reconciliation (Richmond, VA). The heart of the program will be leadership training for interfaith relations focused on practical outcomes in local communities. The program will begin with Muslim-Christian relations. Its purpose is to engage local leaders and participants of both faiths in shared efforts to build understanding and promote community building in their settings. Its goal is to help people move from learning about each other to learning from each other. The curriculum involves a workbook and multimedia resources to aid people in engaging one another. An advisory group has been formed that includes representatives from the Common Word initiative, Princeton Theological Seminary, and the Alban Institute.

The Centre Launches a Semester Program
The AAC has been working towards launching a semester program for undergraduate students. In the 20010/11 academic year, the AAC will host its first semester of students from Northwestern College. This is a very exciting development for the Centre, and it will provide an excellent opportunity for students to learn more about this important region.

Northwestern College Students Visit Oman
As part of its partnership with Northwestern College, the Centre hosted thirteen students and their professor for two weeks. This is part of a sociology course that focuses upon Oman as part of their ethnographic study. The students left with a deep appreciation for the culture and society, and they made many friends along the way.