A Center of Christian-Muslim Engagement: ACTIVITIES

CCME Activities at LSTC

The primary work of A Center of Christian-Muslim Engagement for Peace and Justice is to foster and deepen relations between Christians and Muslims, and in doing so, make significant contributions to the larger purpose of promoting peace and building bridges of mutual understanding, cooperation and respect among people of all faiths.

For an up-to-date listing of CCME (and related LSTC-supported) programs and events, you may also visit our Events page.

Recent Activities

Preaching Jesus with Interfaith Sensitivity Webinars

Our Preaching Jesus with Interfaith Sensitivity Webinars invite participants to explore how preachers might proclaim the gospel message while remaining committed to an interfaith perspective, respecting and valuing Jewish and Muslim religious identities.

• Lent & Holy Week texts on Feb 10, 2023
• Last Sunday of Easter & Pentecost (John 17 and Acts 2) on May 16, 2023
• After Pentecost (Matthew 13 &15, Romans 8 &11) on July 11, 2023
• God’s Law in Lenten Texts: Romans 4, Exodus 20, and Jeremiah 31

Christ in the Rubble

On March 26, 2025, the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago hosted a historic event: a public lecture by Palestinian pastor, theologian, and author Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac. The talk, entitled Christ in the Rubble: Faith, the Bible, and Genocide in Gaza, is part of a growing international conversation on the Christian response to war, displacement, and suffering. You can read more about the event here.

Co-hosted a 2-month Indonesian Delegation with American Islamic College

In the fall of 2024, the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago hosted a delegation of 20 educators, scholars, and leaders from Indonesia as part of a certificate program on “Religion, Peace, and Encounter.” The two-month, interfaith program, an initiative of the American Islamic College’s (AIC) newly established Hassan Institute for Interfaith Encounter, proved to be a masterclass in the power of cross-cultural engagement, mutual respect, and curiosity. Read more.

You can learn more about the AIC Certificate Program and the delegation here:

Interfaith Trolley and Interfaith Alley Tours

This annual experiential learning opportunity hosted by A Center for Christian-Muslim Engagement for Peace and Justice, The Hassan Institute for Interfaith Encounter at American Islamic College, and The Interreligious Institute at Chicago Theological Seminary, presents a chance for members of our broader community to learn about faith in practice, prayer, and communal religious space. During these tours, participants have the opportunity to meet people from other faith traditions and cultures and make connections with religious leaders. Participants also learn about the various interfaith initiatives that these religious institutions host. Below, you can find a list of past tours:

• Apr 24, 2022 in Hyde Park
• Apr 2, 2023 in Evanston and Willmette
• Oct 8, 2023 in Willowbrook
• April 6, 2025 on Chicago’s North Side

Annual Remembrance of Kristallnacht Service | Monday, November 11, 2024

Each year, LSTC remembers the night of Nov. 9-10, 1938, when Nazi authorities coordinated a massive attack on Jewish businesses, homes, synagogues and cemeteries across Germany and the Reich’s annexed territory in Austria and Czechoslovakia. In addition to the attacks, Germany stepped up imprisonment of Jewish people in concentration camps under the guise of a popular outcry against a recent assassination of a German embassy official. Below, you can find a video of one notable ceremony of remembrance, from November 11, 2024.

Videos of Past Activities

LSTC was proud to host a panel called “How Do We Find the Words: Interfaith Engagement in Troubling Times. ” Below, please find a video showcasing a panel discussion among American Jews and Muslims who came together to discuss the moral responsibility of (inter)faith leaders in addressing the ongoing conflict in Israel-Palestine.

LSTC is also committed to participating in projects that unite in the face of adversity. In the second video below, you will see members of our community participating in the AIC Interfaith Garden, which brings people together to work on a common project, symbolizing the power of unity and compassion in a fractured world.

SUPPORT FOR INTERFAITH ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

• Class offerings by Christian and Muslim faculty and with Christian and Muslim students (including international seminars and local exposure)
• Faculty guidance for PhD students
• Interfaith emphasis study program for Masters students
• Bi-annual Mosque visits
• Lectures, presentations, conferences and seminars

NOTE: If you are interested in study at LSTC in its interfaith academic programs, please contact our admissions staff at admissions@lstc.edu.

CONGREGATIONAL, SEMINARY AND COMMUNITY EVENTS

Aside from our programmatic offerings, LSTC is proud to facilitate:

• Adult forums or other educational programs on Islam and Christian-Muslim relations
• Creative arts programs, including music, theater, exhibits, and cinematic experiences
• Community meals and other social gatherings
• Holiday celebrations
• Social justice advocacy, service and action opportunities

WORKSHOPS, TRAININGS AND PRESENTATIONS

LSTC also offers the following workshops, trainings, and presentations to better serve those interested in the work of CCME:

• Chaplaincy Workshop: Spiritual Care of Muslim Patients: CCME has partnered with local chaplains and health care facilities to provide a practical two-day workshop for non-Muslim chaplains to learn about and gain confidence in working with Muslim patients and families facing illness or death.
• Faith Over Fear Training to Address Islamophobia: Together with the Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign located in Washington DC, we have participated in and hosted these trainings which aim to reduce and to counter anti-Muslim bias, discrimination, and violence in the United States by working with faith and community leaders to improve skills to speak against anti-Muslim rhetoric and discrimination and build stronger local multi-religious networks.