Ministry Lessons From a Muslim / Post for Week #2

In an article in Leadership magazine (Spring 2009), Brandon O' Brien tells the story of Eboo Patel who is a Muslim seminary professor that teaches on interfaith leadership. Patel challenges his students, mostly Protestants from various denominations, to engage in dialogue with those from of other faith backgrounds; however, to enter these conversations unashamed of their Christian identity. Patel says that seminary students are far too quick to tone down their beliefs in the Bible and Jesus Christ when entering into conversations with leaders from other faith backgrounds. Patel claims that they key to having fruitful interfaith dialogue is to boldly state who you are and what you believe and find reasons from within your religious identity to engaged with those from various faith backgrounds. For example, in the story of the good Samaritan Jesus calls his disciples to love the stranger/alien and Jesus also said to pray and love your enemies. In drawing on the Christian narrative, the seminary students are able to find reasons to engage in conversations and various community projects with those from various faith backgrounds without compromising their Christian identity. Leadership within interfaith circles is only possible when leaders are secure in their faith identity. I found this article interesting because it coincided with last week's Chapter in Calvin Miller's book on a leader's self-awareness. If we do not know who we are as leaders and do not feel comfortable boldly expressing our identity and beliefs to others, we will not be effective leaders. Followers are unwilling to follow leaders who are not confident and content with who they are as individuals.