Program Summer school 2019
The Center for Arab-West Understanding in cooperation with the Anglican Diocese of Egypt
Program title: Moving Forward Together: Muslims and Christians together in Egyptian Society
Period: July 2-July 6 and July 8. Sunday July 7 was a day off.
Organized by the SGP, Reformed Political Party (Staatkundig Gereformeerde Partij, SGP), a conservative Christian political party in the Netherlands, the Anglican Diocese of Egypt, AlAzhar Center for Interreligious Dialogue, Ain Shams University and the Center for Arab-West Understanding, an Egyptian NGO founded in 2007 by, among others, Bishop Dr. Mounir Hanna.
Location: All Saint’s Garden Conference Center, Zamalek, Cairo
General purpose: We are realizing that Egypt is country with a great history in Muslim-Christian relations and where many excellent initiatives are taking place in the field of intercultural dialogue. For this reason, the Center for Arab-West Understanding has built, in cooperation with others, a very large electronic English language database about the role of religion in the wider context of contemporary Egyptian society. The Center for Arab-West Understanding is currently in discussion with Heliopolis University for Sustainable Development (HU) about setting up a research center to foster intercultural dialogue. In this summer school parties are coming together that all advocate intercultural dialogue in one way or the other.
Dr. Matthew Anderson wrote the executive summary.
Number of participants: daily varying between 20 and 25. Around 15 Christian, 5 Muslim and 5 non-Egyptians. For summer school pictures and testimonies click here.
Profile of applicants:
The summer school or conference in Christian-Muslim Understanding invited participants who have a significant interest in the future of Christian-Muslim relations in Egypt, Muslims and Christians who wanted to think seriously and creatively about interfaith relations for a prosperous future for Egypt. Our summer school was facilitated by experts in Muslim-Christian dialogue from the Anglican diocese, Al-Azhar, and other international institutions.
Speakers/organizers
Bishop Dr. Mounir Hanna
Dr. Kamal Boraiqa, General Coordinator of the Center for Dialogue at the Azhar, head of the Observation and Suggestion Committee in Beit al-Ailah.
Prof. Dr. Muhammed Abdel Ati, coordinator Beit al-Ailah (House of the Family)
Prof. Dr. Tareq Mansour, Ain Shams University and Beit al-Ailah
Hossam Abu Ghadir, head of the Reconciliation Committee of the Governorate of Assiut
Dr. Matthew Anderson, lecturer at the Alexandria School of Theology, 2009 to 2011. Since 2018 he is Assistant Teaching Professor in Islamic Studies, Georgetown University, USA
Prof. Dr. Wijbren Jongsma, representing SGP-VOE committee (donor), arrived July 1 – departure July 6 Henkjan van Schothorst, representing SGP-VOE committee (donor), arrived July 4 – departure July 6
Cornelis Hulsman, co-founder Center for Arab-West Understanding, director Center for Intercultural Dialogue and Translation, Cairo
Saleem Wassef, consultant dialogue committee Anglican Diocese of Egypt
Dr. Richard Gauvain, associate professor of political science at the British University of Egypt (BUE). He is the Official translator of Fix Your Deen, http://www.fixyourdeen.com/TheResponse-EN.pdf
Dr. Sigward von Laue, Research and International Affairs, Heliopolis University
Abuna (father) Jo’annis and Sheikh Hamdi Abdelfattah, key persons in the film One Hand. Abuna Jo’annis is Coptic Orthodox priest of Qufada, Maghagha and Sheikh Hamdi Abdelfattah is the Salafi preacher and a local community reconciliation arbiter from Qufada.
| Day |
Program item |
Speaker |
| Tuesday July 2 |
Arrival |
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8.30 am reception and registration |
Dr. Matthew Anderson, Cornelis Hulsman, Seleem Fouad Wassef |
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9.30 -10.00 am welcome, explaining program and purpose. Long term: transferring the work of the Center for Arab-West Understanding into a university in Egypt |
Cornelis Hulsman |
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10.00 – 11.00 Participants explaining what they wish to get out of this summer school |
Participants – moderated by Matthew Anderson |
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11.00 – 11.30 coffee/ tea break |
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11.30 – 12.30 SGP – explaining the SGP view on Christians in the Middle East and dialogue |
Prof. Dr. Wijbren Jongsma |
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12.30 – 14.00 lunch |
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14.00 – 15.00 – Anglican involvement in Muslim-Christian dialogue |
Seleem Fouad Wassef |
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15.00 – 15.30 coffee/tea break |
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15.00 – 17.00 questions and answers with students |
Moderated by Matthew Anderson |
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18.00 Nile cruise by felucca on the Nile with pizza |
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| Wednesday July 3 |
9.00 – 10.00 Dialogue programs and experiences in the Anglican Diocese |
Seleem Fouad Wassef |
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10.00 – 10.30 coffee/ tea break |
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10.30 – 12.00 Common Misconceptions about Islam and Christianity including questions and answers |
Dr. Kamal Boraiqa |
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12.00 – 13.00 Accept and practice self-criticism in dialogue |
Archbishop Mouneer Hanna |
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13.00 – 14.00 Lunch |
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14.00 – 15.00 Spirituality in Islam For a report of his presentation click here. |
Dr. Tariq al-Jawhary |
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15.00 – 15.30 coffee/tea break |
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15.30 – 17.00 Addressing tensions through mediation in the governorate of Assiut |
Hussein Abu Ghadir, head of the Reconciliation Committee of the Governorate of Assiut |
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17.30 – 18.30 Dinner |
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19.00 – 20.00 Dialogue through music |
Oud player Maher Fayez who played music of both Muslim and Christian composers – focused on love |
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20.00 – 21.30 – the vision on sustainability and dialogue of Sekem/Heliopolis University |
Dr. Sigward von Laue with a student from Heliopolis University |
| Thursday July 4 |
9.00 – 10.00 Theological Resources for Positive Interreligious Relations |
Dr. Matthew Anderson |
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Overview different narratives about the position of Coptic Christians in Egypt. |
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10.00 – 10.30 coffee/tea break |
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10.30 – 12.30 Theological Resources for Positive Interreligious Relations – moving beyond fear based on 1 John 4:18 |
Archdeacon Emad Basilios |
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12.30 – 14.00 Lunch |
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14.00 – 16.00 Challenges of secularism in Europe |
Dr. Justin Terry, Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, UK |
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Dinner |
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Presenting film One Hand with discussion |
Cornelis Hulsman |
| Friday July 5 |
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Opportunity for Christian participants to attend service in the All Saints Cathedral and Muslim participants to attend Friday prayer. |
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13.00 – 18.00 Visit Garbage collectors Muqattam Mountains |
Cornelis Hulsman |
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18.00 dinner |
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20.00 – 21.00 Drumplaying |
Michael of al-Jusur |
| Saturday July 6 |
9.00 – 10.00 Social contributions of the church to society, the example of EpiscoCare 10.00 – 10.30 coffee/tea break |
Ibrahim Nagy of EspiscoCare with a Muslim volunteer at Episcocare |
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10.30 – 12.30 Bay al-A’ilah |
Sheikh Dr. Muhammad Abdel Ati, coordinator Bayt al-A’ilah, for report click here. |
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12.30 – 13.30 Lunch |
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13.30 – 15.00 Interfaith dialogue in Alexandria |
Islam Othman |
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15.00 – 15.30 coffee/tea break |
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15.30 – 16.30 CAWU Learning Center, experiences of a CAWUintern |
Malaika Tiglao |
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Dinner |
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Going home (leaving Conference Center) |
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| Sunday July 7 |
Free-time, possibility for Christian participants to attend church |
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| Monday July 8 |
Participants returning to Conference Center |
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9.00 – 10.00 Perspectives on Christian-Muslim Relations; evaluating the work of the Islamic Telephone of Sherif Esmat Abdelmeguid in addressing Salafism and radicalism in Islam For a report of his presentation click here. |
Dr. Richard Gauvain |
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10.00 – 10.30 |
coffee/tea break |
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10.30 – 12.00 Understanding and Misunderstanding among the followers of Religions: from the Dialogue to Co-Existence. For the report of his lecture click here. |
Prof. Dr. Tareq Mansour |
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12.30 – 13.30 |
Lunch |
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15.00 – 17.00 Qufada, an example of a village where Muslims and Christians live in harmony, a priest and Salafi shaykh speaking about dialogue in practice |
Father Jo’annis and Salafi Sheikh Hamdi Abdelfattah Prior to the summer school interns have interviewed Father Jo’annis about the practice of dialogue in Qufada and how he deals with situations when difficulties arise. For the report click here. |
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17.00 – closing words |
Cornelis Hulsman, Dr. Matthew Anderson, Seleem Fouad Wassef and Archdeacon Emad Basilios |
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Certificates were not ready and were presented later. |
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