Rumi Forum Podcast

On October 30, Rumi Forum held a discussion of the Netflix show 'Stateless'. 'Stateless', released on Netflix this summer, is a six-episode series based on a true story of an Australian citizen who was held in one of Australia's immigrant detention centers.

It follows the stories of several characters as they come into contact with Australia's immigration system, including migrants who have fled violence and persecution in their home countries, employees of the center and Australia's immigration agency, and advocates for immigrant rights. The experiences of the characters and their intertwining journeys are rife with lessons and opportunities for empathic consideration.

We gathered via Zoom for a 75 min conversation about the content and salient themes of the show, and our takeaways from viewing it. Our discussion was centered on the ethical dilemmas faced by the different characters in their varying positions. This event was not intended to be a debate about immigration policy.

On October 25, the inaugural event of the new Interfaith Leadership Forum explored how to deepen interfaith work in religious communities, professional life, and our culture. Leaders from all segments of society, and those who want to become leaders, joined us for this virtual event.

The ILF aims to promote pluralism by convening leaders of various religious, ethnic, racial, cultural, and gender backgrounds to exchange ideas and generate action-oriented agenda. It provides a venue where a diverse group of community leaders, scholars, clergy, and public officials can engage in in-depth discussions on shared values and explore ways to harness them for social action. ILF is open to all individuals who are interested in advancing their interfaith literacy and serving the community as interfaith mobilizers in their professional or individual capacities.

Objectives: * To strengthen interfaith relationships, literacy, and leadership by: • Equipping one another with various models of dialogue with distinct ends. • Experiencing deeper levels of interfaith encounter and dialogue • Strengthening literacy about other's faiths and about one's own • Overcoming prejudices and misconceptions about other faiths • Elicit social action through interfaith engagement

Topics and workshops for the event include:

• Stories of Interfaith Dialogue
• Tackling Prejudices
• Learning from Differences
• Engaging a Racialized America, and
• The Life Cycle of Dialogue

Presenters at the Forum will include:

• Ibrahim A. Anli, Executive Director, The Rumi Forum
• Ann Delorey, Program Director, Interfaith Council of Metropolitan Washington
• Dr. Beverly Goines, Assistant Pastor, National City Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Washington, D.C.; Associate Director, Disciples Center for Public Witness; Adjunct Professor, Dept. of Theology & Religious Studies, Georgetown University
• Dr. Ori Soltes, Professor, Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University
• Dr. Pim (Wilhelmus) Valkenberg, Ordinary Professor of Religion and Culture, The Catholic University of America
• Moderator: Dr. Larry Golemon, Executive Director, Washington Theological Consortium

Special thanks to the following for their sponsorship of the event:

• The Rumi Forum
• The Washington Theological Consortium
• The Interfaith Council of Metropolitan Washington
• Washington, D.C. Mayor's Office of Religious Affairs

On October 15, Rumi Forum held a book talk, Thirty Days With King David, by pastor, educator and leadership coach Larry Buxton. King David ranks among the world's greatest heroes for defeating Goliath and for preaching Psalms.

He is honored by Jews, Christians and Muslims. In turbulent times, he united a nation—and his hard-earned wisdom can bring us together today. In this book, pastor, educator and leadership coach Larry Buxton shows us how David embodies 14 crucial values shared by effective leaders to this day.

Buxton dedicates this book "to everyone who believes that the character of any leader is of critical importance to our nation, our institutions, our congregations and our homes; and to all those who seek to let God shape their character as more virtuous human beings, that their influence may spread to heal our world."

On October 2nd, the International Day of Non-Violence, we would like to thank Rev. Canon Leonard Hamlin, Hardy Merriman, Rivera Sun, and Mary Elizabeth King for the excellent discussion on the current state and relevance of nonviolent action in the contemporary globe.

Grievance and deprivation, perceived or real, tempt groups into violent behavior. Rapid change, social upheaval, and uncertainty make violent expressions of social discontent even more likely. It is in those moments that we are called to demonstrate a heightened sense of restraint and sound judgment. It is in those moments that nonviolence presents as a timely and timeless concept for contemporary societies. And yet, while few would disagree about the virtue of nonviolence, a similarly firm belief and understanding about its power, strategy, and discipline is much harder to locate.

The M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence and Rumi Forum, proudly inspired by two masters of nonviolent action, are co-hosting this event on Gandhi's birthday, the International Day of Nonviolence. The program features a panel from scholarly as well as practitioner backgrounds. Our speakers will guide an exploration of the current state of nonviolent action around the globe, its growing relevance amid social unrest, and efforts to make it an inherent element of individual and collective behavior.

Moderator:

The Rev. Canon Leonard L. Hamlin, Sr.

Canon Missioner, Washington National Cathedral

The Rev. Canon Leonard L. Hamlin, Sr. began his tenure at the Washington National Cathedral in April 2018. In his role as Canon Missioner, Dr. Hamlin oversees the Cathedral's outreach and social justice initiatives, including gun violence prevention and racial justice and reconciliation. In particular, Dr. Hamlin assists in the building of partnerships and the equipping of the Cathedral community and the congregation to serve as the hands and feet of Christ in the world.

Prior to his arrival at the Cathedral, Dr. Hamlin served as the Pastor of Macedonia Baptist Church in Arlington, Va. for 22 years. Under his leadership, the congregation was strengthened numerically and spiritually while numerous ministries, discipleship classes and mission efforts were organized to meet the needs of the congregation and the community locally, regionally and nationally. Dr. Hamlin received his Bachelor of Business Administration Degree (1983) from the Howard University School of Business, Master of Divinity Degree (1994), and a Doctor of Ministry Degree from the Howard University School of Divinity (1996). He has served and been appointed to numerous community, faith based and governmental boards, commissions, agencies.

Dr. Hamlin is married to Machell Nicholson Hamlin, Esquire, assistant vice president of staff counsel for the GEICO Corporation, and they are the proud parents of one son, Leonard L. Hamlin, Jr.

Speakers

Hardy Merriman

President and CEO, International Center on Nonviolent Conflict

He has worked in the field of civil resistance for over 18 years, presenting at workshops for activists and organizers around the world; speaking widely about civil resistance movements with scholars, journalists, and members of international organizations; and developing resources for practitioners and scholars. His writings have been translated into numerous languages. From 2016-2018 he was also an adjunct lecturer at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy (Tufts University).

Title of presentation:

"Civil Resistance: Powerful, Underrecognized, and Crucial in this Moment"

Dr. Mary Elizabeth King

Director, James Lawson Institute

Mary Elizabeth King is a political scientist and author of acclaimed books on civil resistance, most recently "Gandhian Nonviolent Struggle and Untouchability in South India: The 1924–25 Vykom Satyagraha and the Mechanisms of Change." She is professor of peace and conflict studies at the UN-affiliated University for Peace; Distinguished Rothermere American Institute Fellow at the University of Oxford, Britain; and director of the James Lawson Institute. Her academic specialty in the study of nonviolent action dates to four years working in Atlanta and Mississippi for the 1960s U.S. civil rights movement on staff of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, or SNCC. There she learned the basics of nonviolent struggle from the Reverend James M. Lawson in this profound experience that would define her life. Her website is maryking.info.

Title of presentation:

"Rediscovering How Gandhi Put Nonviolent Methods on the World Political Map"

Rivera Sun

Editor, Nonviolence News

Author/Activist Rivera Sun is the editor of Nonviolence News and a nationwide trainer in strategy for nonviolent change. She has written numerous books and novels, including The Dandelion Insurrection and The Way Between. She serves on the Advisory Boards of World Beyond War and Backbone Campaign. Her writings on nonviolence as syndicated by Peace Voice and have appeared in over 100 journals. www.riverasun.com.

Title of presentation:

"Challenges – And Possibilities – Of Teaching Nonviolence As A Way Of Making Change"

On September 9, our speakers Katherine Marshall, Kim R. Ford, Jerome Tennille, our moderator Stephen Moseley, and our partner UNA-NCA had a great discussion about how community solidarity has displayed itself in ways that we haven't seen before to eradicate poverty in the age of pandemic.

At a time when everyone around the world is grappling with unprecedented changes and challenges in their lives, one of the most fundamental values that continues to make positive changes in our lives is generosity. The inevitable quality of giving continues bringing individuals of all backgrounds regardless of their languages, ethnicities, races, faiths, opinions together across the globe. We have witnessed various shades of generosity as they are implemented as a means of standing together in unity. Whether that's through educating ourselves on social issues, raising awareness about humanitarian causes, supporting communities through monetary contributions or reaching out to a neighbor next door or across the continents, every act of goodwill has touched people's lives. In this time of uncertainty, there's a fundamental truth that gives us hope - that together we can do extraordinary things. Together!

In 2012, September 5th was designated the "International Day of Charity" by the UN General Assembly to commemorate the anniversary of the passing away of Mother Teresa, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 "for work undertaken in the struggle to overcome poverty and distress, which also constitute a threat to peace." In this spirit, on September 9th, Rumi Forum and UNA-NCA would like to invite you to a virtual panel highlighting how individual and/or collective initiatives keep us connected.

Speakers:

Katherine Marshall, Executive Director, World Faiths Development Dialogue

Katherine Marshall is a senior fellow at the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs, where she leads the center's work on religion and global development, and a professor of the practice of development, conflict, and religion in the Walsh School of Foreign Service. She helped to create and now serves as the executive director of the World Faiths Development Dialogue. Marshall, who worked at the World Bank from 1971 to 2006, has nearly five decades of experience on a wide range of development issues in Africa, Latin America, East Asia, and the Middle East, particularly those facing the world's poorest countries. She led the World Bank's faith and ethics initiative between 2000 and 2006. Marshall is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and was previously a trustee of Princeton University. Marshall has a B.A. from Wellesley College, an M.A. from Princeton University, an MPA from Princeton's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, and an honorary doctorate from the University of Cambodia.

Jerome Tennille, Manager, Marriott International

Jerome Tennille is the Manager of Social Impact & Volunteerism for Marriott International. Jerome is also an independent consultant and advisor in the subject matter of Sustainability and Social Impact. Prior to that Jerome held the position of Senior Manager of Impact Analysis and Assessment for Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), a national organization that offers help, hope, and healing to all those grieving the death of a loved one serving in America's armed forces. Jerome also served on the board of directors of Peace Through Action USA for four years and also serves on the PsychArmor Institute Advisory Committee for the School of Volunteers & Nonprofits. Jerome holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in operations management and a Master of Sustainability Leadership (MSL) from Arizona State University. Jerome is designated as Certified in Volunteer Administration (CVA) and is also a veteran of the US Navy.

Kim R. Ford, President and CEO, Martha's Table

Kim R. Ford serves as President and CEO of Martha's Table. Ford previously served as Deputy Assistant Secretary and Acting Assistant Secretary in the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education. Previously, Ford served as the Dean of Workforce Development and Lifelong Learning at the University of the District of Columbia Community College (UDC-CC). Prior to joining UDC-CC, Ford served in the Obama Administration's Recovery Implementation Office. She directed working relationships between the Office of the Vice President and eight federal agencies on Recovery Act programs. Ford holds a Bachelor's Degree in International Business from Vanderbilt University and a Master's Degree in Public Administration from the University of Pennsylvania.

On September, 24 moderators, Joel O. Rainey, and speaker, Jason Criss Hawk, speaker, engaged in an authentic exchange on "A Baptist Army Veteran's Journey with Islam".

Our next Coffee Night speaker program featured podcast host, award-winning author, and university lecturer Jason Howk. An army veteran of Baptist confession, Howk shared with us his stimulating story that connected his first career as a military officer to a second and no less interesting one as an interfaith speaker and lecturer on Islam.

"...Howk believes in a different approach to interfaith work. Typically, a Christian explains Christianity, a Jew explains Judaism, a Muslim explains Islam and so on. He's flipped that formula on its head – and it's worked." Stephen Lanzi, Auburn Magazine.

Moderator: Joel O. Rainey, Ph.D. Joel O. Rainey is currently Lead Pastor at Covenant Church in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. He is a sought-after speaker, and in addition to his pastoral duties, serves on the adjunct faculty of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, North Carolina. Dr. Rainey has been involved in planting more than 100 new churches in North America, has trained pastors and church planters nationally, and internationally, and has intercultural experience on five continents. In addition to the following books, The Story: God's Grand Narrative; Our Great Hope (CreateSpace, 2017), Speaking from a Firm Foundation (CreateSpace, 2013), Planting Churches in the Real World (Missional Press, 2012), Side-Stepping Landmines: Five Principles for Pastor Search Teams (CreateSpace, 2012), he was also a contributing author to the Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Broadman & Holman, 2003), and has written numerous articles for publication related to the church and its global mission. His writing has appeared in the Great Commission Research Journal, SBC Voices, The Gospel Coalition, Evangelical Missions Quarterly, churchleaders.com, The Christian Post, and the Washington Post, and he has represented the evangelical perspective to news outlets such as Al Jazeera America, and the Baltimore Sun.

Speaker:

Jason Criss Howk, Retired U.S. Army Foreign Area Officer

Jason spent over twenty years focused on the Broader Middle East and Islam in the Department of Defense. He is currently the host of "We're Just Talking About It," a podcast that explains Islam to non-Muslims in plain English. For over 5 years he has led religious dialogue discussions about Islam across the United States to dispel myths and stereotypes about Muslim cultures. He is the award winning author of The Qur'an: A Modern-English Chronological Interpretation and numerous other works. Jason is an Islamic studies professor at the USAF Special Operations School.

For over 29 years he has conducted defense, diplomacy, education, and intelligence missions globally. Jason holds a MA in Middle East and South Asia Security Studies from the Naval Postgraduate School. Jason studied Dari (Afghan Farsi) and Arabic at the Defense LanguageInstitute and is a Malone Fellow in Arab and Islamic Studies.

Jason was a term-member in the Council on Foreign Relations and is sought by various journalists for his insights. For his work on Afghanistan over a 12 year period Major Howk was awarded two Bronze Star Medals and the Legion of Merit from the U.S. Department of Defense. For his direct work with Afghan officials he was awarded the Afghanistan Governmental Success Medal from the President of Afghanistan.

On August 22 as we mark the second International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief Sabrina Dent, Richard T. Foltin, Kristen Lavery, and The Rev. William H. Lamar IV shared their insights on religious freedom.

Freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) is the protection of the conscience and the free exercise of people's understanding of the ultimate truth. It is not only a fundamental right but also an individual, institutional, private and public right as well. As enshrined in the First Amendment, the Articles 18,19, and 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights also protect the rights to freedom of religion or belief, freedom of opinion and expression, the right to peaceful assembly and association. However, not every region is always a stronghold of allowing people to live by their core values and beliefs. The rate of ill-treatment against religious institutions, people, objects, or events is increasing significantly.

On August 22, 2019, UN General Assembly recognized this by adopting a resolution declaring "International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief".

Upholding these rights and responding to the alarming increase in persecutions of religious people and communities around the world, we believe within the scope of open, constructive, and respectful exchanges at various platforms across local, national, and international levels will be invaluable assets in confronting these ongoing acts of intolerance. To that end, Rumi Forum has invited distinguished speakers to address various dimensions of the topic.

On August 20th, our moderator Sabrina Dent and speakers Richard T. Foltin, Kirsten Lavery, and Rev. William H. Lamar IV, will share their insights on highlight mechanisms to prevent unfair treatments towards individuals, communities, and minorities.

Moderator:

Sabrina Dent, Senior Faith Adviser, Americans United for Separation of Church and State

Sabrina is a life-long advocate for human rights and social justice. Throughout her career, she has worked with vulnerable populations including women and children impacted by domestic violence and abuse, youth with mental health and behavioral challenges, and racial and religious minorities. However, she developed a passion as a religious freedom advocate in 2015 when she became a Fellow with the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Freedom. Before joining the AU team, Sabrina worked as director of recruitment and admissions at the Religious Freedom Center of the Freedom Forum. Prior to her time at the Religious Freedom Center, Sabrina served as program coordinator for the Doctor of Ministry Program at the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University (STVU). Sabrina is the past president of the Interfaith Community of Greater Richmond. Sabrina earned her master of divinity degree and doctor of ministry degree from STVU. She earned her bachelor's degree from Virginia Tech.

Speakers:

Richard T. Foltin, Fellow, Religious Freedom Center of the Freedom Forum

Richard T. Foltin is a fellow at the Religious Freedom Center of the Freedom Forum. He served in a number of positions at the American Jewish Committee, most recently as director of national and legislative affairs in the AJC's Office of Government and International Affairs in Washington, D.C., from 2009 to 2018. Prior to coming to AJC, he was an associate with the litigation department of Stroock & Stroock & Lavan, a New York law firm. Mr. Foltin serves on the governing council of the American Bar Association's Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice and as co-chair of the section's Religious Freedom Committee; he previously served as chair and co-chair of the section's First Amendment Rights Committee. Mr. Foltin is a member of the Committee on Religious Liberty, founded by the National Council of Churches and today convened by the Religious Freedom Center of the Freedom Forum. Mr. Foltin received his B.A. in Political Science from New York University and his J.D. from Harvard Law School. He is a member of the bars of New York State, Washington DC, and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Kirsten Lavery, Supervisory Policy Analyst, United States Commission on International Religious Freedom

Kirsten Lavery is Supervisory Policy Analyst and Team Lead for International Law, Africa, and Latin America for the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom. Prior to joining USCIRF, Ms. Lavery worked at the Public International Law & Policy Group and provided legal and policy assistance to civil society representatives in conflict and post-conflict states. Her work focused on transitional justice and human rights documentation, as well as legal and policy reforms to advance human rights protections. Ms. Lavery has also worked on a range of international legal issues at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, the UN Office of Legal Affairs, the UN Office of Human Resources Management, and the International Narcotics Control Board. Ms. Lavery previously practiced law in the New York office of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, where she focused on international criminal investigations. Through her pro bono practice and prior clinic work, she has experience representing clients in immigration proceedings, including in asylum cases based on religious persecution. She holds a B.A. in Government and Spanish from Franklin & Marshall College and a J.D. with a specialization in International & Comparative Law from Tulane University Law School.

Rev. William H. Lamar IV, Pastor, Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church

The Rev. William H. Lamar IV is pastor of Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C. He previously served Turner Memorial AME Church in Maryland and three churches in Florida: Monticello, Orlando and Jacksonville. He is a former managing director at Leadership Education at Duke Divinity. While he continues to advocate for his community of Washington, D.C., you can find Rev. Lamar fueling his faith by proudly supporting the Poor People's Campaign, the Washington Interfaith Network or every Sunday at pulpit of AME Church. Lamar is a graduate of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and Duke Divinity School. He is the co-host of "Can These Bones," the Faith & Leadership podcast.

On Thursday, August 6, with her mesmerizing storytelling narrative, Sarah Snyder was with us. She presented an illuminating and vivid depiction of her journey, which started at a retreat center in Scotland, followed by a succession of unforgettable memories.

Her presentation of the humorous memoir Plant Trees, Carry Sheep: A Woman's Spiritual Journey Among the Sufis of Scotland included the following segments.

When Sarah Snyder left her home in Montana to volunteer to plant trees at a private estate in Scotland, she expected a pleasurable six-month break from her humdrum life. When she arrived, however, she learned she would also be caring for a menagerie of poultry, doing rigorous household chores, and shepherding a flock of truant sheep. Her experience turned out to be a soul-forging adventure that changed her entire relationship with life—and with God—forever.

Six months turned into two years and resulted in her memoir Plant Trees, Carry Sheep: A Woman's Spiritual Journey Among the Sufis of Scotland. With self-deprecating humor, the memoir chronicles her time at the spiritual retreat, where people from all over the world came to study Ibn Arabi and Rumi.

Among the backdrop of relentless cold and rain, unruly livestock and never-ending chores, she navigates peculiar rituals, the challenges of communal living, and spiritual teachings that, at first, appeared at odds with her own Christian upbringing. Here, Sarah's exposure to Islam helped her better understand the religion and see God, as well as herself, in a different light.

Sarah discussed the retreat, told a few stories, and answered questions.

On Tuesday, July 7, Sabeeha Rehman and Walter Ruby shared the wonderful story of their upcoming book, "We Refuse to be Enemies", about how the paths of a Muslim woman and a Jewish man crossed and led to a joint endeavor for a meaningful purpose.

Sabeeha Rehman and Walter Ruby, a Muslim-American woman of Pakistani origin and a Jewish-American man who spent his formative years in Israel, will share their story of how they connected and embarked on a mission to bring their respective communities together in their common homeland, America.

Growing up in Pakistan, Sabeeha never met a Jew, her view colored by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In his youth, Walter never met a Muslim, his opinion shaped by Leon Uris's Exodus. What changed their perceptions? How did they fare in nurturing Muslim-Jewish communication and cooperation? Sabeeha and Walter will share their experiences of facing pushback from their communities, overcoming obstacles and bringing together Muslims and Jews to explore unexpected commonalities between their faiths; to work together to help people in need and stand together against bigotry. Finally, they will offer their vision for reconciliation.

Sabeeha and Walter have co-authored a book, We Refuse to be Enemies. How Muslims and Jews can make Peace, One Friendship at a Time, due for publication in Spring 2021. It is their hope that this book will inspire people of all faiths and ethnicities to reach out to each other and heal our nation.

Speakers of the Event

SABEEHA REHMAN is the author of the 2016 memoir, "Threading My Prayer Rug. One Woman's Journey from Pakistani Muslim to American Muslim," Short-Listed for the 2018 William Saroyan International Prize for Writing, the book also received several other nominations and awards. She is also an op-ed contributor to the Wall Street Journal and New York Daily News. In the early 1980s, concerned about raising her sons as Muslims in the absence of a Muslim community, she set to work, and her commitment culminated in the building of a mosque on Staten Island where her family lived. Sabeeha, who holds a Masters in Healthcare Administration, served as a hospital executive for 25 years. Thereafter, responding to her grandson's autism diagnosis, she co-founded the NY Chapter of the National Autism Association and served as its President from 2008-11. As a public speaker, she has spent several decades engaging in interfaith dialogue and now serves as a board member of the Muslim-Jewish Solidarity Committee as well as the NY Chapter of the National Autism Association. She blogs on topics related to American Muslim experience at www.sabeeharehman.com/blog. She lives in New York City with her husband Khalid, a retired Hematologist/Oncologist.

WALTER RUBY is a veteran activist in Muslim-Jewish relations. From 2008-2017, in the position of Muslim-Jewish Relations Director at the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, he organized hundreds of twinning events; bringing together thousands of Jews and Muslims in over 30 countries on five continents, including members of mosques and synagogues and Muslim and Jewish organizations. Ruby presently serves as executive director of Jews, Muslims and Allies Acting Together (JAMAAT), a grassroots community of Muslim, Jewish and Interfaith activists in Greater Washington; and as Coordinator of the Washington Area Chapter of Project Rozana, which works to strengthen ties between Israelis and Palestinians through health care.

Ruby is currently co-authoring a book with Muslim-American author Sabeeha Rehman entitled We Refuse To Be Enemies: How Muslims and Jews Can Make Peace, One Friendship at a Time. Ruby has worked as a reporter and commentator for more than 40 years, mainly for American Jewish and Israeli publications. His articles and op-eds have appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, USA Today and other media. Walter lives in Washington, D.C. with his wife Tatayna.