Bishop Mouneer, formerly Provincial archbishop, is justly proud of his achievements and the achievements of the Diocese of Egypt in the field of inter-faith relationships. Speaking to a group of curious American visitors recently, he spoke with passion of his dream of a more complete understanding between Christians and Muslims leading to a more cohesive community and generally enhancing life in society.
He said that he favoured the term ‘engagement’ rather than ‘dialogue.’ Dialogue, he said, conjured up for him a picture of two people facing each other across a table, whereas engagement suggested people doing things together, learning about each other’s world view and making friends.
He outlined to his guests the recent history of Christian – Muslim relations in Egypt, making the case that this was an auspicious time to be concentrating on this area of religious life. A notable stage in the realization of his dream was the formation of Gusour (an Arabic word translating ‘bridges’), an Arts based organization for young people that brings together young people with a common interest regardless of their religious background. It is now more than ten years old and has impressive results to show. Gusour now includes an orchestra, classes and workshops in a variety of art and craft skills, a film club and drama group.
Ironically, he says, it is the Muslim young people who have entered into the spirit of Gusour most wholeheartedly. Asked why this should be, bishop Mouneer confesses that he feels the church had rather retreated from public life, and that young Christians who were culturally familiar with prayer groups and Bible studies found it difficult to make the adjustment.
A further milestone along the way was the establishment of the Granita coffee shop/ restaurant within the cathedral precincts in Cairo. From humble beginnings this has now become the place to go in the Zamalek district of the city, (which plays host to embassies and corporate organisations), with delicious food and a great reputation.
The dream has now taken a further, and in his view momentous step forward since the establishment of the Centre for Christian Muslim Understanding and Engagement in 2022. Its first director was specially head hunted by bishop Mouneer who has known Kareem Gerges from meeting him as a young boy in Port Said Church and has followed his subsequent career. Kareem has impressive credentials. Following graduation from the American University in Beirut and gaining a Masters degree in Geneva in political science, he worked for various NGOs including Oxfam before arriving at the Centre.
Kareem is inspired by the vision of a more peaceful society. As a schoolboy he remembers what it was like to be the only Christian in a cohort of two hundred Muslim children. Although he had Muslim friends, he experienced discrimination which is still vivid in his memory. He says that people in Egypt do not talk about religion and consequently prejudice is allowed to flourish. He sees great potential for cohesion in society and within the faith community. With regard to environmental issues for example, he believes that the faith community should be able to speak with one voice about the dangers the earth is facing, and also recognize the power that that voice would have within society to counter nihilistic pessimism and present a world affirming and positive vision.
During the summer, the Centre hosted an event whose rarity and indeed uniqueness Kareem found it difficult to over-emphasise. That was called Journey of Learning, and for four days it brought together students of theology from the Muslim Al Azhar School of Theology and Christian students of theology from Orthodox, Catholic and Presbyterian backgrounds , as well as Anglicans. The aim was to talk about religion in a way that encouraged listening. The aim was not to persuade or convert but to understand, to encourage genuine friendships and good and deep conversation. The group of thirty people was intentionally diverse, including gender balance as well as faith balance, representing Egyptian society as a whole. Although there were sessions introduced by scholars from each faith, the mealtimes were as important as those formal sessions. The responses at the end of the event commonly included words like ‘amazing’ and ‘wonderful.’ One Muslim participant wrote, “My treasure from these sessions is the beautiful companionships, feelings of love, warmth and understanding.” It is planned to hold three more such events in 2024.
The Centre would love to arrange visits for visitors from the UK and Ireland. Participation for ordinands or other students of theology at the Journey of Learning sessions is also possible through simultaneous translation and there is the possibility of an English language event. One of the American visitors asked bishop Mouneer in the Q and A session at the end of his presentation, why? why should we be involved in this? His answer:
because Jesus would have been involved in it. It is an expression of the love of God.