A Historic & Unprecedented ‘Journey of Learning’

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CCMUP Newsletter February 2023

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CCMUP Newsletter October 2022

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Newsletter July 2022

New Christian-Muslim Centre in Cairo

New Christian-Muslim Centre in Cairo

Centre of Christian-Muslim Understanding & Partnership (CCMUP)

History

The Episcopal/Anglican Diocese of Egypt played an important role in the drafting of the interfaith agreement between the Anglican Communion and Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, signed in 2002 at Lambeth Palace in London. Since then, the Diocese and Al-Azhar have worked together on many community projects through Egypt, and have arranged and participated in an annual dialogue meeting.

The Centre of Christian-Muslim Understanding and Partnership (CCMUP) was established in 2022 in order to bring these projects together in one organization, in order to further develop and resource this vital work in the future. The idea for this Centre was developed and supported by the Anglican Archbishop of Alexandria, the Most Rev. Dr. Samy Fawzy Shehata, and His Eminence, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Dr Ahmed Al-Tayyeb. Archbishop Samy then asked Archbishop Emeritus Mouneer Anis to develop the Centre and serve as its first director.

Academic Courses

We offer academic courses & lectures  in both Christian and Islamic Studies in partnership with the Alexandria School of Theology and Al Azhar University in order to enable scholars and faith leaders to develop a deep and robust understanding of other faiths.

Workshops and Visits

We arrange visits to Christian and Islamic sites, such as the Al Azhar Mosque, and the Coptic Museum, among many other historically special sites.

Engaging Initiatives

The Centre of Christian-Muslim Understanding and Partnership organizes various projects at a grass-roots level to promote cooperation for the common good. Our initiatives involve working in schools, as well as creating projects to advance interfaith peace and cooperation, specially among the youth. One such initiative currently being carried-out is the ‘It Is Our Planet: Let Us Save It’ initiative, which provides educational resources on environmental issues to children and teenagers, to teach them how they can play an active positive role in protecting & restoring the environment.

Conflict Resolution & Peace-Building

Rather than being a cause of, or opportunity for, conflict, we believe that religion is essential for promoting peace between communities affected by sectarian strife. For this reason, the Centre is committed to training teams to go into areas of current or potential sectarian conflict in Egypt and beyond in order to promote understanding, peace and reconciliation.

Our Partner

Vision

We are committed to promoting peace and harmony between faith communities through advancing understanding of different faiths and cultures, and by working together for the common good.

Mission: Training, Engaging, Reconciliation

We aim to accomplish this vision through different projects, such as:

  • The provision of academic workshops on Christian and Islamic studies to current and future faith leaders.
  • Organizing projects and workshops for ordinary Christians and Muslims in order to practically work together for the improvement of our communities, and in order for ordinary people to better understand and develop friendly peaceful relations with those who hold to other faiths.
  • Providing training in methods of constructive interfaith & intercultural dialogue, reconciliation, and peace-making
  • Sending teams to work in areas with a historical pattern of sectarian conflict, to carry-out peace-building activities, in order to mitigate potential sectarian conflict.
  • Encouraging religious leaders to play an active role in raising awareness on environmental challenges and on the climate crisis, as well as to carry-out practical activities and projects among their communities to promote the protection and restoration of the environment.

Our Activities

  • Christian & Islamic Studies

  • Workshops & Field Visits

  • Grassroots Initiatives for Different Social Groups

  • Dialogue Initiatives

  • Conflict Resolution

  • Peace-building

  • Projects Promoting the Protection & Restoration of the Environment