After the heights of the COVID-19 Pandemic and as the world entered the ‘new normal’ way of life, the Silsilah Dialogue Movement restarted the annual face-to-face Summer Course on Muslim-Christian Dialogue in Harmony Village, Pitogo, Sinunuc, Zamboanga City. A year ago, in 2021, online platform was utilized in order to continue this long-running program which has promoted the Culture of Dialogue as Path to Peace from Mindanao and to the whole world since 1984.
Held last July 1-16 2022, this year’s conduct of Silsilah Summer Course on Muslim-Christian Dialogue also celebrated its 36th year. And even when it was shortened to a sixteen-day course from the usual one-month Basic Course plus another one-week Intensive Course and one-week Special Course, the thirty-nine participants from different parts of Mindanao were both zealous and excited to learn more about the Culture of Dialogue through course lectures and exposures. In particular, this year’s summer course focused on the theme, “Christian Synodality and Islamic Ijma: Similarities, Differences and Challenges.” Along with this face-to-face mode, we also held an online summer course with the same theme within the same schedule.
Ever mindful of the growing challenge for dialogue and peace in the society nowadays, the participants of the face-to-face 36th Silsilah Summer Course on Muslim-Christian Dialogue have come up with the following
Statement of Commitment
“Living and being aware of the world in the midst of divisions and conflicts, socio-economic and ecological crises, religious and cultural biases, particularly in Mindanao, and our continuous battle on our health and medical care,
We, the participants of the 36th Silsilah Summer Course of Muslim-Christian Dialogue on “Christian Synodality and Islamic Ijma: Similarities, Differences and Challenges,” commit ourselves to:
Dialogue with God by allowing Him to transform our lives and be aware of His loving Presence in us,
Dialogue with ourselves by living our own faith with sincerity and openness to become loving and compassionate towards our brothers and sisters,
Dialogue with others by taking the first step to bear witness to God’s love by sincerely accepting each one as a gift from God, appreciating and respecting the diversity of our cultures, religious belief, and traditions,
Dialogue with Creation that we may be one in protecting and caring for our common home,
By these commitments, may we be the bearers of peace and harmony in living the core of our Spirituality that we are all connected with each other,
Journeying together towards one direction to bring people back to God.
In God’s Will! In Shah Allah!”
In the midst of the social realities we experience, Silsilah Dialogue Movement through its annual summer course will continue to form Muslims and Christians in the spirit of human fraternity and Culture of Dialogue. Padayon (move forward)!
Benson M. Rance, EDC