The International Association for the Study of Youth Ministry - Conference: "Muslim and Christian Youth as the Present Future"

Conference: "Muslim and Christian Youth as the Present Future"

Middle East Conference IV
14th - 18th June 2010 - Beirut, Lebanon
There is, in the non-Muslim world, a high degree of ignorance and fear of Islam and Muslims. This is often fueled by media that focuses on violent and extremist expressions of Islam, adopted by a small, but vocal minority. Images of young men, prepared to kill, and be killed, ‘for their faith' creates a high level of fear. This fear leads to a lack of willingness to engage with Muslims in friendly and peaceable ways. It also limits our ability to be faithful to the life and teaching of Jesus in our relationship with those of other faiths, including Muslim young people, in ways that will transform our ethics and our cultures.

It is young people that are often most marginalized, and who are most ‘at risk' of becoming radicalized, and drawn into violent types of extremism. This has disastrous consequences for them, their communities, and for all humanity. A backlash against Muslim young people is often the result. The Church must respond to these challenges in appropriate ways, rather than adding to the already tense situation through aggressive and polemic approaches. The Church must address the needs and concerns of young people within the community that it serves, communities that are likely to include young Muslims.

Young people have a significant role to play within their own faiths, as well as in the positive engagement between those of different faiths. They are often at the forefront of new and emerging expressions of their faith, and can sometimes have a lot to teach the older generation, about the relevance of their faith within a globalized and rapidly changing world. Religious leaders need to support young people in their desire to share their faith, but they need to help them do so sensitively and appropriately. Recognizing young people's freedom to express their faith and interact with those of other faiths is a significant element of what it means to be part of a faith community in the 21st century.

It is young people who are often more open to building bridges between those of different faiths, and can lead the way in transforming enmity into peaceable relations. MEC VII will seek to encourage an understanding of, and commitment to, young people from both Muslim and Christian faiths. It will also demonstrate a commitment towards young people's role in expressing their faith and in their roles of peace building between people of faith. It will challenge extremism among both Christians and Muslims, and seek to explore positive ways to encourage healthy engagement.

The Institute of Middle East Studies [IMES], a department of Arab Baptist Theological Seminary [ABTS], hosts the annual Middle East Conference [MEC]. The MEC attracts world reputed Christian specialists in the fields of Islam, Middle Eastern Christianity and Christian Muslim Dialogue.

As part of our mission as a Baptist seminary in the multi-faith context of Lebanon the Middle East Conference is designed to serve the church. MEC VII will seek to support the church in developing the values, understandings and skills, needed to break down barriers between Christian and Muslim young people, leading to an authentic and vibrant Christ-like witness.
For information on how you can attend MEC-VII please contact IMES@abtslebanon.org or visit: http://www.abtslebanon.org/ .