Education:
1999- Ph.D. in Religion. University of St. Andrews (Scotland). “The Early Arabic Versions of Job (first millennium C.E.)"
1980- B.D. in Old Testament Languages and Literature, University of St. Andrews.
1977- M.S. in Arabic, Georgetown University.
1974- B.S.F.S. cum laude in International Affairs, Georgetown University.
Academic and Ecclesiastical Positions:
Hartford Seminary, Hartford, Connecticut (1989-97, 1999-present):
Library Director (2003-present)
Reference and Learning Resources Librarian (2001-2002)
Adjunct Professor of Arabic (1990-97, 1999-present)
Inventory Preparation, Arabic Manuscript Collection (1989-1994)
First Congregational Church, South Egremont, Massachusetts (2012-present): Interim Supply Pastor
Colebrook Congregational Church, Colebrook, Connecticut (1999-2001): Pastor
Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut:
Visiting Assistant Professor of Religion, 2003-2005
Lecturer in Modern Languages (Arabic), Religion (Islam), and International Studies (Middle East), 1992-1999
Chair (pro tempore), Middle Eastern Studies, spring semester 1998
Fellowship of Connecticut Congregational Christian Churches, Hartford, Connecticut (1988-97): Executive Secretary (head of denomination)
First Congregational Church of Barkhamsted, Barkhamsted, Connecticut (1981-1988): Pastor
Teaching Expertise:
Arabic: Classical and Modern Standard, Introductory and Intermediate Levels
Islam: Introductory; Sufism; Qur’an; Hadith
French: Elementary; Conversational (Community College adjunct)
Conference Leadership:
Institute for Pastors and Pastoral Workers on Islam/Christian-Muslim Relations, June 26 – July 2, 2005, and June 25-30, 2007, Georgetown University. I presented units on the Qur’an and Its Interpretation, the Mosque, Pastoral Concerns in “mixed marriages”, etc., and led a dozen studies on Qur’anic passages. The Institute was co-sponsored by the Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, Georgetown University, and the Duncan Black Macdonald Center for the Study of Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations, Hartford Seminary.
On-Line Instruction:
In conjunction with Beliefnet.com, I was one of half a dozen scholars leading a nationwide two-month, non-credit course on Islam during October and November of 2001.
Connecticut Humanities Council:
I assisted in planning and executing, in the aftermath of 9/11, a series of book discussions in public libraries throughout Connecticut on Islam in the United States under the program “Time for Ideas in Libraries,” for which I personally led dozens of discussion groups. Since the end of that program, I have continued leading discussion groups on works by modern Middle Eastern authors such as Azar Nafisi and Orhan Pamuk.
Public Service:
Board of Directors, New England Chamber Choir, 1996-present
Board of Directors, Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority, 2005-09
Public Lectures (selected):
For over a decade I have lectured extensively throughout the northeast on topics such as the following:
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Christianity and Islam: Two Abrahamic Faiths” – Presentation, intended for a Christian audience, concerning some points of contact between two of the world’s largest religious communities.
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“Family from a Christian Perspective” – Panel presentation on “The Family” sponsored by the Muslim Student Association, University of Hartford.
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“Islam: the Arab Homeland” - “Islam: Central and South Asia” - “Islam: the Diaspora” – Three talks presented on a number of occasions, including the Fall School of Religion of the Second Church of Christ (“South Church”), Hartford.
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“Islam and the Concept of Holy War” – prepared in the light of the events of September 11
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“Islam in the 20th Century” – revised in the light of the events of September 11
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“Jerusalem in Christian Thought” – Lecture given at Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut, as part of a course, “Jerusalem 3000”, offered by Prof. Levana Polate, Lecturer in Hebrew, spring semester 1997.
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“Middle East Peace” – Presentation made for a Hartford Gifted Middle School Students program.
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“The Place of Jerusalem in Islamic Thought” – Panelist presentation in a forum on the 3000th anniversary of Jerusalem for The Friends of Israel, Yale University, April 19, 1998; revised and presented at an ecumenical (Jewish-Christian) forum, First Congregational Church of Fairfield, CT (2002)
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“Primitive Religion: Animism” - “Primitive Religion: Shamanism” - “Primitive Religion: Totemism” – Three talks presented at the Fall School of Religion, Hartford.
Publications
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“The Book of Khalid,” al-Arabiyya, 9, 1-2 (1976), 19-25. Publication of my remarks for a panel discussion on the works of Amin al-Rihani, a Lebanese-American author, at the Middle East Studies Association meeting of 1974 in Los Angeles.
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TESOL Placement Quarterly. Washington, D.C.: Center for Applied Linguistics, 1980-81 (Executive Editor)
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The Congregational Ranger. Hartford: Fellowship of Connecticut Congregational Christian Churches, 1988-97 (Executive Editor)
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“The Arabic Language Manuscript Collection in Hartford,” Muslim World, LXXX, 1 (1990), 56-7.
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The Arabic Manuscript Collection: Interim Report. Hartford: Hartford Seminary, 1991. (Inventory of the Seminary’s collection of over 1700 Arabic language mss.
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“Mysteries of the Scribes,” in The Illuminated Manuscripts of Hartford Seminary. Hartford: Hartford Seminary, 1994.
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“How God Speaks”, The Congregationalist, 159, 3 (1999), 12-14.
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“‘Who Is My Neighbor?’ Reflections on the Anniversary of September 11”, The Congregationalist, 162, 3 (2002), 24-27.
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“Christianity and Islam in an Early Arabic Version of the Book of Job: The Interplay of Theology and Translation,” Slovo, Vol. 3 (Fall 2000), pp. 1-10.
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“Islamic Perspectives on Jerusalem,” ZH Online (2006)
Forthcoming Publication:
Introduction from the Protestant Perspective, and Commentary as Footnotes to the English Translation of the Sublime Quran (Laleh Bakhtiar, trans.) Chicago: Kazi Publications.
Reviews
Hamid Dabashi’s Authority in Islam for the Muslim World, LXXXI, 2 (1991), 168-69.
Jorgen Nielsen’s Towards a European Islam: Migration, Minorities, and Citizenship for the Muslim World, XCII, 3&4 (2002), 486-87
Malika Mokeddem’s Of Dreams and Assassins for the Muslim World, XCII, 3&4 (2002), 492-94.
Marc Gopin’s Holy War, Holy Peace: How Religion Can Bring Peace to the Middle East for Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries, (www.choicemag.org) Vol. 40, No. 3 (November 2002), 40-1484.
Richard G. Hovanessian and Georges Sabagh, eds: The Persian Presence in the Islamic World for the Muslim World, XCIII, 1 (2003), 145-48.
George Mattawa and Munir Akash, eds: Post-Gibran Anthology of New Arab American Writing for the Muslim World, XCIII, 1 (2003), 144-45.
Lewis V. Baldwin and Amiri Yasin al-Hadid: Between Cross and Crescent: Christian and Muslim Perspectives on Malcolm and Martin for Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries, (www.choicemag.org) Vol. 40, No. 8 (April 2003), 40-4548.
George C. DeCasa: The Qur’anic Concept of Umma and its Function in Philippine Muslim Society for the Muslim World, XCIII, 2(2003), 343-44.
Linda S. Walbridge, ed: The Most Learned of the Shi`a: the institution of the marja` taqlid for the Muslim World, XCIII, 2(2003), 323-25.
Seyyed Hossein Nasr: Islam: Religion, History, and Civilization for Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries, (www.choicemag.org) Vol. 41, No. 1 (September 2003), 41-0252.
Lamia Rustum Shehadeh. The Idea of Women in Fundamentalist Islam for Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries, (www.choicemag.org) Vol. 41, No. 4 (December 2003), 41-2134.
Vartan Gregorian: Islam: A Mosaic, Not a Monolith for Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries, (www.choicemag.org) Vol. 41, No. 8 (April 2004), 41-4594.
Yvonne Yazbeck Haddad and John L. Esposito: Daughters of Abraham: Feminist Thought in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam for the Muslim World, XCIV, 3(2004), 408-10.
S. A. Nigosian: Islam: Its History, Teaching, and Practices for Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries, (www.choicemag.org) Vol. 42, No. 3 (November 2004), 42-1504.
Robert R. Bianchi: Guests of God: Pilgrimage and Politics in the Islamic World for Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries (www.choicemag.org) Vol. 42, No. 8 (April 2005), 42-4585.
Mamdouh N. Mohamed: Salaat: The Islamic Prayer from A to Z for Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries (www.choicemag.org) Vol. 43, No. 1 (September 2005), 43-0263.
Peter Adamson and Richard C. Taylor, eds. The Cambridge Companion to Arabic Philosophy for Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries (www.choicemag.org) Vol. 43, No. 2 (October 2005), 43-0860.
Farid Esack. The Qur’an: a user’s guide for Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries (www.choicemag.org) Vol. 43, No. 7 (March 2006), 43-3983.
Kenneth Cragg. Faith at Suicide: lives forfeit: violent religion - human despair for Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries (www.choicemag.org) Vol. 43, No. 8 (April 2006), 43-4604.
Kees Versteegh, et al, eds. Encyclopedia of Arabic Language and Linguistics: Volume1: A-Ed for Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries (www.choicemag.org) Vol. 43, No. 11 (July 2006), 43-6237.
Amin, Samir and Ali El Kenz. Europe and the Arab World: Patterns and Prospects for the New Relationship for Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries (www.choicemag.org) Vol. 43, No. 11 (July 2006), 43-6793.
Said Bakhtaoui and Mohammad Ballour: Shi`ism: waiting for the hidden Imam (film) for the Muslim World, XCVI, 3(2006), 535-36.
Liyakat N. Takim: The Heirs of the Prophet: Charisma and Religious Authority in Shi`ite Islam for Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries (www.choicemag.org) Vol. 44, No. 8 (March 2007), 44-3824.
Kabir Helminski: The Book of Language: Exploring the Spiritual Vocabulary of Islam for Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries (www.choicemag.org) Vol. 44, No. 9 (April 2007), 44-4408.
Wolfdietrich Fischer: A Grammar of Classical Arabic, translated from the German by Jonathan Rodgers, for the Muslim World XCIII, 3 (July 2007), 537-39.
Seyyed Hossein Nasr: Islamic Philosophy from Its Origin to the Present: Philosophy in the Land of Prophecy for Reviews in Religion and Theology Vol. 14, 3 (July 2007), 436-40.
Tariq Ramadan: In the Footsteps of the Prophet: Lessons from the Life of Muhammad for Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries (www.choicemag.org) Vol. 45, No. 3 (November 2007), 45-1422.
Carol Bakhos: Ishmael on the Border: Rabbinic Portrayals of the First Arab for Reviews in Religion and Theology Vol. 15, 1 (January 2008), 66-67.
Oxford Encyclopedia of the Islamic World for Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries (www.choicemag.org) Vol. 47, No. 1 (September 2009), 47-0052.
Forthcoming Book Reviews:
Paula Youngman Skreslet and Rebecca Skreslet: The Literature of Islam for the Muslim World.
Antoine Sfeir, ed: Columbia World Dictionary of Islamism for Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries.
Middle Eastern Travel and Residencies:
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Cairo, Egypt
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Kibbutz Nachshulim, Israel
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Nahariyya, Israel
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Beirut, Lebanon
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Valetta, Malta
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Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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Tunis, Tunisia
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Taybeh (near Ramallah), West Bank
Ordination:
Congregational Christian Churches Ecclesiastical Council of the Vicinage (June 1982), held at Pilgrim Congregational Church, Glen Ellyn, Illinois
Denominational and Ecumenical Service:
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Board of Directors, American Congregational Association, Boston, Massachusetts (2000-2003); committee assignment: Personnel
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Member, Piedmont College (Georgia) Presidential Advisory Committee (1992-95)
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Chair (1989-90, 1991-92), World Christian Relations Commission, National Association of Congregational Christian Churches (full term of service: 1987-1992)
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Ecumenical Observer to the Council of Christian Churches within the Unitarian-Universalist Association (1989-96) from the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches
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Non-Constituency Representative to the National Council of Churches of Christ’s Office on Christian-Muslim Relations (Faith and Order Commission), New York, New York (1986-90)
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Observer, World Alliance of Reformed Churches (Presbyterian and Congregational) Caribbean and North American Area Council (1990-91)
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Devotional Leader, International Congregational Fellowship (1985)
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Member, Greater Winsted Area Ministerial Association (1981-88, 1999-2001)
Honors and Recognitions:
Phi Beta Kappa – elected 1974
Alpha Sigma Nu (National Jesuit Honors Society) – elected 1974
Phi Alpha Theta (National Honors Society in History) – elected 1973
Yeaman and Moncreiffe Award in Theology, University of St. Andrews – 1977
William A. Darling Award in Hebrew, University of St. Andrews – 1978
Initial listings in “Who’s Who in the East” 22nd ed., “Who’s Who in Religion” 4th ed., “Men of Achievement” 16th ed., “Who’s Who of Emerging Leaders in America” 3rd ed., “Who’s Who Among Young American Professionals 1992-93”
