Islam

To encourage academic and intellectual exploration between Christians and Muslims in Africa, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Asia, and Latin America.

Dialogue and Integrity

Many of Scholar Leaders’ most dynamic teachers and institutional partners serve in Muslim-majority contexts. Through years of listening closely to their experiences, needs, and challenges, Scholar Leaders discerned a call to support a fresh, contextually grounded approach to Christian–Muslim engagement.

Islam is not monolithic. Muslim communities reflect diverse theological traditions, ethnicities, cultures, languages, histories, and relationships to place. Christian communities living alongside Muslims are similarly diverse. Scholar Leaders therefore seeks to strengthen the capacity of Majority World Christians to engage Islam thoughtfully, respectfully, and with integrity, while creating space for Muslims to encounter Christianity as Christians understand and practice it.

With generous support from Templeton Religion Trust, Scholar Leaders has brought together Christian and Muslim scholars, theologians, religious leaders, and practitioners from across the Majority World to strengthen dialogue, scholarship, religious literacy, and practical cooperation through networking and collaboration.

Network of Centers for Christian-Muslim Relations

The Network of Centers for Christian–Muslim Relations (NCCMR) connects academic, religious, and interfaith centers committed to advancing constructive Christian–Muslim relations. Established in 2024, the Network currently brings together 27 member centers across 19 countries in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, alongside affiliate institutions in Europe and North America.

NCCMR creates opportunities for Christians and Muslims to engage in serious study, honest dialogue, and practical collaboration. Grounded in local contexts and informed by the long history of Christian–Muslim encounter, the Network supports scholarship and initiatives that promote mutual understanding, inclusive citizenship, and the common good.

NCCMR member centers collaborate through research, publications, webinars, training programs, conferences, and locally led peacebuilding initiatives. Major Network projects include, but are not limited to:

  • The Contextual Dictionary of Christian–Muslim Relations, being prepared in English, Arabic, and French;
  • The NCCMR–Domuni Universitas Diploma in Christian–Muslim Relations;
  • The Microgrants Initiative, which supports locally designed projects in dialogue, religious literacy, youth engagement, inclusive citizenship, and peacebuilding;
  • A multilingual website highlighting the work and resources of NCCMR member centers; and
  • The inaugural NCCMR Symposium, held in Cairo in July 2026 under the theme “The Future of Christian–Muslim Relations: Prospects and Challenges.”

Visit the Network of Centers for Christian–Muslim Relations website (www.NCCMR.org) to learn more about its members, programs, publications, and initiatives. 

May 2023 Network of Centers for Christian-Muslims Relations