Dr. Sayyid M. Syeed, the National Director for the Office for Interfaith & Community Alliances for the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), will visit Redwood Falls in October to speak to public school students and a community meeting.
The events are the results of a dialogue Syeed and Scott Prouty, pastor at the 1st Presbyterian Church in Redwood Falls, began when Prouty was serving on the search committee for the stated clerk of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, according to the Redwood Falls Gazette.
Troy Krause reports in Moving beyond prejudice: Prouty learns about Islamic faith:
What is Islam?
Is it a religion of hatred and terror as is represented in factions like ISIS?
Scott Prouty, pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Redwood Falls had the opportunity to learn firsthand that the Islamic faith is not, at its heart, anything like that.
His understanding of Islam actually grew while he was serving on the search committee for the stated clerk of the Presbyterian Church in the United States.
During his service on that committee, Prouty was conducting some reference checks regarding one of the prospective candidates relating to interfaith interaction, as that is an important element of the role of state clerk for the Presbyterian Church.
That led to his first conversation with Dr. Sayyid M. Syeed, national director for the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA).
Subsequently, Prouty was invited to Washington, D.C. to be part of an interfaith and government outreach event in Washington, D.C. . . .
Read the details in the article. The relationship not only educated the southwestern Minnesota pastor, but moved him to ask the American Muslim leader to speak in Redwood Falls, Krause reports:
Prouty said there is a significant amount if misinformation being offered, especially on the Internet, and part of what Prouty is hoping to accomplish as a result of his visit is to help raise awareness of Islam. With that in mind, Prouty invited Dr. Syeed to come to Redwood Falls to talk about Islam.
“He speaks all over, and I wondered if he would come to a small town,” said Prouty.
Syeed agreed, and so this coming October he is going to pay a visit to the community.
Prouty brought up the idea of having Syeed talk with local students, and during its recent board meeting the local school board approved that request.
Prouty said a community meeting will also be held during Syeed’s visit.
“The level of hate of Muslims is on the rise,” said Prouty, adding this is one way he can help set the record straight.
This is an outstanding opportunity for people in the Upper Minnesota River Valley to educate themselves about Islam. We'll post more details as they are available. Read the whole article at the Gazette.
Photo: "Scott Prouty, pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Redwood Falls, met with Dr. Sayyid M. Syeed, the national director of the Islamic Society of North America during a visit to Washington, D.C. during a visit earlier this year" Via the Redwood Falls Gazette.
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