United Methodists and Muslim neighbors gathered Oct. 13 at Barrington UMC for an evening of fellowship, conversation and shared commitment to stand for others. Centered on the theme “Hope in Action: Standing Together Against Hate and Division,” the Methodist-Muslim Dinner encouraged participants to build relationships across faith traditions and put compassion into practice. 

Rev. Catiana McKay and Rev. Hwa-Young Chong chat with Meryem Rey.

Coordinated by the Committee on Christian Unity and Interreligious Relations of the Northern Illinois Conference and the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago, the gathering created space for participants to share a meal, exchange perspectives, and explore the values they hold in common. 

Bishop Dan Schwerin encouraged participants to embrace “and” thinking rather than believing they must choose one person or community over another. Reflecting on the biblical stories of Ishmael and Isaac, he reminded attendees that God’s love extends to both, offering a model for embracing others across differences. 

Diners enjoyed local Mediterranean food and engaging conversation.

Dr. Abdulghani Hamadeh, chair of CIOGC, emphasized the importance of recognizing shared humanity. “Our humanity, principles, and values are not different,” he said, affirming that everyone’s safety and dignity matter. 

NIC Keynote speaker, Rev. Dr. Hwa-Young Chong, Prairie North district superintendent, reflected on the history of division in her birth country and the ongoing work of building bridges toward inclusion and peace. She emphasized that efforts to create understanding in local communities contribute to peace around the world. “Local peace is global peace; global peace is local peace,” she said. 

Shaykh Nazir Chahin challenged those attending to lean into the theme of standing together.

Shaykh Nazir Chahin, resident scholar at the Islamic Society of Northwest Suburbs, was the keynote speaker for the CIOGC. He challenged participants to recognize that love alone is not the opposite of hate; acting on that love is. Hope, he explained, means taking responsibility for making tomorrow better. 

“Let us make a promise to leave having enlarged the circle of people whom we feel responsible for,” Chahin said. 

His challenge captured the evening’s central message, standing together requires more than good intentions. It calls for expanding concern for others, building relationships across differences, and taking action when neighbors suffer or face injustice.ng or injustice. 

Fellowship around table is a favorite part annual dinners.

The dinner continued a longstanding partnership between NIC and CIOGC, formalized through a Declaration of Relationship signed 20 years ago. Regular dialogue, shared social justice advocacy and dinner programs resumed in 2023 after a temporary pause during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

As participants shared conversation and fellowship, the evening reinforced that interfaith understanding grows through sustained relationships and shared action. By continuing dialogue, serving their communities together and teaching younger generations to embrace compassion, United Methodists and Muslims can put hope into action and help build a more inclusive and peaceful world.