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    A New Resource for Promoting Interfaith Understanding

    New from Judson Press, Confronting Islamophobia in the Church: Liturgical Tools for Justice challenges Christians to stand against anti-Muslim prejudice as an expression of discipleship. Authors Anna Piela and Michael Woolf expose the Church's complicity in Islamophobia and offer a faithful path toward change through study, worship, and interfaith engagement.

    Blending sharp history, "holy envy" theology, and practical tools for clergy, seminarians, and lay leaders, this book makes interfaith learning both accessible and transformative. Drawing on both Islamic and Christian traditions - from reverence for prophetic figures to shared acts of prayer, fasting, and generosity - it invites readers to replace fear with solidarity.

  • Reviews of the Book

    Who's talking about it

    Praise from an interfaith activist

    As a representative of the Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign: Standing with American Muslims, Advancing American Ideals, a network of people of faith and goodwill working to understand, counter, and prevent Islamophobia in the U.S., this is a book we have long been waiting for. It is a must-read for our Christian partners, and an invitation for all of us, regardless of our faith or background, to do the work of building an America that moves closer to its ideals of religious liberty and human dignity for all.” - Nina M. Fernando, Executive Director, The Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign

    Praise from a scholar of Islamophobia

    “Piela and Woolf chart new territory by offering Christian leaders accessible liturgical resources for countering Islamophobia. They make a compelling case that worship and ritual are not peripheral but rather essential to a robust Christian response to Islamophobia and to the cultivation of authentic and mutually inspiring relationships between Christians and Muslims."— Todd Green, Author of The Fear of Islam: An Introduction to Islamophobia in the West

    Praise from a faith leader and change advocate

    “Anna Piela and Michael Woolf draw on their pastoral experience and scholarship to create a wonderful and needed resource for pastors and others who shape worship services. The authors provide thoughtful and helpful ways to develop and experience worship that is transformative in attitudes and practices towards Muslims and, by extension, to people of other faiths.”— Rev. Dr. A. Roy Medley, General Secretary Emeritus, American Baptist Churches

  • About the Authors

    Rev. Dr. Anna Piela and Rev. Dr. Michael Woolf are a married clergy couple ordained in the American Baptist Churches USA. Together they founded Challenging Islamophobia Together Chicagoland, an interfaith action network that equips communities of faith to fight anti-Muslim prejudice. Anna is the senior writer at ABHMS and the editor the Christian Citizen, while Michael is the senior minister of Lake Street Church of Evanston. Michael rose to national prominence as the face of faith-based resistance to ICE in Chicago through a viral Reuters photograph in late 2025.

  • More About the Book

    This work is not just a primer on Islam - it empowers Christians to take seriously the task of fighting Islamophobia through an easy to use lectionary resource and the development of "holy envy" theology.

  • The Book in the Media

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    (RNS) — In ‘Confronting Islamophobia in the Church: Liturgical Tools for Justice,’ the authors argue that learning about Islam can help Christians better appreciate and practice their own tradition. Read more here.

    Muslim Network TV

    Authors Anna Piela and Michael Woolf joined Imam Abdul Malik Mujahid to talk about why now is an important time for Christians to join the fight against Islamophobia.

    Word & Way

    This episode of Dangerous Dogma features a conversation between Word&Way Editor Brian Kaylor and American Baptist ministers Anna Piela and Michael Woolf on Islamophobia, immigration, and how Christians can better engage with interfaith efforts.

    MSNOW Weekend Primetime

    In December, Rev. Dr. Michael Woolf joined Weekend Prime Time to talk about the intersection of Islamophobia, immigration cruelty, and white Christian natioalism.

  • Contact Us

    Do you have a book group? Want us to preach or lead a workshop? Interested in booking us as a guest on your podcast or show? We're only a click away, and we'd be delighted to talk about the book in pretty much any format you can think of.