The Oxford Muslim-Christian Summer School is a residential week of shared study between Muslims and Christians, in which we explore our differences with rigour, integrity and respect.  We aim to build relationships between future and early-career leaders in Christian and Muslim communities in the UK by educating and informing students about the other faith.  Westhill Endowment is generously supporting the Summer School in its 10th anniversary year and helping us to evaluate the impact the programme has had on its alumni and the difference this is making in their faith communities.

Background and Overview

In a world of conflict, stereotypes and suspicion, there is a desperate need for Muslims and Christians to understand each other’s faith. The Oxford Muslim-Christian Summer School brings together practising Christians and Muslims to share academic study on topics of common interest that breaks down barriers, enhances the student’s own studies, and equips them for their future careers. Participants attend lectures, workshops and tutorials led by Christian and Muslim academics exploring sacred texts, shared history, contemporary issues and difficult questions. The focus of this week-long residential course is on shared study and understanding of both the similarities and the differences between Christians and Muslims of diverse traditions. Participants discuss difficult topics, disagreements and social problems in a spirit of respect and empathy—not just towards people of other faiths but towards those from other traditions within their own faith community with whom they might have theological differences.
 
The 2025 Programme

This year we will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Summer School.  Our anniversary programme on Reunion Day (Sat 16th August) will bring together students, alumni, donors and participating colleges for a special celebration.  The event will feature special guest speakers Prof David Ford and Dr Timothy Winter (Abdal Hakim Murad) - both of Cambridge University - along with stories of how the Summer School has impacted some of our 130 alumni.   
 
The rest of the week’s programme will explore the history of Christian-Muslim encounters, contrasting political theologies, the different ways in which the two faiths understand the attributes of God and the place of human rights and the freedom of religion and belief in each tradition. There will be text readings from the Qur’an and the Bible about creation, the prophets, sin and the law along with visits to local mosques and churches. There will also be a special opportunity for the participants to view ancient manuscripts in the Bodleian Library.
 
The 2025 cohort will then return to Oxford in December for a reunion weekend which is all part of cementing the relationships established between believers from the two communities.