Abstract
The setting of the Sultanate of Oman combined with the heritage of the Arabian Mission of the Reformed Church in America has created a unique context for the work of the Al Amana Centre. This article will explore the history and modern-day experience of tolerance and pluralism in Oman, the historical, theological movements of the Reformed Church in America missionaries toward a more accepting view of Islam, and how these two combine to create opportunities for participants in Al Amana Centre’s programing to discover and experience reconciliation. This article will draw upon scholars who have a long history with Oman, the stories and history of the Arabian Mission, and accounts of the current work of Al Amana Centre.
Rev. Justin Meyers is the Executive Director of Al Amana Centre in Muscat Oman. Rev. Meyers is ordained in the Reformed Church in America and has lived and worked in Oman since 2013.
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Notes
- 1.
- 2.
The author of the article has witnessed both conversions to Islam and invitations to embrace Islam at events held at the Grand Mosque and in the visitor center. The author is also aware of non-Christians embracing the Christian tradition at the churches in Oman.
- 3.
The author works at the Al Amana Centre which is a legacy organization of the Arabian Mission, and this is his personal belief and he believes it to be shared by his colleagues.
- 4.
This was told to the author by an Omani national visiting Al Amana Centre.
- 5.
This quote was confirmed by Margaret Shurdom, Jay Kapinga’s daughter.
- 6.
A small number of programs have also included Hindus, Sikhs, Jews, and Buddhists.
- 7.
Oman has sites of religious worship for Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Buddhist, and Sikhs and allows provisions for other groups to worship in other designated spaces. Worship of any kind is allowed in homes as long as it does not disturb the public peace.
- 8.
The expection to this is Bahrain where the American Mission Hospital remains an independent hospital and an independent school that are led by Reformed Church in America Global Mission personnel.
- 9.
The legend is that the hospital was sold for 1 Omani Rial or about $2.60 USD.
- 10.
Noted earlier Jay and Marjory Kapinga were recalled and hired by the Ministry of Heritage to work on promoting rural handicrafts.
- 11.
Translated by Abdel Hareem and can be found at http://www.scripturalreasoning.org/uploads/8/0/7/8/80786736/peacemaking.pdf last accessed October 15, 2020.
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Meyers, J. (2022). The Heritage of the Arabian Mission of the Reformed Church in America, the Omani Context, and the Work of Al Amana Centre. In: AlDajani, I.M., Leiner, M. (eds) Reconciliation, Heritage and Social Inclusion in the Middle East and North Africa. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-08713-4_22
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