Planning Committee Members for: Confronting Religious Violence
The planning team members are a consortium of
students and faculty at Union Theological Seminary dedicated to providing a
safe and balanced environment in which to create this investigation.
The planning team consists of:
Rev. Dr. Conrad Fischer MD, a final year MA student and who directed the film Reconciliation or Extinction: The Destruction of Christian Shrines in Iraq and Syria, screened at the Sophia Institute Conference in December 2014, leads the conference planning team. Dr. Fischer is also Associate Professor of Physiology, Pharmacology and Medicine.
Alfred Pach PhD Final year MA student. Dr. Pach holds a PhD in anthropology. He is a cultural and medical anthropologist with a specialization in India and Nepal. He has worked in 10 developing countries on people-centered perceptions of infectious diseases and vaccine acceptance. He is also a spiritual director and member of the Sacred Thread Ministries that provides contemplative retreats and spiritual direction.
Rev. Amir Tawadrous. A Coptic Presbyterian Minister lives currently in United States of America. He is an Egyptian Christian Minister. He obtained four degrees. Bachelor of Social Science in Minya University. Master of Divinity (Bachelor of Theology) from Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo. Master of Theological Studies from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, Illinois. Master of Sacred Theology from Union Theological Seminary in New York City.
Maureen Dean, Final Year MDiv. in the capacities of clinical social worker, minister of religion, gender and child advocate, works alongside survivors and social change agents to address various forms of violence at the individual, family, work, community and global levels.
Ken Kurihara PhD, Final year MA student and historian.
Gregory Simpson PhD, Final year MDiv. student and Student Senate Co-Chair. Dr. Simpson also has a Doctorate in Organic Chemistry.
Faculty Members
John Anthony McGuckin DD. FRHist Soc.
Nielsen Professor of Early Church History, Union Theological Seminary
Professor of Byzantine Christian Studies
Columbia University.
John Thatamanil PhD
Associate Professor of Theology and World Religions
Union Theological Seminary
The planning team consists of:
Rev. Dr. Conrad Fischer MD, a final year MA student and who directed the film Reconciliation or Extinction: The Destruction of Christian Shrines in Iraq and Syria, screened at the Sophia Institute Conference in December 2014, leads the conference planning team. Dr. Fischer is also Associate Professor of Physiology, Pharmacology and Medicine.
Alfred Pach PhD Final year MA student. Dr. Pach holds a PhD in anthropology. He is a cultural and medical anthropologist with a specialization in India and Nepal. He has worked in 10 developing countries on people-centered perceptions of infectious diseases and vaccine acceptance. He is also a spiritual director and member of the Sacred Thread Ministries that provides contemplative retreats and spiritual direction.
Rev. Amir Tawadrous. A Coptic Presbyterian Minister lives currently in United States of America. He is an Egyptian Christian Minister. He obtained four degrees. Bachelor of Social Science in Minya University. Master of Divinity (Bachelor of Theology) from Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo. Master of Theological Studies from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, Illinois. Master of Sacred Theology from Union Theological Seminary in New York City.
Maureen Dean, Final Year MDiv. in the capacities of clinical social worker, minister of religion, gender and child advocate, works alongside survivors and social change agents to address various forms of violence at the individual, family, work, community and global levels.
Ken Kurihara PhD, Final year MA student and historian.
Gregory Simpson PhD, Final year MDiv. student and Student Senate Co-Chair. Dr. Simpson also has a Doctorate in Organic Chemistry.
Faculty Members
John Anthony McGuckin DD. FRHist Soc.
Nielsen Professor of Early Church History, Union Theological Seminary
Professor of Byzantine Christian Studies
Columbia University.
John Thatamanil PhD
Associate Professor of Theology and World Religions
Union Theological Seminary
Preserve. Promote. Protect.
Please watch this short film about the crisis in Syria and Iraq
Contacting the Program Planning Committee
The program planning committee welcomes your suggestions, comments and participation. We are looking at the planning of a follow-up meeting for the spring, 2016.
Please email us at: ConfrontingReligiousViolence@Gmail.com
We welcome suggestions of additional speakers as well as your help in promoting and publicizing our meetings.
Please email us at: ConfrontingReligiousViolence@Gmail.com
We welcome suggestions of additional speakers as well as your help in promoting and publicizing our meetings.