Anna Piela & Michael Woolf - "Confronting Islamophobia in the Church" - Tariq El-Amin

Anna Piela and Michael Woolf will discuss Confronting Islamophobia in the Church: Liturgical Tools for Justice. They will be joined in conversation by Tariq El-Amin. A Q&A and signing will follow the discussion. 

At Hyde Park Union Church. 

RSVP Here — please note your RSVP is requested but not required.

About the book: Confronting Islamophobia in the Church: Liturgical Tools for Justice challenges Christians to stand up against Islamophobia as an expression of discipleship. Anna Piela and Michael Woolf expose the Church’s role in fostering anti-Muslim prejudice and equip congregations to dismantle it. Blending sharp history, “holy envy” theology, and ready-to-use resources that weave Islamic scripture into the lectionary calendar, they make interfaith engagement both practical and transformative. This is a call to replace fear with solidarity—and to live the Gospel fully in a pluralistic world.

About the authors: Anna Piela and Michael Woolf are a married clergy couple who co-founded Challenging Islamophobia Together Chicagoland, an interfaith solidarity initiative dedicated to confronting anti-Muslim hate. Both ordained American Baptist pastors, they are deeply rooted in the Christian tradition yet believe that learning from other religions enriches and deepens their own faith. Together, they serve as Co-Associate Regional Ministers for the American Baptist Churches of Metro Chicago.

Anna is also a Senior Writer with the American Baptist Home Mission Societies, and Michael serves as Senior Minister of Lake Street Church of Evanston, IL. Equal parts pastor, activist, and theologian, they bring faith to life through public witness and interreligious collaboration.

About the interlocutor: Tariq I. El-Amin is the Resident Imam of Masjid Al-Taqwa in Chicago, host of The American Muslim Podcast and The Sanitizing History Podcast, and founder of the Chicago Black Muslim History Tour. His work explores the intersections of faith, culture, and storytelling, using satire and reflection to challenge dominant narratives and reclaim buried truths. A bridge-builder in interfaith spaces, his work is grounded in a deep commitment to human dignity.