Dedicated to Interfaith Understanding

Mary Brown ’84 translated her passion for ministry into a calling to advocate for Muslims.

Mary Brown ’84, Eden Prairie, Minn., is an ordained Lutheran pastor and the director of development for the nonprofit People Reaching Out to People. After more than 25 years working in other capacities, she now enjoys helping her own neighbors in the community in which she lives. She continues to preach, teach, and speak in congregations and at church events as her schedule permits.

Using interfaith dialogue, Brown helped develop “My Neighbor is Muslim,” a discussion guide that aims to educate and inform people about Islam beliefs, culture, and practice. Because of her work encouraging interfaith understanding, she received a Building Bridges Award from the Islamic Resource Group of Minnesota and was selected to serve as an ambassador for the group.

My Neighbor is Muslim

The idea for a new interfaith resource began when Brown was serving as the director of congregational relations for Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota, where she was responsible for responding to needs identified by ministers in the state’s Lutheran churches. While serving in this role, there was a desire from churches to gain a better understanding of different faiths represented within their communities, specifically Islam.

So, Brown went to work. She collaborated with Lutheran colleagues and Muslim leaders in Minnesota to write a list of key questions about Islam. She took that to theologians and scholars, asking the academics to produce plain-spoken, fact-based chapters on the history and tenets of Islam.

The result was “My Neighbor is Muslim,” a 60-page study guide complete with discussion questions. Since its development, it became available to pastors in St. Cloud, Minn., to use as the basis of a seven-week adult education course while also expanding to congregations in the Twin Cities area. With an estimated 150,000 Muslims living in Minnesota, the relevance of the guide has also appealed to other denominations. The resource is now used as a tool for people to better understand each other in worship communities, healthcare facilities, and schools, as well as civic and secular organizations, and is gaining traction across the country. The Islamic Resource Group of Minnesota has played a significant role in continuing Brown’s interfaith work.

“The Islamic Resource Group (IRG) of Minnesota has become an important partner in the interfaith work I have been called to do. Often, I have been joined by a Muslim speaker from IRG as we seek to build bridges of understanding together in Christian congregations and communities,” Brown says. “The IRG asked me to become an ambassador for the organization, which was a tremendous honor. I see my role as helping others understand the true tenets of Islam while, at the same time, breaking down misconceptions or barriers between people of all faiths. I also work closely with Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, and other faith groups toward the same goal of achieving greater understanding and friendship between people of different faiths.”

Foundation in Understanding

As a Concordia student, Brown says that through the mission of the college she became more thoughtful and informed in her understanding of what it means to be a Christian in the world and to stand with all people in whatever circumstance they may find themselves.

“I loved every day of my life on campus,” she says. “In every class, from sociology to Spanish to English to economics, my professors made a profound impact on my life. My religion classes deepened my faith and at the same time challenged me to reflect upon my calling to make a difference.”

She says her heart goes out to Muslims, as there has been an alarming increase in hate crimes and harassment of Muslims in Minnesota. Muslim students in elementary, junior high and high schools are experiencing increased bullying and harassment.

“Because of Concordia’s commitment to interfaith relationships and community outreach, my education at Concordia served as a foundation for me in standing up on behalf of young people, in particular,” she says. “I have found time and time again that through education and understanding we all can open our minds and hearts and change our actions for the better as we learn and grow.”

Brown says she is thankful for her experience at Concordia and the foundation it gave her for the work she is called to do. She says she is who she is today in large part because of her education at Concordia.

“I cannot deny that in 2019 there are divisions in the world in which we live. While the great majority of people have supported my interfaith efforts, this work has not been accepted by everyone,” Brown says. “I have received anonymous letters, hate mail, and threats from those who do not support it. And yet, my education at Concordia prepared me for this outcome as well. I was not trained to be popular but rather to influence the affairs of the world as I believe God is calling me at this time and in this place. This is what Soli Deo Gloria means to me. This has been my joy and God has been in the midst of all of it.”