Preachers complete training on boosting tolerance, promoting dialogue

AMMAN — The Royal Institute for Inter-Faith Studies (RIIFS) on Sunday concluded a training workshop for male and female preachers, which focused on various subjects, including dialogue, sermons, boosting tolerance, accepting difference and renewing religious speech, according to a RIIFS statement. 

The workshop, in which 20 male and female preachers participated, was held for three days and helped the participants learn how to communicate with their target audience and deliver their messages in different ways with “effective, interactive and persuasive ways”.

Rana Arafat, deputy director of RIIFs, inaugurated the workshop and briefed the participants on the institute and its history in working to promote dialogue, harmonious living, peace and accepting others. 

The workshop is part of a training programme for preachers run by the RIIFS in cooperation with the Awqaf Ministry and funded by the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC). 

The participating preachers are selected in coordination with the ministry.

The programme is part of the RIIFS’ project to promote the contents of the Amman Message, implemented in cooperation with the ministries of awqaf and planning, and funded by the EU, the statement said.

Several professors from universities and other institutions have participated in the training course.

Also on Sunday, the Jordan Media Institute (JMI) started a training workshop on the media’s message to combat hate and extremist speech, in cooperation with the Radio Holland training centre and with the participation of journalists from Egypt and Jordan, according to a JMI statement. 

The four-day workshop aims at finding new ideas to create a media message that combats extremist discourse, the statement said.