
The Silber-Obrecht Lecture is the first endowed lectureship in the emerging field of interreligious and interfaith studies. Presented biennially by the ICJS, the lecture advances the field by featuring new and creative work from an established sscholar and interreligious practitioner.
The 2027 Silber-Obrecht Lecturer is Amir Hussain, Ph.D., a religion scholar at at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles who specializes in the study of Islam. He is a forrmer president of the American Academy of Religion (AAR).
The lecture is held in partnership with five Baltimore educational institutions: Goucher College, the SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University, Loyola University Maryland, Morgan State University’s Center for Religion and Cities, and St. Mary’s Seminary & University.
The Silber-Obrecht Lecture is named in honor of Sidney and Jean Silber and Charles F. and Margaret M.H. “Peggy” Obrecht, in recognition of their longtime commitment to improving interreligious relationships and understanding.


“The Silber-Obrecht Lecture reflects that there are many modes of response to the reality of religious pluralism—theological, philosophical, historical, scriptural, ethical, legal, praxeological, and institutional—and these responses need thoughtful and reasoned inquiry.”
—Heather Miller Rubens, Ph.D.,
ICJS Executive Director and Roman Catholic Scholar
