Christian Ministers Argue Confronting Islamophobia Is a Moral Duty

New book by American Baptist pastors calls on churches to build religious literacy and solidarity with Muslim communities

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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In their new book "Confronting Islamophobia in the Church: Liturgical Tools for Justice", American Baptist ministers Anna Piela and Michael Woolf argue that Christians have a moral responsibility to challenge prejudices about Islam within their own congregations. The authors, who are a married couple, draw on their interfaith work and academic expertise to trace the historical roots of Islamophobia and offer practical guidance for churches to increase religious literacy, engage in theological dialogue, and build partnerships with Muslim communities.

Why it matters

The book comes at a time when Islamophobia is on the rise, fueled by divisive political rhetoric and biased media portrayals. The authors see this as a Christian problem that needs to be addressed from within the church, as they believe learning about and standing in solidarity with Muslims can actually deepen one's own Christian faith and practice.

The details

Piela and Woolf argue that throughout history, Christian polemics against Islam have been used to justify conquest and territorial expansion. Today, they say, Islamophobic rhetoric remains politically lucrative for some conservative politicians. The book aims to provide congregations with tools to break down stereotypes about Islam through worship, group study, and joint community projects with Muslim organizations.

  • The book was published in February 2026 by Judson Press.

The players

Anna Piela

An American Baptist minister and visiting scholar of religious studies and gender at Northwestern University.

Michael Woolf

An American Baptist minister and senior minister of Lake Street Church of Evanston, Illinois.

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What they’re saying

“If you want to be a good Christian, if you want to be a good follower of Jesus, then love of neighbor is pretty much the entire basis for the faith — it's not how often you go to church. We're supposed to take other people's welfare as our own, so Christians ought to do that from a love of neighbor standpoint.”

— Michael Woolf, Senior Minister (anabaptistworld.org)

“For me, it was not learning about Islamophobia, it was interacting with Muslims. Before I became an ordained minister, I was a scholar and I was a sociologist of Islam. So I would interview lots and lots of people. And one of the most important projects I did was based on interviewing women who wear niqabs, the face veil. And for me, the encounter with their faith, which was very humble but also very eloquent, really opened my eyes to faith.”

— Anna Piela, Minister and Scholar (anabaptistworld.org)

What’s next

The authors plan to promote the book through speaking engagements and workshops at churches and interfaith events across the country.

The takeaway

This book challenges Christian congregations to move beyond fear and isolation when it comes to learning about Islam, and instead see engaging with the Muslim faith as an opportunity to deepen their own Christian beliefs and practices through interfaith dialogue and solidarity.