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Welcome to Community Chaplaincy

A support service offering by Center DC

 

What is a chaplain?

A chaplain is a spiritual professional with unique skillsets, connected to spiritual and emotional care. They often work in hospitals, prisons, and universities. Lately, more and more Muslim communities are expanding their care team to include chaplains as well! In January 2021, Center DC launched our very own community chaplaincy practice, thanks to a partnership with Hartford Seminary. Under the supervision of both professional chaplains at the university and Center DC leadership, our chaplain team will provide programing and virtual 1:1 sessions for those seeking spiritual support, iA. All of our chaplains are members of the Association of Muslim Chaplains (AMC) and abide by their professional code of ethics. Read on to get to know our chaplains and find out how you can take advantage of these offerings.

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Meet Our Chaplains

Center DC is excited to be able to partner with our friends at Muslim Space to provide additional chaplaincy services for our respective communities, through pastoral care sessions, group facilitations, and forthcoming programming centering spiritual care and spiritual growth!

  • Lauren Schreiber is the co-founder and executive director of Center DC, and is excited to expand her role and to serve as the resident chaplain for our community.

    Lauren is currently pursuing her Masters of Arts in Chaplaincy with a focus on Islamic Chaplaincy from Hartford Seminary, and is completing her first unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) at MedStar Washington Hospital Center under the mentorship of Ch. Tahara Akmal. Prior to that, she studied the personal obligations (Fard al Ayn) according to the Shafi'i school of thought under Shaykha Ieasha Prime and Usted Athman Jilo. She is also the Vice President of Community Chaplaincy and Ethics Committee Chair at the Association of Muslim Chaplains (AMC). She lives for strategic planning & culture creation in community spaces. Her most important (and favorite!) job is being a mom. You can often find her facilitating groups, talking about restorative justice and/or grief/death/dying, reading a Brene Brown book, building systems, writing music and making pupusas. She is a convert to Islam and especially loves learning about the paths others take in their respective faith journeys. Lauren lives in P.G. County, Maryland with her spunky daughter (Najia), her amazing husband (Muhammad Oda), and mom.

    NOTE: Lauren’s 1:1 schedule is closed from now until 2024, as she works to finish her graduate studies!

  • Chaplain Imran Haq has lived in the Northern Virginia Area for the past 10 years, completing his undergraduate degree in Religious Studies with a minor in Islamic Studies from George Mason University in 2019. After finishing his undergraduate degree, Imran attended Hartford International University and earned a Masters in Interreligious Studies and will finish his Masters in Chaplaincy within the year.

    Imran completed four units of Clinical Pastoral Education during a year-long residency at Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg, Virginia. During this, Imran provided chaplaincy care to patients in a variety of contexts, such as behavioral health care, grief care, and end of life care.

    Imran identifies as a Shia Muslim, and beyond chaplaincy, he is passionate about gender equity, reformative justice, and deepening his knowledge of the Din.

    In his free time, Imran enjoys cooking, spending time with his amazing wife Amanda, and lounging with his three cats (Sasha, Daisy, and Willow).

  • Chaplain Usama Malik is an Austin area native, having resided within the 512 for his whole life. Usama completed his undergraduate studies from the University of Texas at Austin in 2015. After graduation, Usama attended Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary for study as a chaplain, and graduated in May 2020 earning his Master of Divinity along with completing a unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE). He is completed a Graduate Certificate in Islamic Chaplaincy from Hartford Seminary in 2021 and also serves as a chaplain for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and Trinity University in San Antonio. Usama currently serves as the Program Coordinator for the Office of Student Affairs and Vocation at Austin Seminary, serving students from all backgrounds and helping them find their footing during seminary. Usama also currently serves as Secretary for the Association of Muslim Chaplains (AMC). Alongside his work and school, Usama specializes in the areas of organizational development and management, marketing, graphic design, and digital media. Outside of work and school, Usama has a passion for photography, traveling, hiking, and walking and is a proud parent along with his wife Sara to three rabbits: Raja, Quinn, and Truffles.

Book A 1:1 Session

You can access our chaplaincy by scheduling a 45 min 1:1 session with one of our chaplains by filling out the form below. Whether you would like to just say ‘Salaam سلام ‘ or have something weighing on your heart, booking a 1:1 session with a chaplain provides a confidential, judgment-free space to share and feel supported. Pastoral counseling sessions typically range between 1-5 consecutive sessions. We’re ready to hear your story and reflect with you!

 

Got questions?

Contact us @ chaplains@centerdc.org

Note: Our chaplains are not Imams, therapists, or counselors. Pastoral care sessions are confidential and not intended to be guidance counseling or mental health counseling/therapy sessions, but rather open, judgment-free spaces for you to be able to share your story or emotions - with the chaplain serving - to help navigate through these alongside you. Sessions which may require anything additional in resource, whether appropriate therapy or more in-depth religious insight and opinion will be referred out.