The Islamic Center of Fredericksburg, Virginia has a new Imam, none other than Sami Muhammad Shamma, one of the top students in the Graduate Certificate in Imam Education program offered by Duncan Black McDonald Center at Hartford Seminary and The Fairfax Institute at the International Institute of Islamic Thought. This a unique program for higher education and credentialing for imams, counselors, religious leaders and those aspiring to be so.[Click here to read more on the program.] Besides being busy with Ramadan activities in a growing community, Imam Shamma is also engaged in interfaith interaction with religious leaders of other faiths. Gay Rahn, the associate rector at St. George's Episcopal Church in Fredericksburg, Munira Marlow, who worships at the Islamic Center of Fredericksburg and Rabbi Devorah Lynn of Beth Sholom Temple in Stafford met last week to plan an interfaith service to remember Sept. 11 and pray for those who lost loved ones, and for reconciliation among religions. Imam Shamma shared his perspective on reconciliation and bridge-building. "Once people stop being strangers, the fear disappears," Shamma said. "If you have appropriate dialog, not shouting, it builds friendship, and friendship is often a more powerful antidote to society's ailments than many others," he added.[Click here to read full newspaper article.]