MEC ENDORSEE’S PORTAL

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INFORMATION FOR CONTINUING ENDORSEMENT

MEC General Terms of Endorsement

Support

At MEC, we believe that our endorsed chaplains are playing a critical role in the American society in general and a valuable role for the benefit of the Muslim community. In this regard, we are committed to engaging with you, our endorsed chaplain, for your mental health, spiritual well-being, personal growth, and professional development, and to support you in this regard.

We will be providing you with information about our upcoming initiatives. Please let us know in what areas that you need individualized support to help us cater to your personal needs. Click here to Contact Us.

Annual Report

A signed and dated annual report for the prior year is due no later than the last day of the first month of the Gregorian calendar (January 31). The report must include

Annual Accountability for Ethical Conduct Form for 20__
Updated contact information
Significant professional accomplishments
In-service training, workshop, and conferences
Job status
Steps taken to address items discussed during your endorsement interview or at your last annual review (included in the Board of Directors’ Determination of Chaplaincy Endorsement letter or Continuation of Chaplaincy Endorsement letter)

Steps taken to address items discussed during your endorsement interview or at your last annual review (included in the Board of Directors’ Determination of Chaplaincy Endorsement letter or Continuation of Chaplaincy Endorsement letter)

Annual Report

Name
First Last
Email*
We will be providing you with information about our upcoming initiatives. Please let us know in what areas that you need individualized support to help us cater to your personal needs
(Please upload your Annual Accountability for Ethical Conduct Form and Annual Report with supporting Documents)

Pay Your Annual Report Fees

Resources

BLACK LIVES MATTER BECAUSE ALL LIVES MATTER – Prof Jimmy Jones
GETTING MASJID GOVERNANCE RIGHT:
Exploring the Organizational Structures of American Masjids – Dr. Ihsan Bagby
THE BILAL INITIATIVE: Understanding and Dealing with Prejudice in the Muslim American Community – Imam Dr. Salahuddin Mustafa Muhammad
THE PROPHETIC PARADIGM FOR HUMAN SERVICES: An Emphasis on Empathy – Tammy Elmansoury
CAREGIVING TO MUSLIMS: A Guide for Chaplains, Counselors, Healthcare and Social Workers – Imam Dr. Muhammad Hatim

Need

The committee attempted to contact every Islamic center in state of CT. It ultimately contacted more than 70{c16456f2d259b2d71a6c0fb50665aaee70a5f3c2b21aa1380025475a83368794} of the approximately 42 centers at the time. The committee contacted the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc (ACPE), and began encouraging Muslims in CT to get training in clinical pastoral education. The committee also identified the need for endorsement. Consequently, the committee held several statewide meetings where the leaders of Islamic Centers were invited to give feedback and advice on the matter of endorsement.

MEC to MEC

MEC to MEC
In the period from 2011 to 2019, MEC became an official endorser for the CT
Department of Corrections and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. MEC also began the process of becoming an official endorser with the Department of Defense. As a result, MEC was increasingly becoming recognized as a national endorsing body. Therefore, MEC began conversations with national organizations in 2015 with a view to broadening the understanding of endorsement and fulfilling its mission to establish a national standard for such endorsement.

Such conversations were held with the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) and Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA). Other organizations such as The Hadi Initiative and the Association of Muslim Chaplains (AMC) subsequently joined in the conversation around in 2018/2019.

The discussions later led MEC to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with AMC in early 2020. The MOU entailed placing a member of AMC on the board of MEC, including adding a member of AMC to the interview procedure of future endorsement Applicants of MEC, and uniting in the encouragement of endorsees to become board certified chaplains and further their pursuit of Islamic knowledge through accredited institutions. Also, to reflect the refocused effort to advance endorsement on a national level, MEC changed its name to the Muslim Endorsement Council Inc (MEC) and expanded its board composition to cover not just Connecticut but the entire United States.

Formation of MEC

The committee’s efforts led to the conception of MEC in March 2010 (Rabi al-awal
1431). The Islamic Centers elected an endorsing body board in that month thereby establishing the Muslim Endorsement Council of Connecticut (MEC). In September of 2010, some of the members of the original group saw the need for the establishment of a Muslim American seminary. After consulting Muslim academics, national Muslim organizations and some non-Muslim entities, the decision was made to try to establish a Muslim American seminary as a separate, but related, initiative. The National Shura Conference was subsequently established based on a process developed in consultation with: the Association of Muslim Chaplains (AMC), Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), Graduate School of Islamic and Social Sciences (GSISS), International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT), International League of Muslim Women – New England Chapter, Islamic Center of New London (ICNL), Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), Islamic Relief-USA, Islamic Social Services Association-USA (ISSA-USA), Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), Masjid Al-Islam (MAI), Muslim American Society (MAS)-Freedom, Muslim Alliance in North America (MANA), New England Council of Masajid, and New England Muslim Sisters Association (NEMSA).

MEC was incorporated in March 2011, applied for, and ultimately received federal
501(c)3 tax-exempt status. In the interim, Masjid Al-Islam Inc. in New Haven CT served as the fiduciary agent for the project.

MEC subsequently organized the National Shura and Best Practices on Chaplaincy and Muslim Seminary Workshops on March 5, 2011, on the campus of Yale University. It was a successful effort in broadening the contributions of Muslim and non-Muslim stakeholders on the matter of chaplaincy, in addition to highlighting the many benefits a Muslim Seminary could offer.
The efforts served as an aid in broadening the understanding of endorsement and the organization of a seminary.
MEC was incorporated in March 2011, applied for, and ultimately received federal
501(c)3 tax-exempt status. In the interim, Masjid Al-Islam Inc. in New Haven CT served as the fiduciary agent for the project.

M.E.C.

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