On Monday 1st February 2023 the three parishes that made up Upper Tweeddale were formally united into one parish, the parish of Upper Tweeddale. Here is a film of the whole service led by Rev. Mark Nicholas (on behalf of the new Presbytery of Lothian and the Borders).

On Monday 25th October Rev. Tony Foley was inducted as the new Minister of West Tweeddale into the Presbytery of Melrose and Peebles. Here is a film of the whole service led by Rev. Victoria Linford (Moderator of the Presbytery) and the presentations that followed.

• 1a: "Do Jews, Christians, and Muslims Believe in the Same God?" by Reinhold Bernhardt (11 pages): Although this is written from a German scholar's perspective, the author wrestles with questions that are relevant to us all.

• 1b: "Contextualizing the Scripture: Towards a New Understanding of the Qur'an: An Arab Christian Perspective," by Raheb Mitri (30 pages): Although this is a long chapter from his book, Sailing Through Troubled Waters, it is quite readable and really helps introduce how the Qur'an developed during Muhammad's career in relation to the Jews and Christians that he encountered.

• 1c: "The Problem of Muhammad," by Jacques Jomier (9 pages): The author was a Catholic scholar who was very involved with Christian-Muslim relations. In this chapter near the end of his book, How to Understand Islam, he reflects on whether or not Christians can refer to Muhammad as a "Prophet."

• 1d: "Jesus in Islam," by John Azumah (16 pages): This is an excellent summary of how Jesus factors into the theology of Islam, presenting both the key similarities and differences with Christian faith.

• 2a: "The Legacy of Engagement," ch. 2 (pp. 23-40) in Muslims, Christian, and the Challenge of Interfaith Dialogue, by Jane Idleman Smith (18 pages): This chapter presents an excellent overview of the historical vicissitudes of Christian-Muslim relations. (The file contains the entire book; scroll down to find chapter 2.)

• 2b: "Saint Francis and the Sultan Muhammad," by Yahya Pallavicini (7 pages): This Italian Muslim author reflects on the positive lessons that can be gained from an unusual encounter during the time of the Crusades, between the famous monk and a key Muslim leader.

• 2c: "Christian-Muslim Dialogue: Goals and Obstacles," by Mahmoud Ayoub (7 pages): A basic explanation of interfaith dialogue from a Lebanese-American Muslim scholar.

• 2d: A Common Word Between Us and You represents what is probably the most important contemporary Muslim initiative advocating positive dialogue between Muslims and Christians. This pdf book contains numerous chapters about this important text and various responses by Christians. I encourage you to read the following two portions (26 pages): pp. 55-74, from ch. 4, "The 'A Common Word' Text," the original essay signed by numerous Muslim religious leaders. pp. 143-148, from Appendix I, "The Yale Response," probably the most important Christian reply, given that it was in turn signed by numerous Christian religious leaders.

• 2e: "Christian Attitudes toward Islam and Muslims: A Kerygmatic Approach," ch. 1 in Toward Respectful Understanding and Witness among Muslims, edited by Evelyne Reisacher (16 pages). A helpful discussion of various approaches to Christian witness among Muslims, by a Lebanese Christian scholar of Islam.

Therefore, The Reverend Dr Thomas Anthony Foley has accordingly been elected and appointed as the new minister subject to the approval of Presbytery.