Rick Love
Dr. Rick Love (born October 9, 1952) is an American peacemaker, consultant on Christian–Muslim relations, teacher, and pastor. He is the president of Peace Catalyst International and serves as Consultant for Christian–Muslim Relations for the Vineyard USA. Love has written two books and numerous articles on Christian–Muslim relations, emphasizing the need to make peace in a world where others predict a clash of civilizations.
He currently lives in Arvada, Colorado with his wife Fran Lewis Love.
Early years
Love's early years were in Southern California. After embracing the "[...] & Drugs & Rock & Roll" lifestyle on offer during the 1960s, in 1970 he underwent a dramatic change and became part of what is now known as the “Jesus movement.”
After a few years as an associate pastor with the Association of Vineyard Churches, Love and his family lived in West Java, Indonesia from 1984 to 1992, where he worked as an English teacher and conducted doctoral research..
From 1992 to 2007, he served as the US Director and then the International Director of Frontiers, a faith-based global community seeking to bless Muslims. Their purpose: “With love and respect, inviting all Muslim peoples to follow Jesus.”
Transformation into a peacemaker
During the years following the [...] attacks of 9/11, Love transitioned into a professional role as a peacemaker between Muslims and Christians. In 2008, he conducted postdoctoral research in peacemaking in the Reconciliation Program at the Yale University Center for Faith and Culture. During those studies, he helped to host the “Common Word” conference, a dialogue between Muslim and Christian leaders. This conference provided a response to A Common Word Between Us and You, an open letter, dated 13 October 2007, from leaders of the Muslim faith to leaders of the Christian faith. Love returned to Yale as a consultant and participant in the “Building Hope” conference between influential, mid-career Muslim, Christian and Jewish religious leaders in 2011. This conference drew together mid-career leaders from the Muslim, Christian, and Jewish faith communities, and addressed both issues on which there was clear common ground and issues that have historically brought great division between the faiths.
In January 2010, Love helped to found Peace Catalyst International, a role that integrated his peacemaking passions with his evangelical convictions.
In September 2012, Love convened Evangelicals for Peace: A Summit on Christian Moral Responsibility in the 21st Century. The summit gathered over one hundred scholars, pastors, development workers, activists, and others at Georgetown University to discuss peace, war, and how to work for peace as followers of Jesus. Sojourners described the summit in their article "A Heart for Peace."
Love has been invited to contribute to several interfaith dialogs promoting peace in such disparate venues as:
- Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Virginia
- Doha Conference on Inter-Faith Dialogue in Doha, Qatar
- Global Leadership Forum on "Evangelicals and Muslims: Perspectives on Mission and Partnership" (sponsored jointly by the Institute for Global Engagement and the Prince Alwaleed Center for Muslim–Christian Understanding at Georgetown University)
- Lubar Institute for the Study of Abrahamic Religions University of Wisconsin–Madison
- Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy Mindinao
He has begun to be sought as a voice in Muslim–Christian interfaith understanding. He was interviewed in this capacity on the Turkish television station A9.
He has also sought to find points of agreement between Muslims and Christians, including creation care, the relationship between media and violence, and the ethics of da'wa and evangelism in the context of religious freedom.
Love serves as the Associate Director for the World Evangelical Alliance Peace and Reconciliation Initiative, as well as on the advisory board for The New Evangelical Partnership for the Common Good. He is also a consultant with Association of Vineyard Churches USA for Christian–Muslim Relations.
Books and articles
Peacemaking: A Study Guide. Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library, 2001.
Grace and Truth: Toward Christlike Relations with Muslims, 2010. Available from Vineyard Resources.
"Punishable Peacemaking?" Op-ed for the Washington Post
“Peace” Article for Insight, National Association of Evangelicals newsletter
"The Blond-Haired, Blue-Eyed, 'Christian' Face of [...]" on website for Carl Medearis.
"Have Muslim–Christian Relations Improved Since 9/11?" on website for Christianity Today.
"It's a Miracle!" on the website for the World Evangelical Alliance Peace & Reconciliation Initiative.
"Muslims, Human Rights, and Human Wrongs" on the website for The New Evangelical Partnership for the Common Good.