(RNS) — Abdullah Antepli, a globe-trotting interfaith champion and prominent Muslim leader, has been chosen as the new president of the Rothko Chapel, the Houston ecumenical sanctuary.
Antepli, who has held a variety of positions at Duke University for the last 17 years, said he was drawn to the possibility of developing the chapel’s mission as a beacon for cross-religious and cross-cultural dialogue during a time of intense polarization.
The 54-year-old octagonal chapel houses 14 black and plum-hued-murals created by American artist Mark Rothko. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and includes a reflecting pool outside with a sculpture by Barnett Newman dedicated to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. The chapel draws about 100,000 visitors a year as a site for quiet reflection, but with Antepli’s hiring, it is expected to ramp up interfaith training programming.
“I believe Rothko can and must be one of those places where intellectuals and future leaders can turn to to create spaces and momentum that model and exemplify how radically different opposing, seemingly irreconcilable differences can be discussed, even though disagreements are still there,” said Antepli, who begins the role Sept. 1.
Imam Abdullah Antepli. (Photo courtesy of Duke Divinity School)
The 52-year-old imam, a native of Turkey, was hired by Duke in 2008, as its first Muslim chaplain at a time when many universities didn’t have one. Later, he became the inaugural director of Duke’s Center for Muslim Life and the universi …