Mission Statement: As a council our mission is to coordinate and proactively communicate key issues for Michigan’s Islamic organizations and build bridges and positive collaboration with government, law enforcement, civic, interfaith and media organizations. We strive to present Islam in all its facets, and to constructively respond to any negative, stereotypical portrayal of Islam and Muslims.
Goals and Objectives: Facilitate and coordinate communications and key initiatives for Michigan’s Islamic organizations; provide effective advocacy on critical social justice issues impacting American-Muslims; establish and maintain productive collaborative relationships with government, civic, legal, Interfaith, social, and media organizations; and educate fellow Americans about Islam as a religion and a way of life, Muslim cultures and traditions, and critical issues and challenges facing American Muslims as well as Muslims in other parts of the world.
The Council of Islamic Organization of Michigan’s Preamble: We the Muslims, practicing Islam under the guidance of the Qur’an and the Sunna of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, to foster religious, educational, economic, interfaith and social activities, and to promote mutually beneficial community affairs, we have established many community organizations. WE are desirous of coordinating the activities of such organizations to achieve a meaningful influence in the community at large. For this purpose, and with Allah’s blessings, we resolve to establish the Council of Islamic Organizations of Michigan. Enacted on this 2nd day of December, nineteen hundred and ninety.
CIOM’s 14 Point Unity Charter
- Numerical Empowerment – “united we stand, divided we fall” – empowerment of a community
- Focus: We need to protect our common sacred ground
- Accountability: We are accountable to serve the larger community
- Uniting our dollars and talents for a common vision
- Religion – We will work toward addressing community needs around issues that are relevant to the masses and will not engage in theological questions that may be divisive. However, those conversations are important and can take place through other entities. (NAIF, Shia Council). We will not comment on issues of madahib in order to maintain an inclusive and broad-based community platform. Example: Code of Conduct
- Civic Engagement: this includes political, community service and other forms of community empowerment that should unite our community without defining how they should engage, but facilitating engagement through multiple mediums.
- Interfaith/intrafaith- Engaging the Muslim community across sectarian line as well as the broader community for common good.
- Government – Objective is to build relationships and engage officials on issues of importance to the Muslim community and through consensus and processes, to determine which issues to take on, and when not to engage.
- Consensus and Leadership: Facilitate the voice of community partners and orgs through delegates, which comprise our governing body (for both CIOM and ISCOM)
- Media – we represent the community perspective on issues through consensus and strategy. We proactively build relationships with media. Through consensus and process, we determine when to engage and when to not comment as a community versus individuals. This process needs to be developed further (along with others). This also involves coming to agreement as to when imams need to weigh in versus when industry experts should be engaged.
- Charity: CIOM at this time does not raise funds for delegate organizations as ISCOM does; however, it is an area that CIOM would consider adding to their portfolio with a process for selection and support and in conjunction with internal strategies of stability.
- Perception – We should be perceived to be an inclusive organization. Therefore the actual and real need to be synonymous and once it is, it should be apparent to the greater community. That means we take due measures to ensure that diversity of age, sex, theology, ethnicity, social status, economic status, geography, community, are represented.
- Service Provider: We should unify the community by providing services that empower member organizations and individuals. This can be done through education, financial resources, capacity building training and support.
- Technological gateway – We should unite the community through technological resources including a community calendar, website, database, etc.
