About the Panelists

Chaplain Tahara Akmal, Panelist

From personal and professional experiences of interfaith work and world travel to sacred spiritual and religious sites, Chaplain Tahara Akmal developed a passion for ministry within pluralistic environments. Chaplain Akmal is an Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE) Certified Educator. She is the first Muslim woman to become a Certified Educator by ACPE to teach chaplaincy within a clinical setting. Currently, Chaplain Akmal is the Manager of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) and a Chaplain at MedStar Washington Hospital Center in Washington, DC. 

Gen Kelsang Chogden, Panelist

Gen Kelsang Chogden is an American Buddhist nun and the Resident Teacher of Kadampa Meditation Center Maryland. Gen Chogden has been practicing Kadampa Buddhism since 1998 under Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, who gave her the title “Gen” indicating that she is a senior ordained teacher of the Kadampa Tradition.

Gen Chogden is well-loved for her warmth, kindness, and wisdom, which have come from her sincere and heartfelt practice of Kadam Dharma over many years.

Her teachings are always practical and easy to apply to everyday life. Through her gentle and joyful approach and her peaceful example, she has helped many people find true happiness in their hearts.

Christopher M. Houston, Panelist

A native of North Carolina, Christopher M. Houston is a published author, noted conference/workshop speaker, non-profit founder and a professional clinical & corrections chaplain. A member of the central office senior chaplaincy team, he serves as the National Faith Based Reentry Coordinator for the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Washington, D.C. As the bureau’s Faith-Based community liaison, he provides reentry support to 122 federal prisons nationwide and oversees the development of the Community Reentry Network-CRN (a nationwide clearing house of faith-based reentry resources for returning citizens). Prior to entering the agency, he served as Chaplain/Department Head for Religious Services at C.A. Dillon Youth Development Center (juvenile corrections) and earned six units of Clinical Pastoral Education as a Chaplain Resident at Duke University Medical Center. Pastor Houston is a graduate of Western Carolina University (B.A.) and Oral Roberts University (M.Div.). He is the Founder of Bridge of Life Ministries, Bridge of Life Community Fellowship Church and Bridge Builder Kingdom Solutions. Pastor Houston and his wife Jacqueline are married for 26 years and the parents of four young adults. Two words describe Christopher M. Houston – “Bridge Builder”. It’s that passion that leads him to reach, reconcile, and restore lives with the message of hope, unconditional love, acceptance, and forgiveness.

Rabbi Bruce E. Kahn, D.D., Panelist

Rabbi Kahn was raised in Baltimore, graduating from City in 1963. He went to the University of Cincinnati and Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati. Along the way he and his wife lived in Jerusalem for a year. He was ordained in 1974 and immediately entered the US Navy as a chaplain. He served two years on active duty and 26 years in the ready reserve, retiring from the Navy in 2002. He is a Navy captain. He received numerous commendations and medals including twice being awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for outstanding meritorious service. Rabbi Kahn served two civilian pulpits: Or Ami in Richmond, VA (1976-80) and Temple Shalom in Chevy Chase, Maryland (1980-present) where he is Rabbi Emeritus.

Rabbi Kahn has been heavily involved in civil rights work since the 1970s. He participated in establishing the Fair Housing Council of Greater Washington and the Equal Rights Center. From 2004-8 he stepped off the ERC board to become its executive director. In 2011 the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs bestowed on Rabbi Kahn its prestigious Alfred McKenzie Award for a lifetime of distinguished civil rights advocacy. He received two other lifetime achievement awards: one from Camp Airy and one from Temple Shalom, which also commissioned the writing of a sacred Torah Scroll in honor of Rabbi Kahn’s sacred service to that synagogue.

Rabbi Kahn has been married to his beloved wife Toby Andrea since 1968. They have two children, two sons-in-law and three grandchildren.

Alisha Wimbush, Th.D., Moderator | ICJS Program Director for Religious Leaders

Alisha Wimbush is the ICJS program director for religious leaders. She has a B.A. in Social Work from Messiah College and is a graduate of Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, GA, where she earned both her M.Div. and a Th.D. in Pastoral Care and Counseling. Most recently Alisha served as an Associate Chaplain at a continuing care retirement community in Pennsylvania. She has more than 15 years of experience working and providing leadership in nonprofit and congregational settings. She is passionate about building bridges across diverse communities and finding creative ways to foster relationships.