CAIRO, August 30, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) - Brining together chaplains from across the United States, the annual conference of Muslim Chaplains opens Tuesday, August 30, in Chicago to discuss common challenges and map out the future.

The three-day event will be attended by Muslim chaplains working with hospitals, universities, the Armed Forces, and federal and state prisons from around the country, according to the Web site of the ISNA Leadership Development Center (ILDC), the meeting organizer.

It provides an excellent opportunity for learning new skills in the area of counseling and handling chaplain responsibilities.

The Islamic Social Services Association (ISSA) will provide professional training in the area of spiritual counseling.

Participants will also exchange experiences, discuss challenges and plan future action.

The conference's agenda features training sessions, separate business meetings for military, university, hospital and prison chaplains as well as joint meetings to address common issues and concerns.

Louay Safi, the ILDC's executive director, praised the meeting as "an important occasion to strengthen and empower those who represent us in national and state institutions."

Beside Safi key speakers include Abdul-Rashid Muhammad, Military Chaplain, Mumina Kowalski, State Correction Chaplain and Yahya Hendi, Chaplain at Georgetown University.

James Yee, a former Muslim chaplain at Guantanamo detention camp, will also address the conference.

But a few months after his detention, all charges were dropped.