On February 15, 2009, a sacred ceremony was held for Muslim Sufi minister Jamal Rahman at Interfaith Community Church in Seattle, Washington. Jamal's spiritual community, friends, and family bestowed upon him the title of sheikh. The service had added significance, as the officiants included a Sufi, a Jew, and a Christian: Rev. Karen Lindquist, Rabbi Ted Falcon, and Pastor Don Mackenzie. Jamal says that in Arabic the word sheikh means elder. Jamal expresses his abiding gratitude to his spiritual community for the title of sheikh. He prefers that he be called by his first name. "Consider me an interfaith sheikh," he says. "There is great need for interfaith work."