Interfaith Action

Interfaith Action

por Interfaith Action

The Religious and Political Agenda against Trans Lives: Alternative Faith Perspectives

The following is a virtual conversation with Christian, Jewish, and Muslim representatives to discuss faith-based perspectives on affirming transsexuality. A keynote conversation launches the discussion with Dr. James Whitehead, a Catholic Christian theologian who is recognized as one of the lead legacy theologians in the US on the topic of faith, gender, and sexual orientation/identity. Jim’s newest book, released in April, is entitled “The Road to Me - A Transgender Journey. Part 1 of the Megoir” and is co-authored with Meghan Buell, a trans woman. Joining in the discussion are Meghan Buell, Rabbi Simone Schicker of Temple B’Nai Israel Kalamazoo, and Maher Alhaj, author of Halal This Way: Towards a Viable Queering in Sunni Islam. This event is co-sponsored by the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan, the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan, and the Episcopal Dioceses of Eastern and Western Michigan.

Embracing the Gift and Necessity of Interfaith Dialogue

In today's religious and political climate, it is more important than ever to create and participate in spaces where diverse faith traditions and backgrounds can come together. Our esteemed guest, Jack Gordon, has a rich history of facilitating Interfaith conversations, creating spaces for members of different faith traditions, political persuasions, and cultural backgrounds to engage in meaningful conversations. Jack Gordon is host of the radio show “Interfaith-ish” on WOWD 94.3FM Takoma Radio in Takoma Park, Maryland (episodes can also be found on Apple Podcasts). His show, 'Interfaith-Ish,' is described as "conversations about what we believe, why we believe, and how we navigate the common ground and differences between our traditions." He has worked as a professional documentary filmmaker for nearly 20 years, and recently directed the short film 'To Bigotry No Sanction', commissioned by George Washington University. Jack has been active in the DC area interfaith scene since 2010, serving on the board of the Interfaith Council of Metropolitan Washington and spearheading the annual DC Interfaith Leadership Summit for young adult leaders in the region until 2017. Jack grew up in a religiously mixed family and identifies as a Baha'i who is also culturally Jewish. Interfaith Action SW Michigan Website: https://swmichinterfaith.org/

Driver's Licenses for All Michigan Residents: An Overview and Call to Action

In March 2023, Interfaith Action hosted a panel discussion on efforts to restore specialized driver's licenses for immigrants residing in Michigan. Licenses were available until 2008 when they were rescinded. The restoration of driver's licenses is now being considered. The panelists for the discussion include: - Gene Schoon, Coordinator for Policy and Justice for Interfaith Action - Lupita Sanchez, SW Rural Michigan Organizer for We The People-Michigan - Liz Balck, ACLU of Michigan - Simon Marshall-Shah, Policy Analyst for the Michigan League for Public Policy For More Information: - Drive Michigan Forward Info Packet and FAQ: https://www.drivemichiganforward.com/... - Sign Up To Receive Updates: https://www.drivemichiganforward.com/... - Contact your Elected Officials: tinyurl.com/v7b8pb9y - Preventing Undocumented Immigrants from Obtaining State Driver’s Licenses and IDs Hurts All of Michigan: https://www.aclumich.org/en/news/driv... Interfaith Action Website: https://swmichinterfaith.org/ Music Attribution: "Night Owl" from the Directionless EP by Broke For Free, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. Available at http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Bro....

The Common Good: Promise and Dream

Part of our Theologies of Transformation and Actions for Justice Series During this session, we had the privilege of welcoming Dr. Clark Gilpin to give a reflection on our tenth Interfaith Action principle. Clark is Interfaith Action's Lead Advisor for Faith Framing, and the Margaret E. Burton Professor, emeritus, at the University of Chicago Divinity School, where he served as dean from 1990 to 2000. He lives in Stevensville and attends the Berrien Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, where he and his wife Nancy co-chair the Social Justice Committee. Clark studies the history of modern Christianity, especially in relation to literature, and he recently published Religion Around Emily Dickinson (Penn State University Press). The tenth principle states: 'Our faith traditions uphold the common good as grounded in solidarity with the poor and the vulnerable. Alleviation of poverty, homelessness and hunger are essential causes for people of faith. This commitment requires us to promote basic standards of living and to confront excesses of capitalism and growing wealth divides.' You can find our Interfaith Principles on our website: https://swmichinterfaith.org/whoweare Music Attribution: "Night Owl" from the Directionless EP by Broke For Free, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. Available at http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Bro....

Our Common Goal: Rejecting Racism and Systemic Exclusion

During this session, we have the privilege of welcoming Bishop Prince Singh to give a reflection on our ninth principle on ‘Our Common Goal: Rejecting Racism and Systemic Exclusion.' The Rt. Rev. Prince Grenville Singh, Ph.D. serves as Bishop Provisional of the Episcopal Dioceses of Eastern and Western Michigan. Bishop Singh was born and raised in India, attending seminary and serving several congregations before immigrating to the US in the mid-90s for additional study and service in the Episcopal Church. His church-wide leadership includes Bishops Against Gun Violence, the House of Bishops Theology Committee, the Taskforce on the Theology of Social Justice, as a coach in the College for Bishops and several others. Our ninth Interfaith Action principle states: 'Our common good requires advancing policies of inclusion and equity. We believe that racism and systemic exclusion in multiple forms is an intrinsic evil. As such capitalism without a foundational commitment to common good is a structural sin. Our faith traditions require us to reject systems that oppress people and create inequities. We are aware that racism and other forms of exclusionary discrimination impact the well-being of both the oppressed and the oppressor.' You can find our Interfaith Principles on our website: https://swmichinterfaith.org/whoweare Music Attribution: "Night Owl" from the Directionless EP by Broke For Free, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. Available at http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Bro....

Barriers and Bridges to the Common Good

Part of our Theologies of Transformation and Actions for Justice Series During this session, we have the privilege of welcoming Diane Rapaport to give a reflection on our eighth principle on ‘Barriers and Bridges to the Common Good.' Diane is a member of Temple B’nai Shalom in Benton Harbor. We discuss our eighth Interfaith Action principle, which states: 'We advance the value of the COMMON GOOD as an essential guard against greed and power. Democracy without values of justice, equity, inclusion, and public responsibility results in an individualism which threatens our common good. In striving for the common good, we believe in a metric of equality of outcome, not a metric of opportunity. We are aware that patterns of consumerism and materialism impact the fulfillment of our common good and also threaten the future of our common home.' You can find our Interfaith Principles on our website: https://swmichinterfaith.org/whoweare Music Attribution: "Night Owl" from the Directionless EP by Broke For Free, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. Available at http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Bro....

An Ethic of Hospitality: Migrants and Communities of Faith

Part of our Theologies of Transformation and Actions for Justice Series In this discussion, we have the privilege of welcoming Dr. Tatiana Reinoza to give a reflection on our seventh Interfaith Action principle. Dr. Reinoza is on the board of Interfaith Action, and is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Art, Art History, and Design at the University of Notre Dame. Dr. Reinoza’s research and writing focus on contemporary Latinx art. She specializes in the history of printmaking of Latinx artists in the United States with an emphasis on the themes of immigration, race, and histories of colonialism. Our seventh principle states, ‘All of our faith traditions contain holy stories about migration and the importance of welcoming the stranger and the migrant as fully belonging in our common home, the household of God. Inspired by these traditions, we, too, commit to solidarity with migrants around the world and work to ensure their dignity, their human rights, and their protection. Our holy writings remind us that the outsider must be included and is often the bearer of transformation.’ You can find our Interfaith Principles on our website: https://swmichinterfaith.org/whoweare Music Attribution: "Night Owl" from the Directionless EP by Broke For Free, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. Available at http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Bro....

The Protection and Preservation of our Common Home

Part of our Theologies of Transformation and Actions for Justice Series In this session, we have the privilege of welcoming Rev. Salvatore Sapienza to give a reflection on our sixth principle on ‘The Protection and Preservation of our Common Home.’ Reverend Salvatore Sapienza is the pastor of Douglas United Church of Christ. Our sixth Interfaith Action principle states, 'People of faith have a bedrock commitment to our common home, including advancing policies and practices towards the protection and preservation of creation.' Interfaith Action has made resources available for faith communities with the goal of protecting and preserving our Common Home. Please see our Season of Creation booklet, Green Faith Action Framework, and Green Faith Checklist on our resource page: https://swmichinterfaith.org/resources You can find our Interfaith Principles on our website: https://swmichinterfaith.org/whoweare Music Attribution: "Night Owl" from the Directionless EP by Broke For Free, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. Available at http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Bro....

A Conversation with Dr. Paul Detrisac on the Forward Party

As we approach our November election, we are aware of hyper-partisan divides which often disrupt our finding common cause for the common good. A member of one of our engaged faith communities, Dr. Paul Detrisac, is active in a creative new paradigm relative to our current party system. Interfaith Action presents this as an informational session and not as a recommended approach. We agree that current partisan divides often serve to hamper our achievement of the common good, and we encourage robust discussions around moving forward to a future where we have a shared approach to solving key public issues essential for a democracy that provides opportunity, wholeness, and justice for all. For more information, you can see the Forward Party Website: www.forwardparty.com/ Interfaith Action of SW Michigan: https://swmichinterfaith.org/ Music is "Night Owl" from the Directionless EP by Broke For Free, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. Available at http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Bro....

Our Common Calling: To Be a People of Peace

Our Fifth Interfaith Action principle underscores our common calling as people of faith to be bearers of peace. How do our faith traditions form us to be bearers of peace in a world filled with violence? How do we counter the epidemic of gun violence in our communities, global wars, and other personal and communal forms of violence as people of faith? In this episode, Pastor Jay Fast, pastor at Harbert Community Church shares a reflection on our fifth interfaith action principle on peacemaking, followed by group discussion. Pastor Jay has served at Harbert Community Church since 2014. Prior to his ministry in SW Michigan, Pastor Jay served at churches in Illinois, Indiana, and Massachusetts. Our Fifth Principle states: ‘In our common life as communities of faith, we affirm that we are to be bearers of peace. In that commitment, we work to counter violence in homes, within communities and amongst nations. We are concerned with the proliferation of weapons which destroy the sanctity of life.’ Interfaith Action Faith Principles: swmichinterfaith.org/whoweare

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