Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Interfaith Center?
The Interfaith Center is a nonprofit organization that helps to strengthen and enhance awareness of the rich diversity of religious traditions in the Greater Philadelphia region. The Center arose to fill a void and emerged as the first multi-faith organization in our region principally dedicated to interreligious dialogue, education, and community building at the grassroots and leadership levels.
What is the main purpose of the Center?
The Interfaith Center's primary goal is to contribute to greater social cohesion and stability by deepening interreligious understanding, and building relationships of trust.
What does the Interfaith Center do?
The Interfaith Center offers a variety of initiatives that promote interfaith dialogue, education, and community building at the grassroots and leadership levels. Its programs include:
- Walking the Walk, a service-learning program for high school students seeking interaction with peers from different religious traditions;
- Interfaith Education and Dialogue workshops, tailored to the group or community requesting such programs;
- Quest, a monthly interfaith book group;
- Interfaith Women Clergy of the Delaware Valley, ongoing networking opportunities and an annual retreat for female religious leaders of the region;
- Alternative Spring Break, a week-long interfaith service-learning immersion experience for college students during their spring break.
In addition, the Interfaith Center offers administrative and staff support to the Religious Leaders Council, whose purpose is to build relationships of mutual support, offer a moral and spiritual voice, and take action on critical issues of concern in our region.
Do you offer programming for youth?
Our program Walking the Walk offers high school students of the Philadelphia area an opportunity to meet students to:
- Have meaningful conversation with peers from different religious traditions and make friends;
- Learn and live shared values, such as: help those in need, treat others with honor and dignity, love one’s neighbor, honor oneself and one’s heritage;
- Participate in service-learning through volunteering at community-based agencies;
- Reflect on programs experiences through the arts.
How can I get involved?
If you are interested in learning more about our program offerings or about our Center in general, please browse our website as it is an excellent informational resource about the Center. If you are interested in volunteering for us or making a donation, please check out Get Involved on our site. Also, we are more than happy to receive your emails or your phone calls.
How is the Interfaith Center funded?
The majority of the Interfaith Center’s funding comes from contributions made by:
- Individuals;
- Foundations and philanthropic funds;
- Congregations and religious organizations.
The Interfaith Center’s work is made possible thanks to the generosity of our funding partners. View a complete list of our funders.