At the service, Father Mina Mina of the Coptic Church, who regularly attends Walking the Walk sessions with his youth, delivered this message:

“I’m so glad to be here to celebrate with you the life of this great man, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  It fills me with great joy to see people from different backgrounds and various religions joining hands in this celebration. It moves me to say what Dr. King shared: ‘I’m very happy to live in this period… to see what is unfolding, where we are determined to live as humans.’, and also, ‘Man must evolve for all human conflicts a method which rejects revenge, aggression, and retaliation, the foundation of such is love.’

In 1963, Dr. King saw this moment with clarity.  He was 34 years old at that time.  In his speech labeled, “I Have Been to the Mountain Top”, he said,” Only when it is dark enough, you can see the stars.”  He continued, “I see God is working in this period.  Something is happening in our world.”  That is how I see it now in this celebration.

I admired Dr. King from the first time I heard him.  I admired his deep faith in the effectiveness of the principals which the Lord Jesus Christ taught, such as “love your enemies.”  Dr. King explained, “We are not being asked to like their actions but to realize that they are God’s children who need our help to be enlightened and to know a better way of life.”  He also stressed another teaching of Christ, that we ought to do unto others what we would like them to do unto us.

Through Walking the Walk, we work together ‘to advance mutual trust and understanding, cooperation among faith communities in order to work together for the common good of our society.’  And I’m so glad to be part of that. In his famous speech, “I Have a Dream”, Dr. King said, “I have a dream that one day our children will be judged by the content of their character”, and I’d like to add, not by our religion, race, or gender.  Dr. King also said, “I have a dream that all will join hands as brothers and sisters and become a beautiful symphony of brotherhood.”

With the great efforts of Interfaith Center of Greater Philadelphia and the Walking the Walk program, and the participating groups from different religions, let’s fulfill Dr. King’s dream.  Let us help each others to live a good life and a peaceful one, full of fun and joy rather than anger and sadness.  Let’s speak with each others with love and respect, listen to each others with love and respect, and hence learn from each other and grow together with love and respect.  Let’s work together, struggle together, and succeed together.  Thank you very much.

May God richly bless your ministry.

Sincerely yours,

Fr. Mina

The second Student Group Leader Training for the 2012-2013 Walking the Walk year took place at the Baha’I Center on January 6^th, 2013. Student Group Leaders discussed their year so far, met with their group leaders, and engaged in an interactive listening exercise. We wish the Student Group Leaders all the best in the new year!

Dinner and Discussion with the Baha’I Community

On January 6^th, 80 Walking the Walk-ers, parents, mentors, and group leaders attended a movie screening of Education Under Fire at the Philadelphia Baha’I Center. Seven alumni were in attendance. The documentary aimed to draw attention at the educational barriers present for the Baha’I Community in Iran. Many thanks to Walking the Walk alumnus Anisa Tavangar for her help in bringing the movie to the attention of Walking the Walk. 

The Religious Leaders Council of Greater Philadelphia Mourns with Newtown Connecticut and Calls for Action

The news of the horrific tragedy at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown Connecticut has filled our hearts with shock and profound sadness. We are religious leaders of many faith traditions, and we hold in common the sanctity of human life proclaimed by God. We believe violence between individuals is an offense against God and a rejection of God’s will. We are dismayed by the violence that devastates so many individuals, families, and neighborhoods throughout the Philadelphia area and beyond. Many of our religious and civic institutions have made powerful statements in the past decrying the level of gun violence and calling for legislative and cultural changes to reduce it. Yet our nation continues to suffer from unacceptable levels of gun violence. Becoming desensitized to the intolerable numbers injured and killed regularly by illegally owned guns is a spiritual problem. Even one is too many. It is time to act. We call on houses of worship, schools, and other organizations to recognize and become Zones of Peace, carrying out projects designed to reduce the root causes of violence in their own neighborhoods. We call on all of our elected officials to act now to work to end the senseless violence that permeates our society. We invite people to join us, the members of the Religious Leaders Council, in pledging to be an instrument of God’s peace, to make their homes and neighborhoods zones of peace, free from fear, filled with respect, and marked by deeds of kindness. We solemnly commit to these undertakings in the name of the One we worship, and pledge ourselves to prayer and action to protect the lives of all.

The Contact: Rev. Nicole Diroff, ndd@interfaithcenterpa.org, 215-222-1012 3723 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia PA 19104, www.interfaithcenterpa.org

Click here for a PDF of the statement

SOLD OUT

An Evening On Best Practices & Creative Strategies For Sharing Your Work With The Wider Community

FOR: Leaders and members of Zones of Peace Communities and other individuals, congregations and non-profits.

WHEN: 
Sunday, February 10, 2013
6:00-8:30pm
*Light supper provided
*On-site parking lot available

WHERE: 
The Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints
3913 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia

COST:  Cost $10 individual, $20 group.

Contact: Rev. Nicole Diroff, Associate Executive Director, Interfaith Center of Greater Philadelphia, ndd@interfaithcenterpa.org, 215-222-1012.

‘Walking the Walk’ Mentors and Student Group Leaders gathered on Sunday, September 30th at Germantown Jewish Centre for a day of training, networking, and building enthusiasm for the 2012-2013 ‘Walking the Walk’ program year.

For more information or to get involved with ‘Walking the Walk’ contact Margie Scharf, Director of Youth Initiatives at the Interfaith Center: mns@interfaithcenterpa.org.

Religion & Politics: Faith, Democracy and American Public List

Wednesday, October 17th at 6:30pm

National Museum of American Jewish History: 101 South Independence Mall East

Cost: $8 per person, free for NMAJH members

See the event flyer for additional details.

Interfaith Center staff collaborated with leadership from the Drexel University School of Public Health to hold a religious competency training on June 8, 2012, featuring presentations from individuals from five different religious backgrounds: Seventh Day Adventist, Judaism, Islam, Santeria, and Catholicism. The presenters shared personal stories related to the intersection of religion and health. Small groups worked on a case study exercise which highlighted some of the major barriers and gave the participants a chance to work together and problem solve. 

On August 30, 2012 at the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) annual grantee meeting in Rockville, MD, the Pennsylvania Public Health Training Center (PAPHTC) was awarded a “Best Practices” certificate for “Building Strategic Partnerships in Workforce Training: Towards Religious Competency for Health Professionals.” This certificate recognizes evidence-based trainings and workshops that have a measurable impact on the public health workforce.  For more, visit https://www.paphtc.pitt.edu/page.asp?p=20.

The PAPHTC, Drexel University School of Public Health, and the Interfaith Center of Greater Philadelphia are currently planning another religious competency training for early 2013.

For more information, please contact the Interfaith Center’s Director of Special Projects, Rev. Josh Blakesley, jgb@interfaithcenterpa.org.

ONE-DAY TRAINING FOR FACILITATORS OF ENCOUNTERING OTHER FAITHS

FOR: Congregational Leaders Responsible for Adult Education and University Staff with Interreligious Responsibilities
Participants will find themselves increasingly competent and confident in facilitating members of their congregation or community in their interfaith encounters.

CHOOSE FROM TWO FALL 2012 DATES!

When: October 11th or November 3rd  9:00am-4:00pm
Where: Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Mosque & Fellowship, 5820 Overbrook Avenue
COST: $120 per person, payable at the door (a limited number of scholarships are available)
REGISTER: October 1st (for the Oct 11th session) October 24th (for Nov 3rd session)

For more information please contact Rev. Nicole D. Diroff, Associate Executive Director ndd@interfaithcenterpa.org / 215-222-1012.