Friday, December 8th
9am-1pm
Holyoke Community College
Kittredge Center, Room 301/303
303 Homestead Avenue,
Holyoke, MA
RSVP required: Leif.maynard@gmail.com
Panel 1: Striving for Inclusion: Looking Inward
Most communities of faith strive to be welcoming places. And yet there are many who feel excluded from their faith communities due to experiences with or fears of encountering racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, differences in political ideology, or other forms of alienation. How can faith leaders overcome barriers to inclusion and diversity within their faith communities? How do they reconcile theological beliefs with secular laws? What personal and professional risks do they take? What strategies have been effective in building faith communities that are inclusive?
Speakers:
Rabbi Amy Katz - Temple Beth El, Springfield
Father Warren Savage - Diocese of Springfield; Chaplain, Amherst College and Westfield State University
Imam Rasul Seifullah - Al-Baqi Mosque, Springfield
Moderator: Reverend Marisa Brown Ludwig
Panel 2: Striving for Inclusion: Looking Outward
Prejudice due to racism, anti-semitism, Islamophobia, homophobia and transphobia, is pervasive and exists within faith communities and in the broader community. What is the responsibility of faith leaders in combating hatred and bigotry, whether that means addressing hateful views held by members of their own faith community or responding to bias-related incidents and troubling trends in the broader community? What are the challenges and opportunities in doing social justice work around these themes in the current climate and what are effective strategies for change?
Speakers:
Rabbi Justin David, Congregation B'nai Israel, Northampton
Reverend Corey Sanderson, Second Congregational Church, Greenfield
Dr. Ali Hazratji (yet to be confirmed), Islamic Society of Western MA, Hampshire Mosque
Moderator: Ms. Tahirah Amatul Wadud
Join us for a day of reflection, small-group discussions, and sharing of best practices with local inter-faith clergy.
RSVP: Leif.maynard@gmail.com