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  The Religious Leaders Council of Greater Philadelphia   (RLC) hosted an interfaith prayer service for Philadelphia’s newly elected mayor, Cherelle Parker, on February 20, 2024 at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Center City. With more than 300 people in attendance, the service included scripture readings from the Jewish, Muslim, and Christian faith traditions. “We are here to pray for Mayor Parker and City Council, to build bridges of peace, and to support one another,” said Rev. Edward Livingston , Interfaith Philadelphia’s Director of Religious Community Initiatives. The service was led by the RLC Co-Conveners:  Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez; The Rt. Rev. Daniel Gutiérrez, Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania; Imam Anwar Muhaimin, Quba Masjid; and Rabbi David Straus of the Jewish Community Relations Council, Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia. Attendees recited a pledge written by the RLC entitled "A Call from People of Faith to Stop Violence," and lit

By Marilyn Berberich For over fifteen years, the Quest Discussion Group  has gathered monthly to explore faith traditions and topics of spirituality. As a first-generation Quest participant, I began this interfaith journey at a Borders Bookstore in Chestnut Hill. Our kickoff selection was Karen Armstrong’s book The Spiral Staircase. It was a fascinating read and an even more fascinating conversation. I left with new and unexpected perspectives. My interest was piqued; I was eager to see where our next book would take us! As the calendar flipped from one year to the next, the Quest readings included fiction and nonfiction as well as time-honored and recently published books. The books informed, inspired, and often surprised us. They also sparked questions and comments that participants were eager to bring to monthly discussions. Although many of the books we read would have been wonderful to read independently, the text was even more engaging through the interfaith dialogue.   Over the

Today, our society needs dialogue and understanding more than ever. Because of this, we have worked tirelessly to unite people to stay in relationships and listen with compassion. Over the past two months, we have gotten requests from and worked with numerous individuals, organizations, and communities to help meet their needs in response to the crisis in Israel and Gaza. Here are just a few examples:  Interfaith Leadership Interfaith Philadelphia’s Board of Directors and the Religious Leaders Council of Greater Philadelphia directed their attention to this crisis at their fall meetings. Demonstrating the importance of having tables that foster ongoing relationships, each of these bodies asked its members to share the following: What are you holding? How is this impacting you and your communities?  What kind of support do you need?   We learned how alone leaders felt when they did not hear from their interfaith colleagues after October 7th, and how the simplest gesture of a call

By Sierra Cole Religion is frequently overlooked when it comes to a company's diversity agenda. This omission can lead to missed opportunities for establishing a workforce that is truly inclusive and representative. This fall, Interfaith Philadelphia organized a panel discussion for Buck-Mont Collaborative , a membership organization for health and human services professionals in Bucks and Montgomery Counties. The topic: Religious Diversity in Our Lives and Workplaces .   Interfaith Philadelphia's Leadership Institute Director, Asheq Fazllulah , moderated a panel of local professionals who came from Buddhist, Catholic, Jewish, and Muslim faith traditions. The four panelists were: Nihad Kaiseruddin, a sales manager Matthew Gambino, a church leader  John Harris, a healthcare executive Tue Dac Ho, Esq., an attorney The panelists were asked, “How do you live your faith outside of your home and specifically in the workplace?”  Overall they shared that faith, regardless of traditi

Since our founding in 2004, Interfaith Philadelphia has challenged people across sectors to Dare to understand®   one another. As we gear up to mark this milestone, we invite you to join us on our momentous journey. Here's a sneak peek at just a few ways you can take part in our celebratory events. Honoring: Imam Quaiser Abdullah, PhD , Board Chair, Interfaith Philadelphia, 2021-2024  Rev. Jesse Garner , Board Chair, Interfaith Philadelphia, 2018-2021 Margie Scharf , Creator of Interfaith Philadelphia’s  Walking the Walk Youth Initiative   The Very Rev. Judy Sullivan,  Board Chair, Interfaith Philadelphia, 2014-2018 Walking the Walk Alumni and Partners   Share Your Interfaith Story: Voices of the Future Alumni of our  Walking the Walk Youth Initiative   will share stories of impact and their vision for the future of interfaith work. Do you have a WTW story to tell? Contact River Mason at  rm@interfaithphiladelphia 20 Questions Video Series This rapid-fire one-take digital series fe

By River Mason Since 2007, Interfaith Philadelphia has hosted Interfaith Alternative Break Trips for student leaders from colleges, universities, high schools, and youth groups from around the country. We were grateful to resume in-person programs during the 2022-2023 season, and this fall marked another successful Alternative Break season. LaSalle University and Messiah University students joined Interfaith Philadelphia to engage in interfaith exploration, volunteer work, and community engagement. As a new staff member, participating in the Alternative Break for the first time provided me with valuable insights. What surprised me most was the return of two former participants who expressed their deep enjoyment from a previous experience, inspiring them to join the trip once again. Their eagerness to explore further was truly remarkable. We delved into discussions about our understanding of various faith traditions and personal backgrounds. Some students joined due to academic require