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