The ICJS Congregational Leaders Fellowship is a six-month intensive program in which leaders—both ordained and lay leaders—within religious communities come together across traditions to promote interreligious understanding, deepen relationships, and cultivate spaces of belonging in order to combat religious bigotry and hatred.
I grew up in a suburb of Philadelphia. It was the ‘50s, when kids played outside much of the time and knew the day was over and it was time to head home when the local fire house five o’clock whistle blew. My family was a member of the budding Catholic community in our town.…
After surviving the most challenging phases of Covid-19, I was seeking a connection with my faith at a new level. I am a lay leader in a United Methodist church and prior to participating in the ICJS Congregational Leaders Fellowship, I mostly practiced my Christian faith through my actions. The fellowship provided me an opportunity…
When we started the Congregational Leaders Fellowship, we were asked to bring our most sacred book to a meeting. This exercise caused me to think more deeply about my sacred books and what they mean to me. My rabbi recently did a d’var Torah (introduction to the weekly Torah portion) about the section called Terumah.…
As most fulltime pastors with a congregation of more than 1,200 active members, I am very busy. I can barely find time for myself to relax—to take on another responsibility beyond my pastoral responsibilities is almost unthinkable. Becoming a part of ICJS Congregational Leaders Fellowship was an act of faith. I was feeling rather uncertain…