ICJS takes a broad view of religious leadership. A Muslim, Christian, or Jewish religious leader can be ordained clergy, but could also be a lay leader who occupies a key role in the life of a congregation. ICJS seeks to build interreligious literacy, dialogue skills, and relationships among clergy and religious leaders in order to further the ICJS mission of building learning communities where religious difference becomes a powerful force for good.
To that end, ICJS offers a range of programs for religious leaders, including an introduction to interreligious engagement, book studies, spirituality groups and thematic workshops.
Common Ground brings together religiously diverse clergy from across Maryland to build meaningful, sustained relationships through quarterly conversations over the span of one year. By partnering with fellow clergy in your local area, you will build understanding across differences, and support one another in ministry and community leadership.
Introduction to Interreligious Engagement is a three-part workshop series for religious leaders (clergy and lay leaders) who want to cultivate a culture of interreligious hospitality within the congregations and organizations they serve. Participants will learn how to build bridges across religious differences using storytelling, interreligious dialogue, and resources from within their religious traditions.
In this workshop series, ICJS invites Christian clergy to use an interreligious lens as they prepare to journey with their congregations and organizations through the Lenten and Easter seasons. Participants will examine how Christian scriptures, traditions, and liturgical practices have historically been used to promote antisemitism. They will develop resources to present the Passion in a manner that raises awareness of this history in order to combat religious bias and bigotry. (Registration will open in Spring.)
The Women in Religious Leadership Gathering is a forum for women to cultivate interreligious friendships and receive mutual support as they navigate the challenges and opportunities of religious and interreligious leadership within their communities. The gathering takes place online and in person. We are always open to new members.
ICJS hosts book studies in the fall and spring where clergy from across religious traditions come together to read, discuss, and reflect on books that explore spiritual, theological, and social topics from diverse perspectives. The aim of the book study is to foster mutual understanding, deepen interreligious dialogue, and build relationships among leaders of different religious communities.
Exodus 18 contains the powerful story of Yitro (Hebrew for the name “Jethro”) and Moses coming together, sharing from personal experience, celebrating each other, offering meaningful outside perspective, and being comfortable with separateness. So, I would like to share my reflections on the ICJS Congregational Leaders Fellowship based on this powerful model of interfaith communication.…
When I was in seminary, I was required to take a course called clinical pastoral education (CPE, a chaplain training course for seminarians). In a CPE course the student is required to do 400 hours of chaplaincy in a clinical setting. I did my chaplaincy in one of the largest hospitals in my community. We…
A few weeks ago, Bolton Street Synagogue, a Reform Jewish congregation where I serve as rabbi, and St. Matthew Catholic Church gathered together for an interfaith event. On that Sunday afternoon, over 30 people entered the church’s meeting hall and found seats set up in two concentric circles. Over the next hour and a half,…
Having studied Comparative Religion as my major in undergraduate studies at George Washington University, I have always had a profound respect and appreciation for all religions, particularly the monotheistic faiths. However, I have never interacted with the other faiths as intimately as I have this last year through ICJS’s Congregational Leaders Fellowship. This experience has…
Three congregations—Christian and Jewish— collectively established an interreligious working group that studied reparations. Through thorough examination of their respective religious backgrounds, alongside analyses of past political examples, the representatives collaboratively developed a comprehensive guide called “Color Us Love.”