MnMN 7th ANNUAL CONFERENCE

Inspired by Hope and Joy: Multifaith Conversations for Our Time

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In many ways we are living through a time marked by deep uncertainty, widening polarization, and profound challenges to human dignity. Many of our communities are carrying grief, fear, and exhaustion as we witness violence, the abuse of power, and increasing division in our civic life. Yet our religious, spiritual, and philosophical traditions also remind us that hope and joy are not signs of naïve optimism. They are practices of courage. They sustain us, strengthen our communities, and call us to work together for the common good.

 

The Minnesota Multifaith Network invites faith leaders, community members, and partners from across Minnesota to gather for our seventh annual conference, Inspired by Hope and Joy: Multifaith Conversations for Our Time. Together we will explore how multifaith relationships are strengthening and emboldening our responses to the challenges of this moment with wisdom, compassion, and shared purpose.

Throughout the day, participants will engage in three facilitated conversations that invite reflection, dialogue, and ongoing engagement:

 

  • The November Elections: How can people of faith help strengthen democratic participation, protect the integrity of our elections, and respond constructively to fear and polarization?


  • Christian Nationalism and Religious Pluralism: How do movements of religious nationalism affect our communities, and what vision can multifaith cooperation offer as an alternative grounded in dignity, belonging, and religious freedom?


  • Hope and Joy as Practices of Resistance: Where do we find courage in difficult times? How do our traditions nurture resilience, restore relationships, and inspire us to continue working for justice and peace?


These conversations will be enriched by embodied practices drawn from diverse religious traditions, creating space for reflection, renewal, and connection. Together we will listen attentively, learn from one another, and strengthen the relationships that enable us to respond faithfully and collaboratively to the needs of our communities.

 

Hope and joy are not escapes from the realities of our time. They are the wellspring of the courage needed to build a more just, compassionate, and pluralistic Minnesota. We invite you to join us as we learn, reflect, imagine together what multifaith engagement brings to this moment in Minnesota!


REGISTER NOW

OCTOBER 22nd, 2026

House of Hope Presbyterian Church

797 Summit Ave, St Paul, MN 55105

Parking in the rear of the building

Accessible to persons with disabilities 

FEATURING PRESENTERS

SIMRAN JEET SINGH, PH.D.


Dr. Simran Jeet Singh is Assistant Professor of Interreligious Histories at the historic Union Theological Seminary and national bestselling author of The Light We Give: How Sikh Wisdom Can Transform Your Life. He is Senior Advisor for the Aspen Institute’s Religion and Society Program and also hosts Wisdom & Practice, a new podcast by The Aspen Institute and PRX.

Simran has spoken to audiences at various venues, including the mainstage at SXSW in Austin, Texas, Stanford University’s commencement ceremonies, and Fortune 500 companies around the globe. He is an Atlantic Fellow for Racial Equity with Columbia University and the Nelson Mandela Foundation, a Soros Equality Fellow with the Open Society Foundations, and a Senior Fellow for the Sikh Coalition. 


Simran earned graduate degrees from Harvard University and Columbia University, and an undergraduate degree from Trinity University. He writes regularly for various outlets, including TIME Magazine, Harvard Business Review, and Religion News Service. 


Simran authored the award-winning children’s book Fauja Singh Keeps Going: The True Story of the Oldest Person to Ever Run a Marathon (Kokila, Penguin Random House), and his next children’s book—a celebration of migration, home, and new beginnings—comes out this spring. 


Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, Simran now lives in New York City with his wife and two daughters, where he enjoys running, writing, and chasing his kids.


AGENDA

BANANA LEAF MEAL

Having a meal on a banana leaf has been an age-old custom in some parts of India, dating back as far as 2000 BC. Not only are banana leaf ‘plates' biodegradable and economical, but they aid in digestion due to their natural enzymes and contain vitamins to promote overall health. The tradition of families coming together to have a feast on a banana leaf during festive occasions is still seen today. Spiritually, the banana plant is said to bring prosperity and immense luck, as explained in ancient Hindu scriptures.

THE HINDU TEMPLE OF MINNESOTA

The Hindu Temple of Minnesota, built in 2006, provides religious, spiritual, educational, social, and cultural activities for more than 55,000 Hindu-Minnesotans. The building’s architecture is astounding, with twenty-one smaller temples within the large prayer hall, each a replica of famous temples in India and each dedicated to various manifestations of the divine consciousness. Sculptors, with trade skills passed on for generations, have hand-crafted beautiful pieces of art that adorn the tall Gopuram. A devotee or visitor, will pray in a large sunlit temple hall, listen to priests chant mantras thousands of years old, and smell burning incense and strings of fresh flowers.